Solar battery self-consumption mode: what it does and when to use it
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Short answer: self-consumption mode tells the battery to soak up spare solar by day and run your home from it at night, before buying from the grid. That fits how solar saves money: most of the saving comes from using your own power rather than exporting it [SB-S307, C]. For most homes on a flat tariff it's the sensible default [SB-S307, E]. Other modes, such as keeping a backup reserve or charging at off-peak times, suit particular homes. The inverter's grid-safety settings are a separate thing, set by your installer to an Australian standard [SB-S308, C].
On this page: What self-consumption means / Other common modes / Battery settings to check / Grid settings (AS/NZS 4777.2) / Ask your installer
What self-consumption means
Solar saves you money three ways: you use it, you export it, or it cuts your peak demand [SB-S307, C]. Using it yourself is where most of the saving is [SB-S307, C]. In self-consumption mode the battery charges from spare solar and discharges whenever the house needs power, so less goes out at a feed-in rate and less comes in at the grid rate [SB-S307, E].
Other common modes
Names differ between brands, and each brand's manual is the source for its own modes. The common ideas are:
| Mode idea | What it does | May suit |
|---|---|---|
| Self-consumption | Store spare solar, use it at night | Most homes [SB-S307, E] |
| Backup reserve | Keep a share of charge for blackouts | Homes that want outage cover; needs a backup-capable setup [SB-S303, C] |
| Time-of-use / off-peak charging | Charge from the grid when it's cheap, use at peak | Homes on time-of-use tariffs; AC-coupled systems often charge from the grid [SB-S304, C] |
| VPP | Lets a retailer use part of your battery | Homes in a VPP plan; batteries must be VPP-capable for the federal discount [SB-S003, C] |
Whether time-of-use or VPP beats self-consumption depends on your tariff, so compare plans at Energy Made Easy or Victorian Energy Compare [SB-S048, SB-S049, C].
Solar battery settings to check
- Mode (above).
- Backup reserve %. A higher reserve gives more blackout time but less for everyday use [SB-S303, E].
- Grid charging on or off. Leave it off unless your tariff rewards it [SB-S304, E].
- Season. Use changes between summer and winter, so a setting that suits January may not suit July [SB-S305, C].
Ask your installer to show you these in the app at handover. We haven't used these apps ourselves.
Grid settings: AS/NZS 4777.2
Solar and battery inverters in Victoria and the rest of Eastern Australia must be installed with the AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 "Australia A" settings [SB-S308, C]. These are safety and grid-support settings, not money settings. Only your installer should change them [SB-S308, E]. Rules in WA and the NT can differ, so check with your installer.
Ask your installer
- Which mode they've set, and why for your tariff [SB-S307, E].
- The backup reserve, and which circuits are backed up [SB-S303, C].
- Confirmation the inverter is set to Australia A (Eastern states) [SB-S308, C].
- Whether the battery is VPP-capable [SB-S003, C].
The federal battery discount
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program gives a discount through certificates (STCs). Installs from May to December 2026 earn 6.8 certificates per usable kWh; from 1 January 2027 it's 5.7 [SB-S036, C]. The full rate covers the first 14 kWh, then 60% to 28 kWh and 15% to 50 kWh [SB-S036, SB-S001, C]. The rate is set by your installation date, not the day you sign [SB-S004, C]. The STC price moves, so there's no fixed dollar amount off. The battery must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list and be VPP-capable, and the installer must be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia [SB-S003, C]. Check the current rules at cer.gov.au and dcceew.gov.au.
If you're weighing up more panels instead of a battery, read that guide first. For how short days change things, see batteries in winter.
We haven't installed or used these batteries ourselves. This page is research from government pages, manufacturer documents and installer price lists, each linked and dated.
Rules checked 3 November 2026. Next scheduled check: before 1 January 2027 (STC step-down), and monthly for WA and NSW.