Victorian households can reduce the upfront cost of solar through a mix of state and federal incentives. In 2026, the Victoria solar rebate remains one of the main forms of support, offering eligible households help with the cost of a new solar PV system. Federal Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) can provide an additional upfront discount.

Support is also available for rental properties, apartment buildings, eligible hot water systems and solar batteries. The amount you can receive depends on the program, household income, property value, system type and other eligibility requirements.

This guide covers the main Victoria solar rebates and incentives in 2026, including the Solar Homes Program, federal STCs, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program and the Solar for Apartments Program.

Overview of Solar Rebates and Incentives in Victoria 2026

Solar Victoria confirms the $1,400 PV rebate, $150,000 income cap and 120/270-day timelines. Apartments figures are current. Commercial solar’s $25,000/100 kW and $34,300/200 kW were government launch estimates, not fixed guaranteed values.

Victoria Solar Panel Rebate 2026

The Victoria solar rebate provides eligible households with up to $1,400 towards the installation of a solar PV system. The rebate covers up to 50% of the purchase cost after other discounts, including STCs, have been applied.

Eligible applicants can also choose an interest-free loan of up to $1,400, matching the approved rebate amount. The loan is repaid monthly over four years and should not be treated as an additional rebate.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for the Victoria solar panel rebate, an owner-occupier generally needs to meet these requirements:

• combined household taxable income of all owners is less than $150,000 per year
• the property is valued at less than $3 million
• the property has not previously received a Solar Homes solar PV or battery rebate
• no solar PV system has been installed at the property within the previous 10 years
• an authorised Solar Victoria retailer and eligible products are used.

The household income limit changed from $210,000 to $150,000 from 1 July 2026, while the maximum rebate remained at $1,400.

How to Apply for the Victoria Solar Rebate

You need to receive Solar Victoria approval before installation begins. Installing the system before approval can make the rebate unavailable.

The process is:

1. Check your eligibility under the Solar Homes Program.
2. Choose an authorised solar retailer and eligible products.
3. Ask the retailer to arrange the required grid connection and export pre-approval.
4. Get a written quote, which the retailer uploads to the Solar Victoria portal.
5. Complete your application and provide the required identity, income and property documents.
6. Wait for Solar Victoria to confirm eligibility and issue your QR code.
7. Have the system installed within the required timeframe.
8. Pay the remaining balance after the approved rebate has been deducted.

For existing homes, installation should generally be completed within 120 days of receiving the QR code. Homes under construction have up to 270 days. If you want the matching interest-free loan, select it during the rebate application.

Solar Rebates for Rental Properties in Victoria

The Victoria solar rebate is also available for eligible rental properties. Rental providers can receive up to $1,400 per property towards a solar PV installation and may also apply for an interest-free loan matching the approved rebate amount. A rental provider can currently receive rebates for a maximum of two rental properties per financial year.

 

To qualify, the property generally needs to meet these conditions:

• renters have a combined household taxable income of less than $150,000 per year
• the property is valued at less than $3 million
• the property has not previously received the relevant Solar Homes rebate
• the rental provider and renter complete the required Solar Homes agreement
• an authorised Solar Victoria retailer and eligible products are used.

Renters are not required to contribute to the system cost. If both parties agree, they may contribute towards part of the interest-free loan repayments, while the rental provider remains responsible for the loan.

Federal Solar Rebate in Victoria: Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

Eligible Victorian solar installations can receive additional federal support through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The scheme creates Small-scale Technology Certificates, or STCs, which have a tradeable value and are commonly used to reduce the upfront solar price.

The number of STCs depends mainly on the system capacity, installation postcode, installation year and remaining deeming period.

For solar PV installed in 2026, the deeming period is five years. It reduces by one year each year until the SRES ends in 2030.

Most households assign their right to create STCs to a registered agent, with the certificate value reflected as an upfront reduction in the quoted system price.

The federal STC discount can be used alongside the Victoria solar rebate where both programs’ requirements are met.

Federal Solar Battery Rebate in Victoria

Solar Victoria’s former state battery loan is closed, but eligible Victorian households and small businesses can access a federal Solar Battery Rebate through the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program. The program operates under the SRES and provides support through battery STCs.

For batteries installed between 1 May and 31 December 2026, the STC factor is 6.8. Support tapers as eligible usable battery capacity increases:

• 0–14 kWh: 100% of the STC factor
• above 14–28 kWh: 60%
• above 28–50 kWh: 15%

To qualify for the solar battery rebate in Victoria, the battery system must generally:

• be new and not previously installed or claimed
• have a nominal capacity between 5 kWh and 100 kWh
• be installed with a new or existing eligible solar PV system
• use an approved battery configuration
• meet applicable Australian safety standards
• be installed by an SAA-accredited installer with battery endorsement.

STCs can only be claimed on the first 50 kWh of eligible usable capacity. Grid-connected batteries must be VPP-capable, although joining a Virtual Power Plant is optional.

Most customers assign their battery STC rights to a retailer or registered agent and receive the certificate value as an upfront discount. To estimate the potential discount for your battery size, use our solar battery rebate calculator.

Hot Water Rebates in Victoria 2026

Eligible Victorian households can receive a hot water rebate for approved heat pump or solar hot water systems through the Solar Homes Program.

The standard rebate is up to $1,000, while eligible locally made products can receive up to $1,400. The rebate covers up to 50% of the purchase price after other discounts, such as STCs or Victorian Energy Upgrades incentives, have been applied.

To qualify, you generally need to:

• be the owner-occupier of an existing Victorian property
• have a combined household taxable income of less than $150,000 per year
• own a property valued at under $3 million
• replace a hot water system that is at least 3 years old
• use an authorised hot water retailer and an eligible product.

The approved rebate is paid directly to the retailer and deducted from the invoice. Once the QR code is issued, installation should generally be completed within 120 days.

Important 2027 change

From 1 March 2027, if an existing residential gas hot water appliance breaks and cannot be repaired, it will generally need to be replaced with an electric alternative, subject to applicable exemptions.

The Solar for Apartments Program helps eligible apartment buildings, units and strata townhouses install shared rooftop solar.

Rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment are available, with a maximum of $140,000 per eligible property. The program is currently available until 30 June 2027 or until all rebates are exhausted, whichever comes first.

To qualify, the building generally needs to:

• be controlled by an Owners Corporation
• include apartments, units or strata townhouses
• have access to a suitable common-property rooftop
• meet the program’s technical and installation requirements.

The approved rebate is applied by the chosen retailer as a discount on the installation invoice, reducing the upfront cost for participating apartments.

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Solar Rebates for Community Housing in Victoria

Eligible not-for-profit community housing organisations can receive up to $1,400 per tenancy, capped at 50% of the solar PV installation cost.

The program applies to eligible properties owned or managed by registered community housing organisations and can cover both existing homes and new residential properties under construction. The full value of the energy savings must be passed on to renters.

An authorised Solar Victoria retailer and eligible solar products must be used.

Solar Feed-in Tariffs in Victoria

A solar feed-in tariff is the credit an electricity retailer provides for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid.

Since 1 July 2025, Victoria no longer has a government-set minimum feed-in tariff. Electricity retailers set their own rates and plan conditions, but they must still provide a credit for exported solar electricity and cannot set the feed-in tariff below zero.

Retailers may offer either:

• a single export rate
• time-varying feed-in tariffs that pay different rates depending on when electricity is exported.

Rather than choosing an electricity plan based only on the highest advertised feed-in tariff, compare usage rates, supply charges and export conditions as well.

For many households, using more solar directly during the day can be more valuable than exporting it, because retail electricity prices are generally higher than feed-in tariff payments.

Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Incentives

The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program offers discounts on a range of energy-efficient household and business upgrades. It operates separately from the Victoria solar rebate, although some incentives can be combined where eligibility requirements allow.

Current household upgrades include:

• efficient heating and cooling
• heat pump and solar hot water systems
• induction cooktops
• efficient heat pump clothes dryers
• window glazing and weather sealing

For example, eligible households can receive up to $140 towards an induction cooktop, while heating and cooling upgrades can attract larger discounts depending on the system being replaced.

New 2026 VEU update

From 1 October 2026, eligible Victorian households with uninsulated or under-insulated ceilings can access VEU insulation discounts of up to $1,482. The actual discount depends on the property, installation and certificate value.

How much is the Victoria solar rebate in 2026?

Eligible owner-occupiers can receive up to $1,400 for a solar PV system, capped at 50% of the eligible purchase cost after other discounts have been applied. An optional matching interest-free loan of up to $1,400 is also available.

What is the income limit for the Victoria solar rebate?

From 1 July 2026, the combined household taxable income of all property owners must generally be less than $150,000 per year for the Solar Homes PV rebate.

Can I claim the Victoria solar rebate and federal STCs together?

Yes. Eligible households can generally receive federal STCs as well as the Solar Victoria PV rebate. Solar Victoria calculates its rebate after eligible discounts such as STCs have been applied.

Is the Solar Victoria battery loan still available?

No. Solar Victoria is no longer accepting applications for its former battery loan. Eligible Victorian households may instead access the federal Solar Battery Rebate through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

Does the Solar for Apartments Program still operate in 2026?

Yes. The Solar for Apartments Program currently offers up to $2,800 per apartment, capped at $140,000 per eligible property, until 30 June 2027 or until funding is exhausted.

Can rental properties receive the Victoria solar rebate?

Yes. Eligible rental providers can receive up to $1,400 per property for a maximum of two rental properties per financial year, with an optional matching interest-free loan.

Making the Most of the Victoria Solar Rebate

The Victoria solar rebate can reduce the upfront cost of an eligible solar installation, while federal STCs and other Victorian programs may provide additional support for batteries, hot water systems, rental properties and apartments.

The best combination of incentives depends on your property, household income, system type and eligibility. It is also important to separate genuine rebates from interest-free loans and ongoing feed-in tariff credits when comparing total savings.

Aussie Solar Tech can assess your property, recommend a suitable solar or battery system and explain which current rebates or incentives may apply before installation.