Solar Rebates in Australia 2026: State by State
Two households can install identical systems in different states and receive noticeably different rebates. That gap comes down to sunlight zones, state-level programs, and when the system goes in. This guide explains what applies where, and what changes the number.
Every eligible system in Australia attracts federal support through STCs, which are deducted from your price rather than claimed back later. How many certificates you receive depends on your system size, your sunlight zone and how many years remain until the scheme closes in 2030. On top of that, several states run their own programs with separate eligibility rules.
The federal rebate applies everywhere
There is no cash rebate for solar in Australia, despite how it gets advertised. What exists is the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which creates tradeable certificates for every eligible installation.
How STCs turn into a discount
Your system generates a set number of Small-scale Technology Certificates on the day it's installed, based on how much renewable electricity it's expected to produce before 2030. You assign those certificates to your installer, who sells them on the open market, and the value comes off your invoice before you pay anything.
Why the number drops every January
Certificates are calculated on the years remaining until the scheme ends. Each year that passes means fewer years of expected generation, so the same system earns fewer certificates than it would have twelve months earlier. Waiting rarely pays off, since the falling rebate tends to cancel out any drop in equipment prices.
Sunlight zones decide how much you get
Australia is divided into four zones based on solar radiation. A system in a sunnier zone is expected to generate more across its life, so it earns more certificates for exactly the same capacity.
Zones follow postcodes rather than state borders, so parts of a state can sit in different zones. Regional Victoria and Melbourne both fall in Zone 4.
What applies in each state
Federal STCs are available nationwide. State programs sit on top of that and change far more often, which is why nobody can quote you a state figure that stays accurate for long.
Lowest sunlight zone, so federal certificates come in slightly under the eastern states. Victoria has historically run its own household solar and battery programs alongside the federal scheme, with eligibility tied to property value, income and whether the address has claimed before.
Stronger sunlight ratings mean more certificates for the same system size than Victoria receives. Brisbane sits in Zone 3, while far north Queensland falls into Zone 2. Battery-specific state support has come and gone, so current availability needs checking rather than assuming.
Sydney and most of the state sit in Zone 3. NSW has operated targeted programs aimed at specific household types rather than blanket rebates, with eligibility often tied to concession card status or existing solar ownership.
Among the highest solar uptake in the country, which has shaped how the state handles export limits and battery incentives. Feed-in arrangements matter as much as the upfront rebate here, since export restrictions apply in some networks.
The widest zone spread of any state. Perth sits in Zone 3 while the north of the state reaches Zone 1, meaning the same system can attract meaningfully different certificate counts within one state.
Tasmania shares Victoria's Zone 4 rating, while the ACT sits in Zone 3. Both have run their own household energy programs, generally structured as loans or targeted support rather than direct rebates.
State programs open, pause and close through the year as funding is allocated. Eligibility frequently depends on your property value, household income, whether you own or rent, and whether the address has claimed previously.
Any installer advertising a fixed state rebate figure is quoting a number that may not apply to you. We check what's actually available for your address before preparing a quote, so the price you see reflects what you can genuinely claim.
What changes your rebate amount
Certificates scale directly with capacity, so a 10 kW system earns roughly 50% more than a 6.6 kW in the same location.
Zone rating follows postcode rather than state, which is why two addresses in one state can differ.
Fewer years remaining until 2030 means fewer certificates, and the count steps down every January.
STCs trade on an open market, so their value moves week to week like any commodity.
Only panels and inverters on the approved product list qualify. Budget imports frequently don't.
Without a CEC-accredited installer, no certificates are created at all regardless of the equipment used.
Battery rebates work differently
STCs cover the solar component of a system rather than storage. Battery incentives run entirely separately through state-level programs, each with their own rules and funding caps.
What to check before committing
- Whether the program is currently open or paused for funding
- Whether it requires you to already have solar installed
- Whether it's a rebate, an interest-free loan, or a combination
- Whether the address has claimed under the program before
- Whether approved installer status is required
- Whether participation ties you into a virtual power plant agreement
Enter your system size and location to see an indicative STC figure and payback period.
Open the rebate calculatorHow the rebate reaches you
Nothing about the STC process requires action on your part. The certificates are assigned to your installer at signing, the registration happens after installation, and your quote already shows the deduction applied. If a state program applies, the application is lodged on your behalf as part of the job.
Frequently asked questions
Amounts, eligibility, timing and state differences.
How much is the solar rebate in Victoria?
Victoria sits in Zone 4, the lowest of the four sunlight ratings, so an identical system earns fewer federal certificates here than in Queensland or New South Wales. The exact figure depends on your system size and the certificate market price on the day of installation, which is why it gets quoted against current values rather than as a fixed amount.
Is the solar rebate different in each state?
The federal STC scheme applies nationwide, though the amount varies by postcode because sunlight zones differ. On top of that, individual states run their own programs with separate eligibility rules and funding caps. Those state programs are where most of the variation between households comes from.
Do I need to apply for the solar rebate myself?
No. Federal certificates are assigned to your installer and the value is deducted from your quoted price before payment. Where a state program applies, the application is lodged on your behalf. Nothing gets claimed back afterwards.
Is the solar rebate ending?
The federal scheme is legislated to close in 2030, and the certificate count reduces each year as that date approaches. It isn't ending suddenly, but the value does shrink annually, which means the same system installed later earns less support.
Can I claim a rebate on a solar battery?
Not through STCs, which cover the solar component only. Battery support comes from state-level programs that open and close as funding is allocated, and eligibility often depends on property type, income or whether you already have solar installed.
Send us your postcode and system size, and we'll confirm your eligibility before quoting.
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