Rebates and Incentives, Explained
The rebate landscape changes often and confuses everyone. Here is what applies to your home or business right now, and we handle the paperwork so you just get the discount.
What Is Available, At a Glance
There are three layers: federal certificates for solar, batteries and heat pumps; state programs that vary by where you live; and extra schemes for businesses. They are separate, and many can be claimed together.
Dates matter more than most people expect. The federal battery discount drops on 1 January 2027, so the day your system is installed can change the amount.
Federal Battery Rebate
The STC factor is 6.8 for installs from May to December 2026 and 5.7 from 1 January 2027, then steps down again after that. The date of installation decides the factor.
See the home battery size guide for larger sizes. Check the current rules with the Clean Energy Regulator and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
| Usable capacity | Share of the STC factor earned |
|---|---|
| First 14kWh | 100% |
| Above 14kWh to 28kWh | 60% |
| Above 28kWh to 50kWh | 15% |
| Above 50kWh | Nothing |
Federal Solar (STCs)
Rooftop solar is discounted through small-scale technology certificates. The number depends on system size and location, and it falls gradually each year until the scheme ends in 2030. The discount is usually applied to your quote, so you do not claim it separately.
Pairing solar with a battery is covered on the solar and battery storage page.
NSW and State Incentives
NSW households can look at the state's Home Energy Saver program and other grants and rebates. Business and commercial batteries can earn a Peak Demand Reduction Scheme incentive, which started on 1 September 2026. Read how it works on the NSW commercial battery incentive page.
Other states run their own programs.
Hot Water and Heat Pump Rebates
Heat pump hot water systems can earn STCs and, in some states, extra incentives that cut the upfront cost sharply. Details are on the heat pumps page. Air conditioning may also be eligible for some NSW programs, as listed on the air conditioning page.
Business and Commercial Incentives
Commercial solar earns STCs or large-scale certificates depending on system size, and NSW businesses can access the battery incentive above. We advise on the right pathway for your site on the commercial solar and battery page.
Key Dates
| Date | What changes |
|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | Federal battery rebate becomes tiered |
| 1 September 2026 | NSW business and commercial battery incentives start |
| 1 January 2027 | STC factor for batteries falls from 6.8 to 5.7 |
| 2030 | Federal small-scale scheme ends |
Which Do I Qualify For?
Tell us your postcode and what you plan to install. We confirm every rebate you can claim and show you where each one applies to your quote*.
Common Rebate Mistakes
- Treating the rebate as fixed. The battery factor falls on 1 January 2027 and keeps stepping down, so the install date matters.
- Sizing for the rebate. Above 14kWh each extra kilowatt-hour earns less. Size for your use, not the discount.
- Comparing quotes before and after rebate. Make sure every quote is on the same basis.
- Signing without the certificate assumptions. A quote should state the certificate price it assumes.
- Skipping the accreditation check. Only accredited installers can claim the certificates. Search the Solar Accreditation Australia register before you sign.
Important Information
All figures are indicative and correct at the time of publishing. Verify them with the Clean Energy Regulator and the NSW Government. Frostac is not a financial adviser.
* Rebate and incentive figures are indicative, depend on the rules in force at the time, and may change. They are not financial advice or a guarantee of eligibility. See clauses 24.2, 24.6 and 24.9 of the Terms and Conditions.