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More than 3 million rooftop solar PV systems have been installed in Australia since January 31, 2022. Around 30% of residences in Australia have rooftop solar PV, which has the highest solar adoption rate worldwide.
Energy storage via a solar battery is a great option to make the most of your high-value solar PV system. Energy Matters can help you make an informed decision on the suitability of a solar battery for your home and needs with our Solar Power and Battery Storage Calculator.
Three primary sources of solar rebates or incentives are available in Australia.
- Federal government
- State governments (some, but not all)
- Electricity retailer (on occasion – retailer dependant)
Federal government solar battery incentive
There is no direct federal government solar rebate for adding solar battery storage to new or existing solar PV systems. However, the Australian government’s Renewable Energy Target scheme, which aims to lower greenhouse emissions from the electricity sector and encourage increased electricity production from sustainable and renewable sources, provides incentives to homeowners and small businesses
There are two schemes that form the Renewable Energy Target that the Clean Energy Regulator manages:
- The Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET), which encourages investment in renewable power stations, and
- The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which supports small-scale installations like household solar panels and solar hot water systems.
Small-scale renewable energy systems like solar panel systems, small-scale wind systems, small-scale hydro systems, solar water heaters, and air source heat pumps are all eligible under the SRES, which offers financial incentives to individuals and small businesses.
This SRES is accomplished by creating Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs). To help Australia meet its renewable energy target, the federal government developed the scheme in 2011. The scheme is gradually phased out, with STC values decreasing from January 1st through 2030. The scheme will end on December 31, 2030.
Solar batteries are assigned a specific number of STCs with value. The total value of the STCs is usually deducted from the total cost of your system for a point-of-sale discount. This usually results in thousands of dollars saved.
You can read more about these two schemes here.
Feed-in Tariff (FiT)
When you export excess electricity from your solar installation to the grid, you are compensated with a solar Feed-in Tariff, or FiT, from your electricity retailer.
The feed-in tariff’s value varies between states and among electricity retailers. The government introduced FiTs as a financial incentive to increase demand for solar PV systems. Feed-in tariff rates have significantly decreased as the solar industry has expanded, and solar panel costs have fallen by roughly 80%.
Solar battery system rebates and subsidies
Solar battery systems traditionally have not enjoyed the same solar rebates in Australia. But some recent government solar battery rebates, and solar battery subsidies, are available to support the purchase of solar batteries. There are currently no state government incentives for solar batteries if you live in Queensland or Tasmania.
Victoria : Solar rebates and incentives
Solar battery loans
Solar Victoria offers interest-free loans of up to $8,800 to help slash the upfront cost of installing a solar battery. This program aims to boost self-sufficiency and save you money on energy bills.
If you own your home, have a combined taxable income under $210,000, and possess a solar panel system exceeding 5kW (or plan to install one with the battery), you might be eligible! These limited loans (4,500 available in 2023-24) are repaid over four years, potentially bringing your upfront costs down to zero.
Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program
Unfortunately, the Victoria VPP program was a pilot program that closed for new applications on December 31st, 2022. It aimed to connect Victorian households with solar panels and batteries to a virtual power plant network, allowing them to share excess energy, reduce reliance on the grid, and potentially save money.
While the pilot program is complete, the research phase continues until December 31st, 2024, and existing participants can still enjoy program benefits.
Check out our page to learn more about the battery system rebates in Victoria.
If you are interested in installing a solar battery we can connect you with trusted local solar installers in Melbourne who will provide you with up to 3 FREE solar quotes!
The FREE solar quotes quiz also covers other renewables, so get clicking today!
South Australia: Solar rebates and incentives
Home Battery Scheme
In June 2022, the state of South Australia announced the Home Battery Scheme to DISCONTINUED. The South Australian State Government announced its Home Battery Scheme in late 2018. This program provided subsidies and loans to encourage the installation of home solar batteries. You could get up to $6000 off a solar home battery. Go to our South Australia Home Battery Scheme page to learn more about the solar battery subsidy.
SA Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program
Partaking in South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant is a chance if you are considering installing a solar battery or already have one (VPP). The SA VPP offers incentives to solar battery owners who feed the electricity stored in the batteries back into the grid at specified intervals. SA VPP was created and developed by Tesla, and the company manages the installation of solar energy and Tesla Powerwall home battery systems in South Australian homes.
Adelaide’s Sustainability Incentives Scheme - Energy Monitoring
A stand-alone energy monitoring display is included in the incentives scheme, which offers a 50% rebate up to $100 in the absence of a solar PV or battery system installation.
Check out our page to learn more about the battery system rebates in South Australia.
New South Wales: Solar rebates and incentives
Although NSW once provided a specific refund for solar batteries, it sadly ended in 2022.
That being said, there is still encouragement for solar battery technologies. More comprehensive renewable energy systems are now the focus.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - solar rebates and incentives
Sustainable Household Scheme
Households who are eligible can borrow up to $15,000. You have a maximum of ten years to pay it back. There are no fees or upfront costs, and there are zero interest loans to help with the costs of energy-efficient upgrades. These include:
- rooftop solar panels
- household battery storage systems
- electric heating and cooling systems
- hot water heat pumps (HWHP)
- electric stove tops
- electric vehicles (cars)
- electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- installation costs for these products
Western Australia: Solar rebates and incentives
Although WA does not offer any rebates for solar batteries, if you have a solar system and/or solar battery, you can participate in the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS).
DEBS offers a time of export payments. With a greater price paid for electricity exported in the late afternoon and evening when electricity demand and the retail cost of electricity are higher, these rates more accurately represent the cost of electricity at different times of the day.
As of July 1, 2023, the corresponding DEBS rates will apply to Synergy customers:
- Peak rates: Electricity exported between 3 pm to 9 pm earns 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh);
- Off-peak rates: Electricity exported between 9 pm and 3 pm earns 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Check out our page to learn more about the battery system scheme in WA.
Northern Territory: Solar rebates and incentives
Home and Business Battery Scheme
You can apply for a subsidy through the Home and Business Battery Scheme if you’re a Northern Territory (NT) homeowner, business owner, or not-for-profit organisation and want to buy and instal batteries and inverters. A subsidy of $400 per kilowatt hour of useable battery system capacity, up to a maximum amount of $5,000, is offered to eligible homeowners and businesses.
You can apply if you’re:
- a registered owner of residential property in the NT
- a registered NT business
- a not-for-profit or community organisation
- operating in the NT in either owned or leased premises
You can use the funding to buy and install:
- a solar photovoltaic (PV) with an eligible solar battery and inverter
- an eligible battery and inverter only if you already have solar PV installed
Check out our page to learn more about the battery system rebates in NT.
The following states and territories currently have NO solar battery rebates or incentives:
New South Wales (NSW)
Tasmania
Queensland
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