Energy Plans

Getting the Most From Your Battery 

Once installed, choosing the right energy plan can significantly improve your battery’s performance and return on investment. 

Important Note (Energy Plan Sign-Up)

Please note that while we’re happy to provide general guidance on battery-friendly energy plans, Sapphire Solar is not able to sign customers up or connect energy retailers on your behalf.

If you decide to move to a different company, you will need to complete the sign-up directly with your chosen provider. Once your system is installed, we can help point you in the right direction and answer any general questions along the way.

Make the Most of Your Battery with the Right Energy Plan

Choosing the right plan can significantly improve your battery’s return on investment. Here are some recommended options:

GloBird ZeroHero

  • A solar battery-focused electricity plan from GloBird Energy designed to help you get more value from your battery system. 

  • Often used with a lithium battery (e.g., FoxESS) and solar PV setup to maximise savings. 

  • It works by rewarding specific battery charge/discharge behaviours and exports to the grid. 

Core plan features

  • Free daytime charging

  • Free grid electricity between ~11am–2pm daily to charge your battery.

  • You can fully charge your battery even on cloudy days via this free window. 

Daily “ZeroHero” credit

  • Earn ~$1 per day if you use zero grid energy during the evening peak (6–8pm).

  • To qualify, grid imports must be very low (<0.03 kWh per hour during this period). 

Evening feed-in income

  • Export excess solar/battery energy back to the grid in the evening peak and earn a higher feed-in rate (e.g., ~15 c/kWh for the first ~10 kWh). 

Optional add-ons

  • An optional ZeroLimits Virtual Power Plant (VPP) feature can pay ~$1/kWh for exports during critical price events and extra credits on import events — if your battery brand supports it. Fox customers: Roll-out is imminent!

How it works with FoxESS customers

  • FoxESS batteries (and similar systems) are compatible with the ZeroHero plan. Users can schedule charging/discharging times through the FoxESS app to match the plan windows. 

  • Scheduling helps ensure the battery charges for free midday and discharges into the grid in the evening to capture credits and feed-in value. 

  • Click here for instructions on how to set up your Fox App for ZeroHero.

Typical eligibility & requirements

  • Must have a smart meter and stable internet connection. 

  • Battery capacity typically from ~3 kWh to ~100 kWh. 

How it benefits battery owners

  • Reduces your energy costs by shifting your charging to free periods. 

  • You can earn money back by exporting stored energy to the grid at peak times. 

  • Daily credits provide a regular revenue stream that helps shorten battery payback periods. 

  • No lock-in contract — you can leave the plan anytime. 

Make the switch

Amber Electric – Wholesale Energy Trading

Amber connects you directly to the wholesale electricity market with no retail markup – ideal for solar and battery users.

Benefits:

  • Access to real-time wholesale pricing

  • SmartShift™ battery automation

  • 100% renewable energy alignment

  • Flat monthly fee of $25

Useful Guides:

How to get started:

  1. Sign up at ahttps://app.amber.com.au/signup/?couponCode=SAPPHIRE

  2.  Download the Amber app for iOS or Android

  3. Add your FoxESS battery via the Devices tab

  4. Complete the setup in-app

Info needed:

  • FoxESS Serial Number: Your serial number is in this email above

  • Export Limit for your site: Your export limit is listed in this email above

  • Referred by: Sapphire Solar

Need help? Contact Amber Support

A note on Amber: Amber are a great company and have seen some exciting results with their customers, however feedback from our customers is that Amber’s customer service cannot keep up with its pace and has been a frustrating experience for many. Please take this as a cautionary tale – we have been counselling many of our customers to switch to Globird ZeroHero to avoid these issues – its only a matter of time before Amber can scale appropriately but you may like to save some pain in the interim!

For comparing other energy plans, we recommend the Victorian Energy Compare website.