Solar Rebate Calculator
This solar rebate calculator works out how many small-scale technology certificates your system creates, and what that rebate is worth off your installed price. Enter your postcode and system size below. All of Victoria sits in STC Zone 4, and systems installed in 2026 earn certificates over a five-year deeming period.
Enter your postcode and system size to see your STC entitlement.
Step 1 · Your postcode
Step 2 · Your system
How the rebate is calculated
Australia does not hand out a cash rebate for solar. The federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme creates tradeable certificates for every eligible system installed, and those certificates have a market value. Three numbers decide how many you get.
System size
Measured in kilowatts of panel capacity. A 10 kW system earns roughly 50% more certificates than a 6.6 kW.
Zone rating
Australia has four solar zones based on sunlight. Victoria sits in Zone 4 with a rating of 1.185 — the lowest of the four.
Deeming period
Years remaining until the scheme closes in 2030. Systems installed in 2026 earn certificates over five years.
Multiply the three together and round down to a whole number. That is your certificate count. Multiply that by the current STC market price and you have the rebate value.
Your install date sets your rebate, not your order date
The deeming period is determined by when the system is actually installed, not when you sign the contract. A system ordered in December but installed in January earns a full year less, which on a 10 kW system is worth several hundred dollars. If you are ordering late in the year, ask for an installation date in writing.
Worked examples for Victoria
These are the system sizes we install most often, calculated at Zone 4 with a 2026 install.
What changes your number
Your zone
All of Victoria is Zone 4, so an identical system earns fewer certificates here than in Queensland or New South Wales.
Install year
The deeming period drops by one year every January. The same system installed twelve months later earns fewer certificates.
STC market price
Certificates trade on an open market and the price moves week to week. It is capped by legislation at $40.
Equipment approval
Only panels and inverters on the approved product list qualify. Budget imports often do not.
Installer accreditation
The installation must be completed by a CEC-accredited installer, otherwise no certificates are created at all.
Battery capacity
Solar batteries earn certificates separately, calculated on usable storage capacity rather than generation.
Frequently asked questions
Eligibility, timing, batteries and how the discount reaches you.
How much is the solar rebate in Victoria?
It depends on your system size and the certificate market price on the day of installation. A 6.6 kW system in Victoria currently earns around 39 certificates, and a 10 kW system around 59. Victoria sits in Zone 4, the lowest of the four ratings, so an identical system earns fewer certificates here than in sunnier states.
Do I claim the rebate myself?
No. You assign the certificates to your installer, who registers and sells them. The value comes off your quoted price before you pay anything, so there is no paperwork on your side and nothing to claim back afterwards.
Is it worth waiting for a bigger rebate?
Generally not. The deeming period drops by one year every January, so the same system installed next year earns fewer certificates. That reduction tends to offset any fall in equipment prices.
What size system can claim the rebate?
Systems up to 100 kW fall under the small-scale scheme and create STCs upfront. Larger systems follow a different pathway. Most Victorian homes are limited to 6.6 kW of panels with a 5 kW inverter by their distributor, though larger systems are often approved on request.
Do solar batteries get STCs too?
Yes, but they are calculated differently. Battery certificates are based on usable storage capacity rather than expected generation, and the rate is tiered — the full rate applies to the first 14 kWh, with reduced rates above that. See solar battery installation for what we fit.
Why do two quotes show different rebate amounts?
Usually because they were prepared on different days, or the installers assumed different certificate prices. The market price moves, and some installers quote conservatively while others use the spot price. Ask what STC value each quote is based on.
Am I eligible for the rebate?
Most Victorian homeowners are. The system needs approved panels and an approved inverter, and the installation must be completed by a CEC-accredited installer. Systems above 100 kW fall outside the small-scale scheme.
We check your postcode and the certificate price on the day, then deduct it from your fixed installed price.
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