Tool · STC + state + federal battery
Solar rebate calculator 2026
Work out the actual cash value of every federal + state rebate available to your household in 2026. Federal STCs by zone, federal Cheaper Home Batteries program, plus every active state scheme. Real values, primary sources cited, no email gate.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Federal STC rebate is automatic at point of sale, value ranges from ~$2,550 (6.6kW Melbourne) to ~$3,500 (6.6kW Darwin) in 2026.
- ✓STC value drops each year as the deeming period shortens. Scheme legislatively ends 31 December 2030.
- ✓Federal Cheaper Home Batteries program (1 July 2025) refunds ~30% of installed battery cost, capped at ~$372 per usable kWh, max 50kWh per household.
- ✓State stack: VIC Solar Homes $1,400 panel + $4,174 battery loan, QLD Battery Booster $3,000-$4,000, ACT Sustainable Household Scheme interest-free loan up to $15,000, NSW PDRS battery incentive $1,500-$2,400.
- ✓Every rebate requires a CEC-accredited installer. The rebate is forfeit if the installer is not on the register at the time of install.
Step 1 · Federal STC
Estimate your STC rebate
Pick your zone and system size. The output is an indicative point-of-sale discount using early-2026 STC pricing (~$38 per certificate). Real quotes will move ~5% either way as STC spot price fluctuates.
Estimated STC rebate (point-of-sale discount)
$2,950
6.6kW system in Sydney/Adelaide/Canberra zone
Federal STC by zone
STC rebate dollar value 2026
The Clean Energy Regulator divides Australia into four solar zones based on solar resource. The same size system attracts a higher STC count (and therefore higher dollar value) in northern zones.
| Zone | Includes | 6.6kW | 10kW | 13kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Broome, Far North QLD | $3,500 | $5,300 | $6,900 |
| Zone 2 | Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Alice Springs | $3,300 | $5,000 | $6,500 |
| Zone 3 | Sydney, Adelaide, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Geraldton | $2,950 | $4,500 | $5,850 |
| Zone 4 | Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Hobart, Launceston | $2,550 | $3,850 | $5,000 |
Indicative values based on STC spot price ~$38 + 6-year deeming period (early 2026). Real quotes will vary as the spot market moves. Authoritative postcode-by-postcode zone lookup at cleanenergyregulator.gov.au postcode zones.
Federal · 1 July 2025
Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Headline rate
~30%
of installed battery cost
Per-kWh cap
~$372 / kWh
usable capacity, indexed
Max battery
50 kWh
per household
How it works
- Applied by the installer as a point-of-sale discount. No household claim form.
- Battery must appear on the CEC-approved battery list and be VPP-capable. Tesla Powerwall 3, BYD Battery-Box Premium, AlphaESS, Sungrow SBR/SBH, Sigenergy SigenStor + others qualify; check the latest list.
- Installer must be CEC-accredited at the date of install. Verify at solaraccreditation.com.au before signing.
- Stacks with state rebates in VIC, QLD, ACT + NT, plus with NSW PDRS in most cases. Confirm stacking eligibility in writing.
- Worked example: 10kWh BYD installed at $11,500 ex-rebate. Federal rebate ~$3,720. Net cost ~$7,780. With VIC battery loan, $4,174 of that is interest-free over 4 years.
Primary source: DCCEEW Cheaper Home Batteries program. Per-kWh dollar values index annually; cross-check before quoting.
State + territory
Every active state + territory rebate in 2026
VIC · Solar Homes (Solar Victoria)
ActivePanels: $1,400 panel rebate (means-tested, household income under $210,000)
Battery: $4,174 interest-free battery loan (4 years, repayable)
Hot-water rebate $1,000, heat pump rebate up to $1,000
NSW · Empowering Homes + Peak Demand Reduction Scheme
PDRS activePanels: No upfront panel rebate (federal STC only)
Battery: PDRS battery incentive $1,500-$2,400 per battery (paid via accredited installer from 1 Nov 2024)
Empowering Homes interest-free loan (low income, closed to new applicants, check status)
QLD · Battery Booster (Queensland Government)
Active (funding cap applies)Panels: No upfront panel rebate (federal STC only)
Battery: $3,000 (most households) or $4,000 (concession-card holders) per battery
Income tested. Installer must be CEC-Approved Solar Retailer. Funds limited and time limited.
SA · Home Battery Scheme (closed, historical reference)
ClosedPanels: No active state panel rebate
Battery: Scheme closed late 2022. New applications not accepted. Existing approvals honoured.
Federal STC + Federal Battery rebate now the primary supports in SA.
ACT · Sustainable Household Scheme
ActivePanels: No upfront rebate (federal STC only)
Battery: Interest-free loan up to $15,000 over 10 years for batteries, solar, EV charging, heating
Loan, not a grant. Means-tested.
WA · Federal supports only (no current state panel rebate)
Federal onlyPanels: Federal STC scheme only
Battery: Federal Cheaper Home Batteries program. No active state battery rebate as of 2026.
Check Synergy / Horizon Power retailer offers + VPP enrolments.
TAS · Federal supports only
Federal onlyPanels: Federal STC scheme only
Battery: Federal Cheaper Home Batteries program. No active state battery rebate.
TasNetworks feed-in tariff comparison via Aurora Energy.
NT · Home and Business Battery Scheme (intermittent)
Funding rounds (check status)Panels: No active state panel rebate (Zone 1 STC value is highest in country)
Battery: NT Battery Scheme provides $400/kWh capped at $7,500 when funded. Check current round status.
Highest STC value in Australia + strong sun resource.
Watch outs
Where rebates get clawed back or denied
Installer not CEC-accredited at install date
CEC accreditation can lapse, be suspended or be revoked between quote and install. Ask for the accreditation number and verify on the day at solaraccreditation.com.au. If not accredited on the actual install day, the rebate is forfeit, full stop.
Battery not on the CEC-approved list
The federal battery rebate only applies to listed batteries that are VPP-capable. A "high-spec" battery your installer "just got in" may not be on the list. Ask for the exact model number and check the CEC approved-products list.
Doubling up between state schemes
VIC and ACT specifically prohibit receiving the same panel rebate twice. Receiving an unauthorised double rebate is fraud and is clawed back with interest. Confirm in writing with the installer if you have moved within the state.
Off-grid or hybrid installs
Some state schemes require grid connection. Off-grid installs typically still attract the federal STC but may not attract state battery rebates. Confirm with the relevant state energy department before relying on the rebate in your quote maths.
Common questions
Solar rebate questions
How is the STC rebate calculated?
STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) are calculated as: system size (kW) x zone rating x deeming period years remaining. Each STC has a market price (typically $36-$40). The retailer is required to apply the rebate at point of sale as a discount on your quoted price. You do not claim it separately. The deeming period reduces each year and the scheme phases out completely by 2030.
Can I stack federal and state rebates?
Yes, in most states. Federal STC applies everywhere automatically at point of sale. The Federal Cheaper Home Batteries program stacks on top of state battery rebates in VIC, QLD, ACT and NT. Solar Victoria Solar Homes panel rebate stacks with the federal STC. Always confirm stacking eligibility with your installer in writing before signing.
When does the STC scheme phase out?
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme legislatively ends on 31 December 2030. The deeming period reduces each year between now and then, so the rebate value drops each January. A system installed in early 2030 receives roughly 1 year of deemed certificates instead of 6. If solar is on your shortlist, the rebate is materially larger now than it will be at any later date.
Is the federal battery rebate available to existing solar owners adding a battery?
Yes. The Cheaper Home Batteries program applies to new battery installs whether or not solar is already installed. The battery must be CEC-approved, VPP-capable and installed by a CEC-accredited installer. The rebate is applied by the installer at point of sale; you do not lodge a claim.
Why are STC values lower in Melbourne than Brisbane?
The Clean Energy Regulator divides Australia into four solar zones based on solar resource (kWh per kW per day). Zone 1 (top half of NT + far north QLD) gets the highest rating because panels produce more energy there. Zone 4 (Melbourne, Tasmania) gets the lowest. Same size system produces fewer STCs in Melbourne than in Brisbane, so the rebate dollar value is smaller.
Are state battery rebates means-tested?
Most are. VIC requires household income under $210,000. QLD Battery Booster is income-tested with higher amounts for concession-card holders. ACT loans are means-tested. NT scheme has had varied criteria across funding rounds. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries program is not means-tested.
Next steps
Use the rebate as the first filter, not the headline
Every installer applies the same federal STC rebate. The price difference between a $4,500 and an $8,000 6.6kW quote is panel quality, inverter quality, workmanship warranty and overheads, not the rebate. Verify the installer is CEC-accredited, the panels are on the BNEF Tier 1 list and the inverter has a 10+ year warranty before signing.