Solar Rebates & Incentives in Australia (2025 Update)
Get the latest federal & state incentives, find out if you qualify, and claim thousands in solar savings.
* All data sourced from Federal & State government programs and the Clean Energy Council.
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Why Governments Pay You to Go Solar
Australia’s electricity grid is feeling the strain — rising demand, ageing coal plants, and extreme weather are pushing it to the limit. Rooftop solar helps ease that pressure by lowering peak-time energy use and cutting carbon emissions. More importantly, it reduces the need for expensive new infrastructure, saving billions in future taxpayer spending.
That’s why governments at every level offer generous support — from cash rebates and interest-free loans to premium feed-in tariffs — all designed to fast-track solar adoption across the country.
“Every 6 kW system avoids roughly 9 tonnes CO₂ each year—the same as planting 325 native trees.” – Clean Energy Council
Federal Incentives at a Glance
Small Scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
A federal discount based on system size
Who qualifies: Solar systems under 100 kW using CEC‑approved panels & inverters
Value in 2025: ≈ $34 per MWh of lifetime generation — roughly $2,400 off a 6.6 kW rooftop system in metro areas
How to claim: Your installer creates & assigns the STCs at sale time, so you see the discount up‑front.
Instant Asset Write-Off
Who qualifies: Businesses with annual turnover < $10 million
Value in 2025: 100 % deduction on eligible solar & battery purchases (cap $20 k per asset)
How to claim: Book your install before 30 June; your accountant claims the deduction on the 2024‑25 tax return.
Green Loans via CEFC Partners
Who qualifies: Home‑owners & SMEs installing clean‑energy upgrades
Value in 2025: 0.5 – 1 % interest discount versus standard variable rates; no early‑exit fees
How to claim: Apply through participating lenders (Plenti, Brighte, Commonwealth Bank, etc.) and provide your solar quote.
How to claim
Apply through energy.gov.au
State & Territory Solar Rebate Programs
New South Wales
Battery Incentive (Peak Demand Reduction Scheme):
Rebate Amount: Between $1,600 and $2,400 off the upfront installation cost of a household battery.
Eligibility: Homes and businesses with existing solar systems.
How to Claim: Apply through the NSW Government’s Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.
Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Incentive:
Incentive Amount: $250–$400 for connecting a battery to a VPP.
Eligibility: Homes and businesses with battery systems.
How to Claim: Participate in an approved VPP program.
Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Grant Program:
Grant Amount: Up to 50% of the cost of a shared solar PV system on eligible apartment buildings.
Eligibility: Owners corporations managing eligible buildings in NSW.
How to Claim: Apply through the NSW Government’s SoAR program.
Victoria
Solar Panel (PV) Rebate:
Rebate Amount: Up to $1,400 for the installation of solar panel systems.
Eligibility: Victorians with existing homes or homes under construction.
How to Claim: Apply through Solar Victoria.
Interest-Free Loans:
Loan Amount: Equal to the rebate amount, repayable over four years.
Eligibility: Same as the solar panel rebate.
How to Claim: Apply concurrently with the solar panel rebate.
Hot Water Rebate:
Rebate Amount: Up to $1,000 for replacing an existing hot water system with an energy-efficient system.
Eligibility: Victorians replacing an existing hot water system.
How to Claim: Apply through Solar Victoria.
Queensland
Supercharged Solar for Renters Program:
Rebate Amount: Up to $3,500 for landlords to install solar PV systems on rental properties.
Eligibility: Landlords with eligible rental properties.
How to Claim: Apply through the Queensland Government’s program.
Feed-in Tariffs:
Incentive: Payments for excess solar energy exported to the grid.
Eligibility: Households with solar PV systems.
How to Claim: Automatically applied through your electricity retailer.
South Australia
Home Battery Scheme:
Rebate Amount: Up to $2,000 for installing a home battery system.
Eligibility: All South Australian households.
How to Claim: Apply through the SA Government’s Home Battery Scheme.
Feed-in Tariffs:
Incentive: Payments for excess solar energy exported to the grid.
Eligibility: Households with solar PV systems consuming less than 160 MWh of electricity a year.
How to Claim: Automatically applied through your electricity retailer.
Western Australia
Residential Battery Scheme:
Rebate Amount: Up to $5,000 for Synergy customers and up to $7,500 for Horizon Power customers.
Eligibility: Residential customers installing eligible battery systems.
How to Claim: Apply through the WA Government’s Residential Battery Scheme.
Feed-in Tariffs:
Incentive: Payments for excess solar energy exported to the grid.
Eligibility: Households with solar PV systems.
How to Claim: Automatically applied through your electricity retailer.
Tasmania
Energy Saver Loan Scheme:
Loan Amount: Up to $10,000 interest-free loans for energy-efficient upgrades, including solar and batteries.
Eligibility: Households and small businesses.
How to Claim: Apply through the Tasmanian Government’s Energy Saver Loan Scheme.
Feed-in Tariffs:
Incentive: Payments for excess solar energy exported to the grid.
Eligibility: Households with solar PV systems.
How to Claim: Automatically applied through your electricity retailer.
ACT
Sustainable Household Scheme:
Loan Amount: Interest-free loans up to $15,000 for sustainable home upgrades, including solar and batteries.
Eligibility: ACT residents.
How to Claim: Apply through the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme. Home
Home Energy Support Program:
Rebate Amount: Up to 50% of the cost of a rooftop solar system, capped at $2,500.
Eligibility: Holders of an Australian Government Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card, or Health Care Card.
How to Claim: Apply through the ACT Government’s Home Energy Support Program.
Northern Territory
Home and Business Battery Scheme:
Rebate Amount: Up to $12,000 for the purchase and installation of solar PV and battery systems.
Eligibility: NT homeowners and businesses.
How to Claim: Apply through the NT Government’s Home and Business Battery Scheme.
Feed-in Tariffs:
Incentive: Payments for excess solar energy exported to the grid.
Eligibility: Households with solar PV systems.
How to Claim: Automatically applied through your electricity retailer.
Solar Rebates & Incentive Eligibility Requirements:
1. Property
Grid‑connected, ≤ 100 kW system size
2. Installer
Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited & holds correct electrical licence
3. Equipment
On the CEC approved product list
4. Ownership
Owner‑occupier OR renter with landlord consent
5. Previous Claims
No existing rebate on the same address in the past 10 years
Need help? Our verified installers handle 100 % of the paperwork for you.
How to Maximise Your Solar Rebates in 2025 (Without Missing a Dollar)
Australia’s solar incentives can cut your installation cost by 30–60% — but only if you tick the right boxes at the right time. To help you avoid missing out, here’s how to claim everything you’re entitled to, step by step.
Step 1. Claim Your STCs (Federal Rebate)
All approved systems can receive STCs — a federal solar discount. Typically, this is worth $370–$620 per kilowatt. For example, a 6.6 kW system in Perth might save around $2,700.save you about $2,700 upfront.
Fast-track tip: Check that your quote shows a line item called “STC Discount” before you sign anything.
Step 2: Stack a State Rebate or 0% Loan
In addition to STCs, many state and territory governments offer rebates or interest-free loans up to $10,000. These vary by location and income.
For example:
VIC offers rebates for solar panels, batteries and hot water systems.
NSW offers battery incentives and VPP programs.
QLD supports solar for rental properties.
For example, VIC provides a $1,400 panel rebate, while ACT offers up to $15,000 in interest-free loans.
Fast-track tip: Most state programs require approval before installation — applying afterward may void your claim.
Step 3: Add a Battery or Join a VPP
Adding a battery can unlock extra rebates of up to $3,000 in states like SA, NSW, QLD and NT.
Even better, if you join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) — a shared network where your battery supports the grid — you may receive ongoing energy credits.
Fast-track tip: Ask your installer for a hybrid inverter that’s VPP-ready to future-proof your system.
Step 4: Check for Extra Incentives
If you live in a regional area or hold a concession card (like a Pension or Health Care Card), you might qualify for bonus rebates worth $400–$1,600.
Fast-track tip: Upload a photo of your concession card when applying to avoid processing delays.
Step 5: Lock In a Feed-in Tariff
Once your solar system is live, you’ll start exporting unused energy back to the grid. In return, your retailer will pay you a Feed-in Tariff (FiT) — a credit typically worth 4–12 cents per kilowatt-hour that you get for sending solar back to the grid
Fast-track tip: Ask your provider for a fixed-rate FiT to lock in today’s rate before it drops.
Bonus: Avoid These Costly Solar Mistakes
Even with generous rebates, a small error can cost you thousands. Watch out for:
Signing a quote too early: In some states, doing so makes you ineligible.
Choosing unapproved gear: Only products listed on the Clean Energy Council register qualify.
Missing deadlines: Most programs require install within 60–90 days of approval.
Changing system size mid-way: It can void your application or delay payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Federal Solar Rebate still available?
Yes — the federal solar rebate, known as the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), is still active. It reduces your upfront costs through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), which are based on the size of your system and your location.
You don’t need to apply for STCs separately — in most cases, your installer applies them as an upfront discount on your quote.
What solar rebates are available in my state?
Each state and territory offers different programs. For example:
NSW: Battery rebates and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) credits
VIC: Panel, battery and hot water rebates + 0% loans
QLD: Rebates for solar in rental properties
ACT: Up to $15,000 in interest-free loans
How do I claim solar rebates and incentives?
It depends on the type of rebate:
Federal rebate (STCs): Handled by your installer — you’ll see this as a line item in your quote.
State rebates: You usually need to apply before installation through a government portal, using:
Proof of income or concession status (if required)
A quote from a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer
Always check the deadline — most states won’t approve claims made after installation.
Can I still get a rebate even if I already have solar panels?
Yes — in fact, many battery incentive programs are specifically designed for homes that already have solar. Some states also offer rebates for system upgrades.
NSW: Requires solar to access its battery rebate
VIC: Offers battery and hot water rebates even if you’ve previously claimed a solar panel rebate
Are landlords or renters eligible?
In many cases, yes:
QLD landlords can receive up to $3,500 to install solar for tenants
VIC and ACT tenants can benefit if the landlord agrees to participate in the program
NSW apartment buildings may qualify under the SoAR grant for shared systems
Tip: Tenants should talk to their landlords and highlight the long-term value of solar.
Will the Federal Solar Rebate decrease in future?
Yes — the value of STCs drops slightly each year as we approach the scheme’s 2030 end date. This means the longer you wait, the smaller your rebate will be.
The sooner you install solar, the more you save.
Can I claim multiple rebates?
Often, yes — combining incentives is encouraged:
Most homes can stack the federal STC discount with a state rebate or loan
Rebates for hot water, batteries and low-income support can usually be added too
Just make sure your state doesn’t cap total benefits or restrict multiple applications per property.
This means you can layer different incentives to lower your total cost even further.
What's the difference betwen STCs and state solar rebates?
Here’s a simple breakdown:
STCs: A national solar discount that applies to everyone, based on system size and postcode.
State rebates: Extra support provided by your state — often income-based, and can include loans or bonuses.
Think of STCs as your base discount, and state rebates as add-ons you may also qualify for.
Do rebates run out?
STCs reduce 7 % p.a. until 2030; state programs close once funds exhausted—apply early.
Are batteries covered?
Only QLD, NT, SA and some VIC postcodes offer battery‑specific grants today.
How long does payment take?
STC discount is instant; state rebates settle within 10 – 60 days post‑inspection.
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