Solar Panel and Battery Rebates 2019

Solar panels and batteries are rising in prominence year by year. Why? Because solar panels equip households, like yours, with the power to generate and consume your own natural energy, while solar batteries help you get the most out of your solar panels by storing the excess energy they produce for use later on. This means that you can become less reliant on the electricity grid, and reduce your electricity bills even further. The advantages are immense; cheaper electricity bills, more independence from the electricity grid, an increase in your property value, and all while you’re doing your part to help the environment.

So, what’s the catch? Although solar panels and batteries are becoming rapidly cheaper, they can still cost between the realms of $7,000-$12,000, depending on the size of the battery. The good news is that several State Governments have introduced rebates, grants, and subsidies to help with this cost.

In classic Reposit Power style, we’ve done the hard work for you and compiled a list of current and future subsidies available. Find out what’s on offer in your State or Territory below.

Federal

SMALL-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY SCHEME
Status: Current
Start: 2011
End: 2032
Overview: The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme creates a financial incentive for individuals and small businesses to install eligible small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar panel systems, small-scale wind systems, small-scale hydro systems, solar water heaters and air source heat pumps.
Eligibility: Under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, eligible small-scale renewable energy systems may be entitled to small-scale technology certificates, which can be sold to recoup a portion of the cost of purchasing and installing the system.
Value: 37 $/STC as of March 2019 (~600 $/kW solar)

New South Wales

EMPOWERING HOMES PROGRAM
Status: Upcoming
Start: TBA
Overview:The NSW Coalition government has announced a 10-year Empowering Homes program to unlock $3.2 billion investment in renewables and provide up to 300,000 households a no-interest loan to install solar energy and battery storage systems.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the scheme, applicants will need to be owner-occupiers of a house with an annual household income of up to $180,000. 
Value: No Interest loans of up to $9,000 per battery system and up to $14,000 per solar-battery system will be available.

SOLAR FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
Status: Current
Start: 2019
Overview: The Solar for Low Income Households Trial provides an opportunity for low-income households in NSW to reduce their electricity bill through rooftop solar. Up to 3,400 households who receive the Low Income Household Rebate can choose to forgo their rebate and receive a free 2.5 kW solar system.
Eligibility: Trial is available in five regions: Central Coast, North Coast, Sydney – South, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South Coast.
Value: This program will allow households to generate and use solar electricity in their home, with the potential to save more than $600 each year on electricity bills. This is more than double what they would receive from the rebate, meaning they would be around $300 better off each year.

Victoria

BATTERY STORAGE INCENTIVE
Status: Upcoming
Start: 2019
End: 2020
Overview: The Solar Homes program will provide $40 million to support 10,000 households to install a solar home battery system. As part of the Solar Homes program a loan scheme will commence for solar PV systems for owner-occupiers from July 2019.
Eligibility: Victorians with a household income of up to $180,000 who live in their own home valued at up to $3 million are eligible for these rebates. Homeowners will only be eligible for one rebate across the Solar Homes program.
Value: Households will have access to a 50 per cent rebate for a solar home battery system up to a maximum rebate value of $4,839 in 2019-20, which is expected to be the price of a typical 11 kWh solar home battery system. 

SOLAR HOMES PACKAGE
Status: Current (on hold will reopen July 1)
Start: 2018
End: 2028
Overview: The Government announced a large-scale commitment to installing solar panels on the roofs of 650,000 Victorian homes over ten years. 
Eligibility: Victorian households are eligible to receive the solar panel rebate if they have a combined household income of less than $180,000 per annum before tax, are an owner-occupier of a home valued at under $3,000,000 and do not already have a solar panel system installed. Households who choose to access the solar PV rebate before the loans scheme opens in July 2019 will not be able to apply for the no-interest loan.
Value: A 50 percent rebate for any solar panel system under 10kW, up to a maximum rebate of $2,250 or Interest free loans for solar (Jul 2019) Households will be required to pay back the amount of the no-interest loan over four years

RENTERS SOLAR SCHEME
Status: Upcoming
Start: 2019
End: 2028
Overview: The Solar Homes renters program will provide $82 million over 10 years to support 50,000 Victorian households who rent their home to access the benefits of solar panels.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the rebate and interest free loans, landlords will need to strike an agreement with their tenants to share the costs of installation. Owners corporations will also be eligible. In order to receive the 50 per cent rebate and no-interest loan, they will need to demonstrate that the benefits of installing solar panels will be passed on to tenants.
Value: The Government will pay 50% of the cost of rooftop solar, and the landlord and tenant contribute 25% each. The tenant pays off their share of the cost over 4 years through a levy on their rent. Landlords will also be able to get low interest loans for the remaining cost.

The installation of solar panels is expected to save a typical Victorian household who rents their home $890 on their electricity bill every year, while landlords will benefit by getting panels at low cost.

Queensland

AFFORDABLE ENERGY PLAN
Status: Current
Start: 2018
End: 2028
Overview: To drive the continued uptake of solar, Queensland Government have allocated $21 million over 3 years in no-interest loans and rebates for Queenslanders purchasing solar and battery systems. There are three packages available, but you can only apply for one - Loans for solar systems, Loans and grants for battery systems, and Loans and grants for combined solar and battery systems.
Eligibility: Along with not currently owning a solar system, there is different eligibility criteria for each package Find out more
Value:

• Loans for solar systems - Households who meet certain criteria can apply for an interest-free loan of up to $4,500 to purchase a solar system. The loan must be repaid within 7 years.
• Loans and grants for battery systems - Households and small businesses can apply for interest-free loans or grants to purchase a battery system. Assistance packages are available offering grants of $3,000 and interest-free loans of up to $6,000, repayable within 10 years.
• Loans and grants for combined solar and battery systems - Households and small businesses can apply for interest-free loans or grants to purchase a combined solar and battery storage system. Assistance packages are available for combined solar and battery systems - offering grants of $3,000 and interest-free loans of up to $10,000, repayable within 10 years.

SOLAR FOR RENTERS
Status: Current
Start: 2019
End: 2020
Overview:  As part of the trial, around 1,000 rebates of up to $3,500 are available for eligible landlords to install a solar system with solar monitoring technology.
Eligibility: Rental properties must be located in the following local government areas: Bundaberg Regional Council, Gladstone Regional Council or Townsville City Council. Only one rebate is available per rental property.
Value: The rebate is paid based on the size of the system installed up to $3,500 for systems 5 kilowatts or greater. Eligible landlords get the rebate which will cover much of the up-front cost of installing a solar and monitoring system, and higher rental income. Tenants get access to solar with no upfront cost and can use the solar system to reduce their power bills in return for a fair rent increase.

Australian Capital Territory

NEXT GENERATION ENERGY STORAGE
Status: Current
Start: 2016
Overview: Under the Next Generation Energy Storage program, the ACT Government is supporting up to 5,000 battery storage systems in ACT homes and businesses. The program is delivered through battery storage providers, which were selected by the ACT Government after a competitive selection process. 
Eligibility: To be eligible for a rebate, your new battery system must: be a new system that has not already been supported by the program, be connected to the electricity grid, be coupled with solar panels and include a new inverter.
Value: The current rebate is $825 per kilowatt (kW) up to a maximum of 30 kW. A standard household with a 5 kW system would typically be eligible for around $4,000 in support.

South Australia

HOME BATTERY SCHEME
Status: Current
Start: 2018
Overview: Available to 40,000 households, South Australian’s can now access $100 million in State Government subsidies to help pay for the installation of home battery systems. 
Eligibility: The subsidy is available to all South Australians, and calculated on the kilowatt hour capacity of the battery purchased. Furthermore, Energy Concession Holders are eligible for a higher subsidy, ensuring low-income households are supported to access the Scheme.
Value: Energy Concession Holder - up to $600 per kWh, All other households - up to $500 per kWh

Make a smart decision

If you’re thinking about installing solar or a solar battery setup at your home, make sure it’s a smart setup.

Adding Reposit to your setup can maximise the value you get back from your initial solar investment.

Reposit can predict the amount of electricity you will need, purchase extra electricity from the grid when it’s cheapest, and sell any excess electricity at the most profitable times. Find out more about how Reposit helps you manage your solar setup.