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What solar rebates are available to me in Australia?

State-based rebates and incentives can help you with the hefty upfront costs of installing solar. Find out if you're eligible.

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Adding solar power to your home or office is an excellent way to fight back against the rising cost of electricity.

Navigate to your state to see which rebates and incentives are available to you.

How do solar rebates work in Australia?

Solar rebates were established as an incentive for homes and businesses to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Even a small solar system can cost a couple of thousand dollars upfront.

A rebate helps you pay for those expensive installation costs and encourages more people to get panels installed which in turn helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels in Australia.

There are 3 ways you can get money back after installing solar panels in Australia:

  1. Small-scale renewable energy scheme. The federal government offers this program. It allows eligible home and small business owners to earn small-scale technology certificates (STCs) which can then be sold for a profit.
  2. State-issued solar rebates. These are provided at a state and territory level and are available on top of benefits offered by the federal government. Keep reading to learn more.
  3. Feed-in tariffs. Ideally, your solar PV system will produce enough energy to power your own home. Often you may produce more energy than you need. In this instance, your energy provider can pay you credit in the form of a "feed-in tariff" for contributing energy to the grid.

Which solar rebates and incentives are available in my state?

Most solar rebate schemes have limits based on your income. Here's what you can get depending on where you live.

Solar rebates in NSW

solar household icon
Solar for low-income households

Also called the "rebate swap for solar", this scheme provides a free 3kW solar panel system.

Solar rebates in VIC

solar panel icon
Solar panel rebate

Eligible homeowners can get a $1,400 rebate on the cost of installing new solar panels, or as a 4-year interest-free loan.
solar battery
Solar battery rebate

Eligible homeowners can get a rebate on the cost of adding battery storage to existing solar panel installations, up to $2,950.
solar hot water
Solar hot water rebate

Eligible homeowners can get a 50% rebate (up to $1,000) on the cost of installing a solar hot water or heat pump hot water system.

Solar rebates in QLD

solar energy icon

Queensland has previously offered interest-free loans for solar installation but doesn't have any active state schemes.

You may be eligible for a rebate from the federal government.

Solar rebates in SA

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The South Australian government previously offered the All Home Battery Scheme. All subsidies have been allocated.

You can still access the federal scheme if eligible.

Solar rebates in Tasmania

In addition to the federal small-scale renewable energy scheme, Tasmania has an active Energy Saver Loan Scheme to assist Tasmanian households in reducing their energy bills.

  • Keep in mind: This is not a rebate and is a 0% interest loan. You will need to be approved and repay the full amount over the agreed loan term.
energy loan
Energy Saver Loan

Under the scheme, you can get an interest-free loan between $500 and $10,000 to spend across a range of energy-efficient products including rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems and solar hot water heating.

Solar rebates in the ACT

home solar energy
Home Energy Support

This program helps homeowners install a range of sustainable products including solar systems. The rebate is for up to $5,000 split 50% for rooftop solar and the remaining half for hot water heat pumps, electric stovetops and reverse cycle air conditioning.

Solar rebates in WA

energy rebate

Western Australia doesn't currently have any active state schemes for solar rebates.

If you're a Western Australian homeowner interested in installing solar panels, you may be eligible for a rebate from the federal government instead.

Solar rebates in NT

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Home and Business Battery Scheme

Under this scheme you can apply for a grant of $450 per kilowatt of usable battery capacity, up to a maximum of $6,000.

You can use the grant to fund the installation of a solar PV system and battery or just the battery if you already have solar installed.

Finder survey: What influenced Australians to get solar?

Response75+ yrs65-74 yrs55-64 yrs45-54 yrs35-44 yrs25-34 yrs18-24 yrs
Reduce electricity bill28.36%26.86%24.07%15.56%12.85%11.98%10.53%
Environmental sustainability2.99%3.43%4.32%2.78%4.82%3.23%2.11%
Solar rebates2.99%4%1.23%1.11%2.81%1.38%2.11%
Other1.49%1.14%1.23%0.56%1.61%2.3%2.11%
None0.62%0.56%0.4%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1145 Australians, December 2023

Am I eligible for small-scale technology certificates?

To be eligible for STCs, your system must be less than 100kW in size, use approved solar PV panels and be installed by an approved professional.

They're also available for eligible wind turbines, hydro systems and air source heat pumps.

How much are STCs worth?

The amount you'll receive for STCs will depend on how they're sold.

  • If sold through the STC clearing house, you'll get a fixed price of $40 (excluding GST) for each STC.
  • If sold through the open market, you could get a higher or lower price depending on market demand.

How many STCs will I get?

The number of STCs you get depends on where you're located, the installation date and the amount of electricity your system is set to generate over a given period, which is known as the "deeming period". It can be 1 year, 5 years or the maximum deeming period.

The current maximum deeming period is 8 years for a system installed in 2023. The maximum deeming period will decrease by each year until 2030 when the scheme is due to end.

  • Good to know: A longer deeming period will mean you could be eligible for more STCs and could be better off installing solar sooner.

You'll get 1 STC for each megawatt hour of electricity generated or displaced by the system during your deeming period.

You can use the government's STC calculator to get an estimate of the certificates you could earn from your solar system.

For example:

  • If you installed a 2kW solar system in Melbourne and set a deeming period of 5 years, you'd get 11 STCs.
  • If you installed the same system in Darwin (which gets more sun) over the same time, you'd get 15 STCs.

Based on the STC clearing house price of $40 per certificate, that adds up to $440 in Melbourne or $600 in Darwin.

How long will it take to pay off my solar system?

The cost of paying back your solar system will depend on its size and how much you receive back in the form of feed-in tariffs and STCs.

You can likely recoup the upfront costs of installing solar in as little as 4 years with a smaller system or up to 8 years with a larger one.

Working out your solar payback period doesn't take very long at all using a solar payback calculator.

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Solar plans available in your state

Name Product AUFEG-PRO Details Electricity Price (Annual) Difference from Reference Price Apply Description
Powershop Super Solar
Basic Plan Information
Powershop Super Solar

$1,436
13c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
5% less
Red Energy Red Solar Saver
Basic Plan Information
Red Energy Red Solar Saver

$1,499
6c-12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
1% less
Simply Solar
Basic Plan Information
Simply Solar

$1,512
19.5/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
AGL Solar Savers
Basic Plan Information
AGL Solar Savers

$1,512
5c-15c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
EnergyAustralia Solar Max
Basic Plan Information
EnergyAustralia Solar Max

$1,512
7.6c-10c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
• Annual estimate includes $50 sign up credit for new customers
Globird Energy Solarplus
Basic Plan Information
Globird Energy Solarplus

$1,543
3c-17c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
2% more
• Annual estimate includes $50 sign up credit for new customers
• Conditional discounts not included
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The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 3900 kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 18542 MJ per year. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Product AUFEG-PRO Details Electricity Price (annual) Difference from Default offer Apply Description
OVO Energy Solar Plan
Energy Fact Sheet
OVO Energy Solar Plan
Energy Fact Sheet
OVO Energy Solar Plan

$1,554
12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
15% more
Simply Solar
Energy Fact Sheet
Simply Solar
Energy Fact Sheet
Simply Solar

$1,718
11c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
AGL Solar Savers
Energy Fact Sheet
AGL Solar Savers
Energy Fact Sheet
AGL Solar Savers

$1,718
5.2c-15c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
EnergyAustralia Solar Max

$1,718
5.4c-10c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
• Annual estimate includes $50 sign up credit for new customers
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The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 4000 kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 46000 MJ per year. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Product AUFEG-PRO Details Electricity Price (annual) Difference from Reference price Apply Description
Origin Solar Lite Variable
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Lite Variable
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Lite Variable

$1,490
2c-5c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
8% less
Origin Solar Boost
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Boost
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Boost

$1,620
5c-12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
EnergyAustralia Solar Max
Basic Plan Information
EnergyAustralia Solar Max
Basic Plan Information
EnergyAustralia Solar Max

$1,620
6.6c-10c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
AGL Solar Savers
Basic Plan Information
AGL Solar Savers
Basic Plan Information
AGL Solar Savers

$1,620
5c-15c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
sumo Solar Advantage
Basic Plan Information
sumo Solar Advantage
Basic Plan Information
sumo Solar Advantage

$1,620
7c-12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
Globird Energy Solarplus
Basic Plan Information
Globird Energy Solarplus
Basic Plan Information
Globird Energy Solarplus

$1,772
4c-11c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
9% more
• Annual estimate includes $50 sign up credit for new customers
• Conditional discounts not included
OVO Energy Solar Plan
Basic Plan Information
OVO Energy Solar Plan
Basic Plan Information
OVO Energy Solar Plan

$1,781
14c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
2% less
• Prepaid solar plan with monthly fixed direct debit
loading
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 4600 kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 8000 MJ per year. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Product AUFEG-PRO Details Electricity Price (annual) Difference from Reference Price Apply Description
Origin Solar Lite Variable
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Lite Variable
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Lite Variable

$1,674
2c-5c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
9% less
Origin Solar Boost
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Boost
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Boost

$1,839
5c-12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
Simply Solar
Basic Plan Information
Simply Solar
Basic Plan Information
Simply Solar

$1,840
9c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
AGL Solar Savers
Basic Plan Information
AGL Solar Savers
Basic Plan Information
AGL Solar Savers

$1,840
5c-15c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
EnergyAustralia Solar Max
Basic Plan Information
EnergyAustralia Solar Max
Basic Plan Information
EnergyAustralia Solar Max

$1,877
8.5c-10c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
2% more
OVO Energy Solar Plan
Basic Plan Information
OVO Energy Solar Plan
Basic Plan Information
OVO Energy Solar Plan

$1,985
12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
2% less
• Prepaid solar plan with monthly fixed direct debit
OVO Energy Basic Solar Plan
Basic Plan Information
OVO Energy Basic Solar Plan
Basic Plan Information
OVO Energy Basic Solar Plan

$2,044
12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
1% more
• Postpaid solar plan to be paid by due date
loading
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 4000 kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 14000 MJ per year. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.
Name Product AUFEG-PRO Details Electricity Price (annual estimate) Difference from Reference price Apply Description
ActewAGL - Capital Plan
Basic Plan Information
ActewAGL - Capital Plan

$1,100
23% less
Origin Energy - Origin Advantage Variable ePlus

$1,520
29% less
ActewAGL - Capital electricity plan

$1,660
23% less
ActewAGL Solar Saver
Basic Plan Information
ActewAGL Solar Saver

$2,065
8c - 12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
0%
Origin Solar Boost
Basic Plan Information
Origin Solar Boost

$2,209
8c-12c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
7% more
EnergyAustralia Solar Max
Basic Plan Information
EnergyAustralia Solar Max

$2,299
7.6c-10c/kWh Feed-in Tariff
11% more
loading
The annual estimated electricity prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 6100 kWh yearly on a single rate tariff. The annual estimated gas prices are based on a residential customer who consumes 20000 MJ per year. Your actual bill may vary depending on your consumption.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Joselle Delos Reyes as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Writer

Dylan Crismale was a utilities writer at Finder. Prior to joining Finder he was at Twitter, 2SER, Vertigo Magazine and Central News. See full bio

Dylan's expertise
Dylan has written 43 Finder guides across topics including:
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  • Solar power
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