Guide · Solar & batteries
Published energy rebates and schemes, with the actual figures
The short answer
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program and Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme apply nationally, and Victoria publishes specific rebate amounts for solar and hot water, up to $1,400 each, both means-tested.
TradieAnswers editorial · written in-house and sourced to the authorities listed below
Checked against 7 published sources, listed in full at the end of this page. How we source this
This page exists because energy rebates are the rare corner of Australian home improvement where real numbers are published by named authorities and can be quoted exactly. Everything below is sourced; nothing is estimated. Where a scheme has no fixed dollar value, that is stated rather than filled in with a plausible figure.
Federal, Cheaper Home Batteries Program
A discount of around 30% on the upfront cost of eligible battery systems from 5 kWh to 100 kWh, delivered through Small-scale Technology Certificates that the installer assigns. In December 2025 the government expanded the program from an estimated $2.3 billion to an estimated $7.2 billion over four years.
Two changes took effect on 1 May 2026. The calculation was adjusted to track falling battery costs, and the certificate factor now tapers with installed capacity:
| Installed capacity | Certificate factor |
|---|---|
| 0 to 14 kWh inclusive | 100% |
| Above 14 up to 28 kWh inclusive | 60% |
| Above 28 up to 50 kWh inclusive | 15% |
Federal, Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme
Creates Small-scale Technology Certificates for eligible solar systems. There is no fixed dollar amount: the value depends on system size, location and the market price of certificates. In practice the installer assigns them and the value appears as a discount on the quote. The system must be installed by an accredited installer for certificates to be created at all.
Victoria. Solar panel rebate
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Rebate | Up to $1,400 |
| Interest-free loan | Up to $1,400, repaid at $29.17/month over 4 years |
| Household income cap | Under $150,000 combined taxable income |
| Property value cap | Under $3 million |
Victoria. Hot water rebate
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Standard rebate | Up to $1,000. A 50% rebate on product purchase price |
| Locally made products | Up to $1,400, effective 1 July 2025 |
| Household income cap | Under $150,000 combined taxable income |
| Property value cap | Under $3 million |
| Existing system age | At least 3 years old |
| Eligible types | Heat pump and electric-boosted solar water heaters |
Other states
Other states and territories run their own schemes, with different structures, and some run none for a given technology. Because those schemes change on their own timetables and this page only publishes figures it can source, the honest instruction is to check your own state's energy department directly rather than assume the Victorian figures generalise. They do not.
Related questions
- Do I apply for the federal solar and battery discounts myself?
- Normally no. The installer creates and assigns the certificates and shows the value as a discount on your quote. State rebates such as Victoria's are separate and generally do require an application.
Sources
Every source below was fetched and its response recorded on the date shown. Where a government site blocks automated clients, that is noted rather than reported as a successful check.
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program · Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WaterChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program · energy.gov.auChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
- Clean Energy Regulator · Clean Energy RegulatorChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
- Solar panel (PV) rebate · Solar VictoriaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
- Hot water rebate · Solar VictoriaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
- About accreditation · Solar Accreditation AustraliaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
- Solar PV and batteries · energy.gov.auChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK