Victorian solar rebates: what you can actually claim
A Victorian owner-occupier installing new panels can generally claim the federal STC discount (roughly $1,500 to $2,000 depending on system size) and the Solar Homes rebate of $1,400, with a separate interest-free loan available on top. Adding a battery brings in the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program at about $252 per usable kWh. Victoria’s own battery rebate closed permanently in May 2026.
The rebates, one at a time
Federal STC discount (new panels)
Applied by your installer as an upfront discount rather than paid to you. It scales with system size and location, and typically comes to roughly $1,500 to $2,000 on a residential system. It reduces every year until the scheme ends in 2030, so the discount available on the same system shrinks over time.
Victorian Solar Homes rebate (new panels)
$1,400 off the upfront cost for eligible owner-occupiers, subject to an income test and a property value cap. It applies to a new solar system, not to a battery.
Solar Homes interest-free loan
A separate $1,400 interest-free loan is available on top of the rebate. It reduces what you pay on day one but it is repaid, so it is not a discount and should not be counted as one when comparing quotes. Some installers present the rebate and the loan added together as though both were free money. They are not.
Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (batteries)
Roughly $252 per usable kWh, counted on the first 14kWh. This is the main battery incentive now available in Victoria.
What Victoria no longer has
Victoria’s own battery rebate closed permanently in May 2026. Any quote or article still showing a Victorian battery rebate is out of date, and it is worth checking that an installer quoting you has not simply left it in their template.
What it looks like together
| Your situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| New solar only | Federal STC + Solar Homes $1,400 (+ optional loan) |
| New solar + battery | All of the above, plus federal battery rebate |
| Battery added to existing solar | Federal battery rebate only |
How to check a quote
Ask for the price before rebates and the price after, itemised. A quote that only shows the final number makes it impossible to tell whether the rebates have genuinely been passed on or simply used to make an inflated price look competitive. If an installer will not itemise it, that is information too.
See exactly which rebates apply to you
The assessment applies only the incentives your situation actually qualifies for, and shows the ones that do not apply so you know they were considered.
Check my home, freeCommon questions
What solar rebates can I get in Victoria in 2026?
An eligible owner-occupier installing new panels can generally claim the federal STC discount and the $1,400 Solar Homes rebate, with a separate $1,400 interest-free loan available. Adding a battery brings in the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Is there still a Victorian battery rebate?
No. Victoria\u2019s own battery rebate closed permanently in May 2026. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program still applies.
Can I get the solar rebate if I am adding a battery to existing panels?
No. The federal STC discount and the Solar Homes rebate apply to a new solar system only. A battery-only installation claims the federal battery rebate alone.
Is the Solar Homes loan the same as the rebate?
No. The $1,400 rebate is a discount you keep. The $1,400 loan is repaid, just without interest. They should never be added together and presented as a single saving.
Do solar rebates reduce over time?
Yes. The federal STC discount reduces annually until the scheme ends in 2030, and the battery rebate steps down periodically. Waiting generally means a smaller discount on the same system.
Last reviewed 27 August 2026. Rebate amounts, feed-in tariffs and retail prices change; figures here are checked against the calculator's own state data, which is published in the methodology.