iStore is transitioning from its current 5kWh battery model (IS-BATT-5000-ES) to a new 7kWh model, expected to be available around June 2026. Pricing details will be provided later. This new battery is an exciting development in the product line; however, if you currently own 5kWh batteries from iStore (or a Huawei system that uses them), this change is significant. The new 7kWh battery will have a different physical design, which means it cannot be combined with existing 5kWh battery stacks.
- The new iStore 7kWh battery (expected around June) won’t physically mix with existing 5kWh stacks (IS-BATT-5000-ES), so expansion needs to be planned on the correct platform.
- Perth Solar Warehouse can confirm your current configuration, expansion limits, and whether extra capacity will materially improve evening coverage, self-consumption, or EV charging.
- Timing and eligibility guidance: With ~6,000 units in-market and IS-BATT-5000-ES expected to come off the CEC list around October 2026.
If expansion is on your radar, even “later this year”, now is the best time to confirm what’s possible on your current platform. Once the market moves across to the 7kWh format, modular add-ons using the 5kWh units become harder to plan around because you can’t combine sizes in the same stack.
There’s also a timing factor for compliance planning. The IS-BATT-5000-ES is expected to be removed from the CEC-approved list around October 2026. Existing systems remain valid, but sourcing and installing additional matching 5kWh capacity may be more constrained as that date approaches.
Perth Solar Warehouse can help you make a low-risk decision:
› Compatibility assurance: We confirm your current system configuration and expansion limits.
› Right-sizing advice: We sanity-check whether adding capacity will improve evening coverage, self-consumption, or EV charging.
› Timing guidance: We explain realistic availability based on current supply (around 6,000 units in-market at the time of writing, with demand expected to rise through the changeover).
Transition planning: If the 7kWh platform is a better fit for your future needs, we’ll outline what that means, without derailing the immediate expansion options for 5kWh owners.
If you own an existing iStore 5kWh battery and are looking to expand your storage, or if you have a Huawei inverter that is battery-ready and you plan to add storage in the future, here are the next steps:
1. Send PSW your system details, or we can retrieve them from your installation records.
2. We will confirm which expansions are compatible and worthwhile for your setup.
3. If you choose to proceed with the expansion, we will assist you in planning the timing and securing the appropriate hardware.
If you are considering an expansion at any point, a brief check-in with PSW now can help reduce risks later and keep your options open during the changeover.
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