Solar rebate in SA
2026
Last updated: January 2026
Reading time: 5 minutes
Over 54% 1 of homes in South Australia already have solar panels contributing to the state’s high percentage (74%) 2 of electricity generated from renewable sources.
The South Australian government is aiming for 100% generation by 2027, an ambitious target it hopes to achieve with the help of the solar rebate.
The solar rebate in SA can reduce the upfront purchase cost of solar panels by as much as 25%. While the battery rebate can also deliver savings of around 25%. In addition to these two rebates, there are solar and sustainability incentives available to residents of Adelaide, Magill and Edwardstown.
Our guide will cover each incentive in detail.

How to claim the solar panel rebate in SA
The solar panel rebate available in SA is the federal government’s incentive available as part of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The rebate is particularly attractive for residents of South Australia due to the state’s comparatively high number of sunshine hours.
How it works
Your solar installer will handle the processing of the rebate for you. All you need to do is select a good installer, decide on the size of the system you want, and they will take care of the rest. You only pay your installer the net cost of the system (the gross price less the rebate).
What happens behind the scenes is a little more technical. The government will apply a certain amount of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) based on your system size and the amount of sunshine your location receives. Each certificate is worth between $37 - $40. The price fluctuates depending on market demand.
Eligibility criteria to claim the rebate
There is some criteria you need to meet to claim the solar rebate in SA. The incentive is available for any purchase of new solar panels provided:
- Your system is designed and installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) installer
- Your chosen panels and inverter are on the CEC’s list of approved components
- The system is under 100kW in size
How much the rebate will save you in SA?
The federal solar rebate in SA can reduce the cost of your solar panels by up to 25%, depending on your system size, your location within South Australia, and how soon you install your system. The table below shows that an average-sized solar system of 6.6kW can expect a solar rebate of approximately $1,800.
SA STC solar rebate value
| Gross system cost: | $8,330 |
| Solar panel rebate: | ($1,800) |
| Net system cost: | $6,530 |
To get a detailed estimate of your rebate, you can use our solar rebate calculator.
If you want to see how the rebate impacts your savings and payback results for your property, you can use our solar panel calculator.
Solar battery rebate in SA
In addition to the Australian solar rebate, the federal government recently introduced a solar battery rebate.
The battery storage rebate can deliver savings of around $3,100 for a 10 kWh battery and $4,185 for a 13.5 kWh unit.
Example of rebate savings in SA
The table below shows how both the solar panel and home battery rebates can reduce the installation cost of a hybrid system:
| $ | 8kW solar panels | 13.5 kWh battery (generic) | Total system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross cost | $10,115 | $14,350 | $24,465 |
| Rebate | $(2,200) | $(4,185) | $(6,385) |
| Amount you pay | $7,915 | $10,165 | $18,080 |
For more information, you can read our guide to getting the home battery rebate.
SA Home Battery Scheme is now closed
The SA battery rebate, also known as the Home Battery Scheme, is no longer available.
The battery rebate proved to be very popular, and saw 39,000 homes in South Australia receive a discount of up to $4,000 on the upfront cost of a new battery. Some 12,000 of the 39,000 rebate recipients also participated in an organised scheme where stored solar energy gets sent from their battery to the grid in times of peak demand.
It is not clear if the South Australian government will offer the incentive again.
Solar feed-in tariffs in SA
A solar feed-in tariff is another incentive that you can receive once you have installed a solar system.
When your solar system produces excess energy, it is exported to the grid. For every kWh exported, you can receive a payment called a feed-in tariff. In South Australia, rates typically range from 2c to 10c.
You can read more about how feed-in tariffs work here.
Comparing feed-in rates in SA
In South Australia, feed-in tariff rates are set by electricity retailers. The SA state government does not set a minimum rate, but retailers still set plans in comparison to the Default Market Offer (DMO).
Finding the best feed-in tariff rates in SA is important to delivering maximum savings from your solar system. However, you need to compare rates over the long-term and, be wary of special 12 month ‘sign-up’ rates.
While feed-in tariffs are a nice added bonus, self-consuming your solar energy to power your appliances directly rather than exporting excess energy to the grid. will deliver greater savings.
Electricity bill rebate SA
A $150 electricity rebate is available to all South Australian households in 2025 / 26 as part of the Australian government’s ‘Energy Bill Relief’ scheme. The final credits have been applied in $75 amounts in the September and December quarters.
The electricity rebate is not expected to continue in 2026.
Solar and battery incentives available in Adelaide
Homeowners and business in the City of Adelaide can benefit from a range of solar and sustainability initiatives designed to cut emissions and increase household savings.
Solar PV incentive
The City of Adelaide is offering concession card holders, tenants and strata managed residential properties access to 20% discounts off the upfront cost of new solar panel installations in Adelaide. Here’s what you can expect to save for different system sizes:
- 20% up to $1,000 (1.5kW - 10kW systems)
- 20% up to $2,500 (10kW - 20kW systems)
- 20% up to $5,000 (20kW+ systems)
Commercial solar rebate
A small rebate is available to businesses that install solar panels:
- 20% up to $1,250 (10kW to 20kW systems)
- 20% up to $2,500 (20+kW systems)
A 50% battery rebate up to $1,000 is available to Adelaide businesses that install a new battery.
Other sustainability incentives
- Appliance electrification: Receive 50% up to $2000 when you replace gas or woodburning appliances with electric or solar-powered ones.
- Electric vehicle charging stations: Install an electric bicycle charging station to receive up to $250, a one-way EV charging station to receive up to $1,000, or a ‘smart’ EV charging station to receive up to $2,000 from the installation costs.
To view the complete list of incentives, visit the City of Adelaide website.
SA Community battery schemes
Eligible residents of Magill and Edwardstown in South Australia, may be able to benefit from reduced electricity bills thanks to the planned installation of large community batteries.
The South Australian government is delivering the batteries under its ‘emPowering SA’ program. The 405 kWh batteries will store excess renewable energy for eligible residents to use at night. The program is available to Housing SA tenants who are unable to install solar panels or batteries.
It is anticipated the batteries will deliver annual savings of around $575 per household.
South Australia EV rebate
The SA government has now closed its electric vehicle (EV) incentives. It's not clear if they will reintroduce them in the future.
Incentives included:
- An EV rebate up to the value of $3,000
- A 3-year exemption on their registration fees
References
- Australian solar statistics, Solar Calculator.
- Australian electricity generation, Australian Government.
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