How does the solar rebate work?
New solar panels earn government certificates called STCs (small-scale technology certificates). Your installer sells them for you, and that money is your rebate. It comes straight off your quote.
Each certificate is worth up to $40 when sold through the Clean Energy Regulator. That is the government agency in charge of the scheme. Bigger systems and sunnier places earn more certificates.
The rebate gets a little smaller every January, so the same panels earn less the longer you wait. The solar calculator on this page does the counting for you.
How much is the solar rebate in each city?
Where the sun is stronger, panels produce more, so the rebate is bigger. To find your sun zone, check the Clean Energy Regulator's zone list; every postcode has one. These are the amounts for a 6.6 kW system in each capital.
| City | Sun zone | Put in during 2026 | Put in during 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin | 2 | $2,000 | $1,600 |
| Sydney | 3 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| Brisbane | 3 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| Perth | 3 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| Adelaide | 3 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| Canberra | 3 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| Melbourne | 4 | $1,560 | $1,240 |
| Hobart | 4 | $1,560 | $1,240 |
A larger system gets a bigger rebate. A 10 kW system in Sydney earns roughly $2,760 when installed in 2026.
How your quote gets the discount
No paperwork goes to the government. Your installer has you sign a single form so they can claim the certificates, then shows the rebate as a discount on the quote.
Quotes for the same panels can show slightly different rebates. Ask each installer how much they allow for each certificate, then compare.
Getting a battery at the same time
On top of the solar rebate, a home battery installed with your panels earns its own federal discount. That comes off the quote too. kWh (kilowatt-hours) is the unit for battery size, and it shows how much power the battery can store.
| Battery | Put in by 31 Dec 2026 | Jan to Jun 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh battery | $2,720 | $2,280 |
| 13.5 kWh battery | $3,640 | $3,040 |
Each home can claim the discount for one battery only, and the battery must connect to solar panels (new ones or panels already on your roof).
Common questions on solar and battery rebates
How big is the rebate on a 6.6 kW solar system?
Installed in 2026, a system gets about $1,800 in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or Canberra. With more sun, Darwin gets about $2,000. For Melbourne and Hobart it is about $1,560.
Do you have to fill in a form for the solar rebate?
Nothing goes to the government. The rebate comes off your quote after you sign one form with your installer.
Will the solar rebate be smaller in 2027?
Yes, but only slightly. The same system drops to about $1,440 in Sydney for 2027, down from $1,800. It keeps falling each year until the scheme ends in 2030.
Does every battery get the discount?
No. The battery has to be an approved model, be put in by an approved installer, and meet a few other rules. Our battery rebate eligibility guide lists them in plain words.
Does NSW still have a battery rebate?
NSW's old battery discount closed on 1 July 2025, though the federal one still covers you there. On top of that, NSW pays an extra amount when your battery joins a virtual power plant, which is a group of home batteries a power company uses at busy times. How much you get is decided by the company you join.
Do any other states add extra support?
Western Australia has two government-owned power companies, Synergy and Horizon Power. If you join a virtual power plant, Synergy customers can get up to $1,300 and Horizon Power customers up to $3,800. The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) offers a low-interest loan, not a rebate. No other state or territory adds money right now. The federal battery discount lasts until 31 December 2030.