Note: Solar Choice has no incentive to promote one Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program over another. This review is designed to provide homeowners with factual, unbiased insights.
VPP Overview
The Synergy Battery Rewards program is Western Australia’s first large-scale Virtual Power Plant (VPP) for households. It commenced on 1 July 2025 as part of the WA Government’s Residential Battery Scheme. The scheme requires households receiving the state battery rebate to participate in a VPP. Synergy, the state-owned electricity retailer, administers this program across the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), covering Perth and most of southwest WA.
- Company: Synergy (WA Government-owned retailer).
- Partnerships: Delivered alongside the WA Government Residential Battery Scheme and in coordination with Western Power for grid integration.
- Commencement: July 2025.
- Scale: Early rollout with participation linked to new battery rebate applicants; target numbers not yet disclosed.
- Geography: Only available in WA’s SWIS network. Horizon Power customers in regional WA are covered under separate programs.
For context, see our VPP explainer.
Financial Benefits Offered
- State Battery Rebate: Participants unlock the WA rebate of $130 per kWh (capped at $1,300 for a 10kWh system).
- Federal Battery Rebate: Eligible households can also apply for the Federal Battery Rebate, up to $4,500 depending on battery size.
- Event Credits: During VPP events, Synergy pays 70¢/kWh exported from the battery to the grid.
- Offset Credits: Any grid energy used to prepare your battery for an event is credited back to you, so participation cannot leave you worse off financially.
Example annual savings with a 15kWh battery:
- High-use household: ~$1,200 per year (daily cycling + event credits).
- Low-use household: ~$600 per year (less frequent cycling).
See our Home Battery Storage Guide.
Electricity Tariffs & Rates
Participation requires being a Synergy residential electricity customer on the SWIS. Customers remain on standard Synergy tariffs (e.g. Home Plan A1, Smart Home plans). Feed-in tariff eligibility under WA’s Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) continues unaffected for solar exports outside VPP events.
Compare broader electricity plan options:
Battery and System Requirements
- Battery size: Minimum 5kWh usable capacity.
- Eligible systems: Must be from Synergy’s approved battery and inverter list. Common brands (Tesla, Alpha-ESS, Sungrow, etc.) expected to qualify.
- Connectivity: Reliable internet required (Wi-Fi/ethernet). Poor connectivity may disqualify participation.
- Smart meter: Mandatory for monitoring and dispatch.
- Exclusivity: Cannot be enrolled in any other VPP while in Synergy’s program.
See our Solar Batteries hub for battery comparisons.
Contract Length and Exit Terms
- Contract term: 2 years.
- Exit conditions: Participants cannot opt out of individual events. Leaving the program early may forfeit ongoing event credits but does not claw back the upfront rebate once granted.
- Relocation: If moving house, terms may vary – customers must check with Synergy.
Technical Operations
- Dispatch events: Up to 30 times per year, typically on very hot or cold peak-demand days.
- Duration: Events can last up to 6 hours, though actual battery discharge averages 2–4 hours.
- Priority: Your household load is supplied first; only excess battery power is exported.
- Compensation: 70¢/kWh for exports, plus credits for any grid charging used in preparation.
- Backup reserve: Not explicitly guaranteed – during events, your battery may discharge to near empty.
Compare with other programs: AGL VPP, Origin Loop, ShineHub, Amber SmartShift, or our VPP comparison guide.
Customer Support & Monitoring
- App/portal: Credits appear on Synergy electricity bills. No dedicated VPP app provided.
- Support: Managed via Synergy’s customer service.
- Transparency: Limited visibility into per-event reporting for households.
Pros & Cons of Synergy’s VPP
Pros
- Unlocks WA state battery rebate ($1,300 max) plus federal rebate.
- High event credit rate (70¢/kWh).
- Offset credits ensure no additional costs.
- Short 2-year contract.
- Backed by WA Government and Synergy.
Cons
- Only available in WA (SWIS).
- Limited to new battery installs via rebate scheme.
- Up to 30 events per year may reduce availability for personal backup.
- No opt-out from events once enrolled.
- No dedicated VPP monitoring app.
Is the Synergy VPP Worth It?
For WA homeowners installing a new battery, joining Synergy’s Battery Rewards VPP is effectively required to access the state rebate. The combination of upfront savings, generous per-event credits, and government backing makes it an appealing option. The main trade-offs are reduced autonomy during events and limited transparency. Households seeking maximum control of their battery may prefer independent use, while those focused on cost savings will find the program beneficial.
See our Is a VPP Worth It? guide.
How to Join
- Install a new eligible battery (≥5kWh) under the WA Battery Rebate Scheme.
- Ensure you are a Synergy residential customer on the SWIS network.
- Confirm your equipment is on Synergy’s approved list.
- Sign the 2-year Battery Rewards participation agreement.
- Credits will be automatically applied to your Synergy bill after events.
- Synergy VPP (Battery Rewards): An Independent Review - 17 September, 2025
- Sonnen VPP (sonnenConnect) – Independent Review - 16 September, 2025
- SolarHub VPP – Independent Review - 16 September, 2025
