Solar Rebates for Homes

The Queensland state government does not currently offer financial incentives or rebates for either home battery storage systems or solar panels. The only solar incentive available is the Federal Government's Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs).

The scheme works by providing small-scale technology certificates (STCs) to eligible households that installed solar panels in their residences.

These STCs can then be exchanged for Australian dollars, which will be taken off the price of your system. Depending on the system size you've selected, you're generally eligible for a certain number of certifications. In Queensland, a solar system can earn up to 12 certificates per kWH on average, with the total number of certificates per KW rising slightly for every additional KW the system produces.

Fortunately, due to Brisbane's sunny climate, residents are eligible for STCs of higher value. A 5kW system can save households up to $3,500, but you must have your system installed by a Clean Energy Council accredited installer to qualify for the refund.

Currently, there are no rebates and incentives offered for solar system installations in South Australia. In June 2022, the state of South Australia announced the Home Battery Scheme that promotes the participation of South Australian residents in the virtual power plant (VPP) program for both new and used home battery installations be discontinued. Significantly, this program offered loans and subsidies up to $6000 off a solar home battery in order to promote the installation of household solar batteries.



However, your solar photovoltaic (PV) system may be compensated for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of excess electricity it exports to the power grid. There are two types of feed-in tariff:

Depending on when SA Power Networks granted authorisation to link the system to the primary electrical grid, you may be eligible for feed-in tariffs.

1. Anyone with a solar PV system is eligible for the retailer feed-in tariff, which is a variable amount provided by merchants. Due to factors including market competitiveness and the wholesale price of electricity, it may alter often.
   
2. Only qualifying solar PV systems that were connected to the grid before September 30, 2011, are eligible for the distributor feed-in tariff, also known as the solar feed-in program. This fixed sum (44 cents) is only offered for such installations.
   

The ACT government currently has the Next Generation Energy Storage program. However, the program has already reached its target of 5,000 batteries in Canberra homes and businesses – and is no longer accepting rebate applications.

Starting July 1, 2023, eligible households can borrow up to $15,000 to improve their home’s energy efficiency through the Sustainable Household Scheme. This loan has a repayment period of up to 10 years with zero interest, upfront costs, or fees involved.

To be eligible for this scheme, you must be:

• A resident, homeowner, or community group in the ACT
• You must also meet the scheme's eligibility criteria and Brighte's lending criteria that includes a free one hour live workshop.

If you are eligible, you can use your loan to buy energy-efficient products such as:

• Properties with an unimproved value (UV) of $750,000 or less in 2022 qualify for all the products offered within the scheme, except for solar.

To be eligible for solar installations through the scheme:

• The unimproved value (UV) of your property in 2022 must be $450,000 or below.



• Units that have an unimproved value of $300,000 or less in 2022 will qualify for all the products offered within the scheme. 
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• For further information on eligibility, please refer to the Scheme Guidelines.
  

Home Energy Support Program (HESP)

The Health Care Card is now recognised as an eligible concession card. Individuals with Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card, or Health Care Card are eligible for: 

• A 50% rebate, capped at $2,500, for installing rooftop solar. 
  
• Additionally, they can receive another 50% rebate, up to $2,500, for installing energy-efficient products. These incentives can be combined with a loan of up to $10,000.
  
• The unimproved value (UV) eligibility thresholds for both categories A and B in the HESP are set at or below $750,000 for non-unit properties and $300,000 for units in the year 2022.

To be eligible for a rebate starting July 1, 2023, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• your property's unimproved value (UV) must be $450,000 or less (for non-unit properties) in 2022, or 
• you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card, or Health Care Card with a UV of $750,000 or below (for non-unit properties) to qualify for the Home Energy Support Program.