Incentives
Commercial solar rebates, and what each state actually adds
One federal mechanism does nearly all the work. This page says what it is, what it's worth, and where a state adds something on top — with a date against every figure.
Changing 1 October 2026
The government intends to extend the STC discount from systems up to 100 kW to systems up to 1 MW, for solar installed from 1 October 2026, subject to regulations being made. Applications open mid to late November.
Clean Energy Regulator, announced 5 August 2026 · What it means for a quote
The federal STC discount, in plain terms
Small-scale Technology Certificates are the only incentive most Australian businesses will see on a solar system. The system creates certificates based on its capacity, its location and how many years remain in the deeming period. The installer normally claims them and applies the value as a discount on your invoice.
Three things follow from that, and all three catch people out:
- It is not a payment. You never receive money. You receive a lower price, which is why you should always ask whether a quoted figure is before or after STCs.
- It shrinks over time. The deeming period counts down, so the same system is worth fewer certificates each year.
- Location changes it. Australia is divided into zones, and a system in Brisbane or Perth creates more certificates than the same system in Melbourne.
The cost page shows the discount applied to real system sizes.
State by state
What each state adds on top
For commercial solar specifically, the honest answer in most states is: nothing.
New South Wales
No standing rebate for commercial solar panels. The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme is the mechanism that matters here, and it is aimed at storage and demand reduction rather than at generation.
Victoria
Solar Victoria's programs have historically been residential and small-business rather than commercial-scale. The Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme covers efficiency measures rather than solar generation. Status to be confirmed at publishing.
Queensland
No standing commercial solar rebate. Feed-in tariffs in the south-east are set by retailers rather than by government, so what you are paid for exports depends on your contract.
South Australia
No standing commercial solar rebate. South Australia's high midday solar penetration makes export value particularly weak, which pushes sizing towards on-site consumption more than anywhere else.
Western Australia
No state rebate for commercial solar. Exports are paid under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme at rates that vary by time of day, paying very little midday and more in the evening peak.
Capital Territory
Programs have historically focused on households and community organisations. Status for commercial installations to be confirmed at publishing.
Incentive programs open and close without much notice. Every figure on this page is checked against its government source before publishing and carries the date it was checked. If you are reading this more than a few months after that date, ask us for the current position rather than relying on it.
Common questions
Is there a commercial solar rebate in Australia?
There is one federal mechanism that applies almost everywhere: Small-scale Technology Certificates, which come off the installed price rather than arriving as a payment. Most states add nothing on top for commercial solar specifically. Where a state does have something it is usually aimed at storage or demand reduction rather than at panels, which is why this page is organised by what actually exists rather than by state.
Is the STC discount a rebate or a payment?
Neither, strictly. The system creates certificates based on its size, location and the years left in the deeming period, and the installer normally claims them and applies the value as a discount on your invoice. You see a lower price rather than a cheque. It means the 'rebate' is already inside the number you are quoted, so ask whether a quoted price is before or after it.
What happens to rebates for systems over 100 kW?
Today, systems above 100 kW fall outside the small-scale scheme and into large-scale generation certificates, which work differently and are worth less up front. The government has announced it intends to raise that threshold to 1 MW for systems installed from 1 October 2026, subject to regulations being made, with applications opening mid to late November. Until the regulations are made it remains an announcement.
We apply the current numbers to your actual system
Incentives change. A proposal from us carries the figures as they stand on the day it is written, with the source named.