Everything you need to know about the Australian Government solar rebate

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Here in Australia, we’re blessed with plenty of sunshine all year round. So, it’s no wonder why we’re the global leader when it comes to solar uptake. Last year, a record number of solar panels were installed nationwide, so if you’ve been umming and ahhing about jumping on the solar bandwagon, take that as your sign to jump onboard. 

With generous solar rebates on offer to homes and businesses nationwide, there’s truly no better time than the present to make the switch to solar. But with so much information out there, it can be difficult to navigate all the various incentives on offer. 

So, what are the current subsidies for solar panels and renewable energy in Australia? Here’s everything you need to know about solar rebates in Australia in 2022. 

What solar rebates are on offer?

With over 3 million Australian homes already covered in energy generating devices, you might be wondering what the subsidies for renewable energy in Australia actually are. It seems like everyone’s getting solar panels installed these days, so what are the incentives that are driving this upward trend?

In Australia, the federal government has introduced financial incentives to support the switch to renewable energy systems. Under the federal government’s Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), households and small businesses may be eligible to receive a benefit when they install a small-scale renewable energy system. 

When your solar panel provider sends you a quote, you’ll find the acronym ‘STC’ in the quote, which simply stands for ‘small-scale technology certificates’. These certificates can be traded in the renewable energy market for cash or credits. Your STC rebate is typically reflected as a discount on your quote, so it makes it really easy to claim your STC benefits. To make things even better, the federal STC scheme is open to all Australians interested in purchasing a solar system up to 100kW!

And you’re wondering if you can claim solar panels on your taxes in Australia, you just might be able to! If you happen to be a sole trader who runs their business from home or remotely, you may be able to deduct a solar system from your EOFY taxes. In these cases, a solar system can be claimed under the $20,000 instant asset write-off scheme, which comes as a huge win for small business owners.

Solar rebates VIC

Since 2019, the Victorian Government has been subsidising the cost of installing solar and battery storage. Whether you own your property or are renting a property, you may be eligible to claim a rebate of up to $1,400 for solar panel (PV) system installations. On top of this, the Victorian Government has introduced the option of applying for an interest-free loan to further reduce the upfront costs of installing a solar system.

 

You’re eligible to receive a rebate if you meet the following criteria:

  • You are the owner-occupier of the property;
  • You have a combined household taxable income of less than $180,000 per annum;
  • You have not already received a rebate under the Solar Homes Program;
  • You are installing the system on an existing property, valued at under $3 million;
  • You do not have an existing solar PV system.

 

For more information about the Victorian Government’s solar incentives for homes and businesses, visit the Solar Victoria website. 

Solar rebates NSW
Under the NSW Government’s Empowering Homes scheme, homeowners in eligible postcodes can access interest-free loans of up to $14,000 for new solar and battery systems. To quality for the scheme, you must:

  • Live in an eligible postcode;
  • Have a combined household income of no more than $180,000 per annum;
  • Own and occupy your grid-connected home.

Unfortunately, the offer does not apply to solar-only systems which means that you have to get a battery installed to be eligible for the scheme. 

For more information about the NSW Government’s Empowering Homes scheme, visit the NSW Energy Saver website. 

Solar rebates ACT

The ACT’s Next Gen Energy Storage Program offers eligible homes and businesses a rebate of up to $3,500 or 50% of the cost for new solar battery storage devices. Under this scheme, homeowners and businesses can save big on solar and battery installations in 2022. 

In order to be eligible for the program, your new battery system must be:

  • Coupled with solar panels;
  • Connected to the electricity grid;
  • A new system that has not already been supported by another program. 

For more information about solar rebates in ACT, visit the Next Gen website.

Solar rebates Queensland

Although there aren’t any specific grants or incentives yet available for Queenslanders looking to install solar panels, residents in Queensland are currently able to install solar power systems without having to pay upfront. Under this arrangement, a solar provider agrees to install and maintain the system whilst the homeowner agrees to pay for the cheaper power that’s generated from the panels. 

To learn more about Queensland’s solar power purchase agreements, visit the Queensland Government website.

Solar rebates WA & TAS

Like Queensland, both Western Australia and Tasmania do not currently offer any specific state-wide grants or subsidies to incentivise the switch to solar. Homeowners and businesses in these states can still enjoy the benefits of federal incentives such as the STC rebate, as well as benefits from feed-in tariffs. 

Solar rebates SA

Under the SA Government’s Home Battery Scheme, all grid-connected South Australians are eligible to access state subsidies and low-interest loans on home battery and solar systems. Energy Concession Holders can access a higher subsidy, which allows for more equitable access to the scheme across all members of the community. The only criteria for eligibility is that the approved battery system must be installed by a System Provider who is qualified under the scheme.

To learn more about the South Australian Government’s solar incentives, visit the Home Battery Scheme website.

Solar rebates NT

If you’re an eligible homeowner, business, or not-for-profit organisation in the Northern Territory, you can apply for a grant through the Home and Business Battery Scheme. Under this scheme, eligible NT homeowners and businesses can access a grant of up to $450 per kW hour of usable battery system capacity. This means that you can save up to $6,000 on any new battery installations!

To learn more about the Northern Territory Government’s grants for batteries and inverters, visit the Home and Business Battery Scheme. 

If you’ve been looking to make the switch to solar in 2022, it’s worth taking the time to find out what rebates or schemes you’re eligible for. At Jim’s Energy, our experts are well-versed in the financial incentives out there for homes and businesses across Australia. Call us on 131 546 or enquire online to chat to one of our experts about your best options.

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