Solar panel rebate
in Victoria

There is also an interest-free loan available for installing new solar panels.

It's possible to claim multiple rebates in Victoria on the one installation. Combining rebates for a 6.6kW panel system can reduce the upfront cost by $2,960. Accepting the interest-free loan further increases the upfront cost savings to $4,360.

Despite the generous incentives, Victoria still lags other states when it comes to solar adoption, only 31% of homes have solar, compared to the nationwide average of 40% ¹. The Victorian government has set a Renewable Energy Target of 65% by 2030, however, currently only 40.6% ² of the state’s electricity is powered by renewable sources.

We explain all of the solar rebates on offer in Victoria, show you the savings and explain how you can claim the incentives.

Solar incentives available in Victoria

A number of solar rebates, incentives and interest-free loans are available to Victorian residents, we list them below:

• Federal solar panel rebate
• Federal home battery rebate
• Victorian solar panel rebate - $1,400
• Victorian solar rebate for rental providers - $1,400
• Community housing rebate - $1,400 per rental
• Feed-in tariffs – ongoing incentive

Solar Victoria loans

In addition to the rebates, a further incentive is provided in the form of an interest-free loan:

• Solar panel loan (interest-free) - $1,400

All of the interest-free loans provided by Solar Victoria are payable over four years.

Tip: Be aware, when solar installers quote a system price in Victoria, they usually include the interest-free loan component. You still need to pay this back so make sure you actually want the loan.

The federal government solar rebate in Victoria

Sometimes referred to as the STC rebate, the Australian federal solar rebate, is a nationwide program that encourages the uptake of household solar panels.

The amount of the rebate varies according to sunshine hours and the size of the system you install. You then receive a number of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) based on these two factors. Your solar installer handles the rebate for you, they trade the certificates at market price to determine your rebate amount.

For an 8kW system, you can expect a rebate of around $1,880.

To find out how many certificates you can generate and get an accurate estimate for your location, you can use our Australian solar rebate calculator.

How the Solar Victoria rebate works

The Solar Victoria rebate is provided by the state government. It provides eligible VIC residents with an upfront rebate of $1,400 on the purchase of new solar panels.

The Victorian rebate can be claimed in addition to the federal rebate.

How much the rebates saves you

If you are eligible, you can claim both incentives. Applying the federal and Victorian upfront rebates can reduce the typical cost of a really good 6.6kW system to just over $5,000 .

Effect of Victorian solar rebates on 6.6kW system:

If you also take up the interest-free loan offer, the upfront cost for a solar panel installation in Melbourne comes down to $3,755.

Solar rebate Victoria eligibility

The eligibility requirements for the Victorian solar panel rebate are slightly different to the federal government rebate, though some of the criteria does overlap. We list the eligibility requirements below:

• You own and live at the proposed install address
• Your combined household taxable income is less than $210,000 per year
• The value of your home is under $3 Million
• If under construction, the completed value of your home is under $3 Million
• You have not previously received a rebate under the VIC Solar Homes Program
• You have not installed solar panels at this property in the last 10 years
• You must have a Solar Victoria authorised retailer install your system
• The panels, inverter and / or battery, must appear on Solar Victoria’s approved product list

If you have previously received the Victorian solar rebate at another address, you can still apply for the incentive at the new address, provided any existing system at the new address is older than 10 years.

*If you were a recent gas customer of Solstice Energy, the $210,000 household income test does not apply.

Solar Victoria authorised retailer

To receive the Solar Victoria rebate, your system must be installed by a retailer that is authorised under the Solar Homes Program. Solar retailers must meet certain conditions to be able to participate in the rebate program.

Some of the key requirements include:

• Must be a New Energy Tech ‘Approved Seller’
• Provide a minimum 5-year entire system warranty
• Retailers are responsible for removing old (replaced) systems
• Hold an ‘A Grade’ electrical license
• Must not participate in door-to-door sales or cold-calling initiatives

You can view a full list of the requirements here.

All of the Victorian solar retailers that provide solar quotes in the Solar Calculator network are authorised installers and participate in the Solar Homes Program.

When the solar rebate ends in Victoria

The Victorian government has not set an end date for their solar rebate scheme. The amount of the rebate remains steady at $1,400, but it is possible that Solar Victoria may decide to decrease it at some point.

There are only a certain number of rebates available each month. Once demand is exceeded, you will need to wait until the next month. However, typically there is no need to wait as supply outstrips demand regularly.

The federal rebate ends on 31st December 2030.

Solar rebates for property rentals

If you rent out a property to tenants, it is possible to claim the Victorian solar rebate on the installation of solar panels at the rental property. You can actually receive the rebate at two different properties in any one financial year.

The rebate value for rental properties is $1,400. You must meet the same eligibility requirements as for the PV rebate, and some additional criteria listed below:

• Your renters combined income must be less than $210,000
• The property is valued at less than $3 Million

VIC solar loan

The interest-free loan available on solar panels is payable over four years. If you take up the offer of the maximum $1,400 loan, repayments will be $29.16 per month. You can use this solar loan calculator to calculate repayments for different amounts.

The process for claiming the Victorian solar loan is very similar to that for the rebate. A few additional steps are required:

• Complete a credit check
• Submit your loan application to Solar Victoria
• Wait for loan approval
• Install the solar system
• Pay the balance to your solar retailer

VIC community housing rebate

Not-for-profit organisations that provide affordable housing solutions can apply for a solar rebate worth up to $1,400.

The rebate is to cover up to 50% of the total installation. An install must cost at least $2,800 to receive the full $1,400 saving. If out-of-pockets costs are $2,000, the rebate drops down to $1,000.

How to claim the Victoria solar rebates

The first step to claiming the VIC solar rebate is to organise quotes from reputable installers. With their help, you can then decide on a system, select the brand of solar panels and inverter you wish to install.

Once you select a solar retailer, you then work with them to complete the paperwork and claim your rebate. We outline the process to claim your Victoria rebate below:

1. Get quotes from reputable solar companies
2. Engage a solar company
3. Select your system components and check them off the Solar Victoria list
4. Have your solar company upload your approved quote to the Solar Victoria portal
5. Receive confirmation that your quote has been received
6. Upload your eligibility paperwork to the Solar Victoria portal
7. Install the system
8. Pay your solar company the net cost of the system

* You need to make sure that your eligibility is approved by Solar Victoria before installation. If it isn’t, you risk losing the rebate.

To claim the rental incentive, you need to sign an agreement with your renters.

The battery rebate in Victoria

The Australian government's home solar battery rebate is available to all Victorians that install an approved battery. The rebate can save up to 25% off the cost of a home battery, it can be claimed in addition to the federal solar rebate and the VIC solar panel rebate.

Value of the storage rebate

The home battery storage rebate is the same for residents all around Australia as it is based on the usable storage capacity of the battery.

As a guide, the rebate is worth around $252 per kWh of storage installed. The incentive can be claimed for each kWh up to 50 kWh in total.

The table below shows the value of the rebate for popular battery sizes:

The rebate is tiered according to the usable capacity of the battery:

• Up to 14 kWh: 100% rebate
• 14 kWh - 28 kWh: 60% of rebate
• 28 kWh - 50 kWh: 15% of rebate

You can claim the battery rebate either by adding a battery to your existing system or, by buying solar panels and a battery at the same time. If you do buy a panel and battery system, you can claim the Victoria panel rebate, federal solar rebate and the battery rebate.

Feed-in tariffs in Victoria

Once your system is installed and operating in Victoria, you’ll start to earn solar feed-in tariffs.

Feed-in tariffs are a necessary function of all grid-connected systems. For every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you export to the grid, you can receive a payment known as a feed-in tariff paid as a credit on your electricity bills.

Feed-in rates vary

Feed-in tariffs now operate very similarly to other Australia states. The electricity retailers set minimum and maximum rates. There is no tax on solar exports in Victoria and the minimum tariff rate must be above 0.0c.

As a household consumer, you can choose between three different types of feed-in tariffs:

1. Flat rate (any time of day)
2. Variable rate with favourable daytime tariffs
3. Variable rate that encourages exports during peak hours

You need to select the best VIC feed-in tariff based on your energy use patterns and the rates offered by your chosen electricity retailer.

You don’t need to apply for feed-in tariffs

Feed-in tariffs are not something you need to apply for to receive a rebate. Once your system is connected, then you can inform your retailer and choose a tariff. Or, you may choose to shop around and compare rates from different electricity companies.

Victorian energy rebates

In addition to the solar incentives, a number of energy rebates are available to Victorian residents.

Victoria energy upgrades

Under a different incentive scheme, the Victorian government is offering an array of energy rebates for households that are looking to electrify their homes. The Victorian Energy Upgrades program is focused on saving energy and lowering electricity bills.

A discount is available on many new efficient appliances under the scheme. A list of popular products include:

• Heating and cooling appliances – Up to $2,800
• Hot water system – Up to $840
• Induction cooktops – Up to $140
• Clothes dryer – Up to $70

The size of the discount depends on the size of the appliance you plan to install and the efficiency rating of the unit you are replacing.

Visit the Victorian Energy Upgrades website for more information.

Victorian incentives no longer available

Certain energy and solar incentives are no longer available in Victoria. The table summarises these below:

Victorian interest-free battery loan

The Victorian government has scrapped its $8,800 interest-free loan for new battery installations. The program closed around the time the federal home battery rebate was introduced.

VIC electricity rebate

The federal government’s 2025 / 26 Energy Bill Relief payment has now been paid to all Victorian account holders. The rebate was worth $150.

EV rebate in Victoria

The Victorian EV rebate closed at the end of June 2023. The program, officially called the Zero Emissions Vehicle Subsidy, provided new eligible EV owners with a rebate worth up to $3,000 on cars valued at up to $68,750.

The Victorian government has also ended the discount available to EV owners on car registration fees.