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Solar Rebates for Businesses

Australia currently offers a wide range of incentives and rebates for businesses that consider installing a solar PV system or solar battery in their commercial properties. Thanks to these incentives, rebates, subsidies, and loans, business owners can acquire and install a solar PV system or solar battery for their company with lower upfront costs.

BUSINESS SOLAR REBATES, LOANS, AND INCENTIVES

STATE BY STATE IN AUSTRALIA

Victoria

As of June 30, 2023, the Solar for Business Program has stopped accepting applications for business rebates in Victoria. However, applications from customers who have successfully submitted before 6pm on June 30 will still be processed promptly. These customers will also receive further instructions regarding their applications. Once your application is approved, you will have 120 days to complete the installation.

Queensland

The Queensland state government does not currently offer specific financial incentives or rebates for businesses in Queensland.

However, businesses in Queensland can take advantage of the national Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRE). Under this scheme, when a solar PV system is installed, Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are generated, which can be sold to recoup a portion of the installation costs.

Additionally, businesses can benefit from feed-in tariffs offered by electricity retailers for any excess power they generate and feed back into the grid. The rates for these tariffs can vary between different providers.

New South Wales (NSW)

The Commonwealth Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme is also known as the Federal Government solar rebate scheme for solar systems under 100kW in size.

You can generate a specific number of small-scale technology certificates, or STCs, for each kilowatt of solar panels that you install. This means that you get paid for each STC because power retailers purchase them in order to fulfil their renewable energy commitments.

Each STC will probably go for around $30 which amounts to about $18,000 off the price of the system for a 30kW system. However, since the STC discount is typically already included in solar prices, there is no way for you to save an additional $18,000.

This program is currently being phased out until 2030, and at the beginning of each calendar year, the value of STCs will decrease by 7%. To be eligible for this scheme,

Small scale Technology Certificates (STCs) issued within a year of installation
The project must use panels and inverters listed on the Clean Energy Council list of Approved Components.
Solar system must have a maximum 100kW DC capacity
Complies with all local, state, territory and federal regulations, including electrical safety

South Australia

Currently, there are no rebates and incentives offered for solar system installations in South Australia. In June 2022, the state of South Australia announced the Home Battery Scheme that promotes the participation of South Australian residents in the virtual power plant (VPP) program for both new and used home battery installations be discontinued. Significantly, this program offered loans and subsidies up to $6000 off a solar home battery in order to promote the installation of household solar batteries.

Solar Feed-In Payments

However, your solar photovoltaic (PV) system may be able to be compensated for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of excess electricity it exports to the power grid. There are two types of feed-in tariff:

Depending on when SA Power Networks granted authorisation to link the system to the primary electrical grid, you may be eligible for feed-in tariffs.

Anyone with a solar PV system is eligible for the retailer feed-in tariff, which is a variable amount provided by merchants. Due to factors including market competitiveness and the wholesale price of electricity, it may alter often.
Only qualifying solar PV systems that were connected to the grid before September 30, 2011, are eligible for the distributor feed-in tariff, also known as the solar feed-in program. This fixed sum (44 cents) is only offered for such installations.

Western Australia

Under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, eligible businesses are entitled to small-scale technology certificates, which can be sold to retrieve a portion of the cost of purchasing and installing the system. Businesses who install the following are also eligible for a financial incentive:

Small-scale renewable energy systems like
solar panel systems
small-scale wind systems
small-scale hydro systems
solar water heaters
air source heat pumps

This is accomplished by providing certificates for small-scale technologies which Renewable Energy Target liable entities have a legal obligation to buy and surrender to the Clean Energy Regulator on a quarterly basis.

To be eligible for small-scale technology certificates, small generation units must:

Have certificates issued within a year of installation, and have the panels and inverter listed on the Clean Energy Council list of Approved Components.
Complies with the Australian and New Zealand standards
Use a Clean Energy Council-accredited designer and installer and adhere to its installation and design standards.
Complies with all local, state, territory and federal regulations, including electrical safety
Classified as small-scale that has
a solar panel system with a maximum capacity of 100 kW and a maximum yearly electricity output of 250 MWh
wind system with a maximum capacity of 10 kW and a maximum yearly electricity output of 25 MWh, or
hydro system with a maximum capacity of 6.4 kW and a maximum yearly electricity output of 25 MWh.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

The ACT government currently has the Next Generation Energy Storage program. However, the program has already reached its target of 5,000 batteries in Canberra homes and businesses – and is no longer accepting rebate applications.

The Business Energy and Water Program offers rebates up to $5,000 for businesses to upgrade to more efficient devices.

To be eligible for a rebate, your business must fulfil the following requirements:

covers electricity bills of up to $25,000 annually (including GST)
employs no more than 20 staff

The ACT Government offers a 50% rebate (up to $5,000) for eligible businesses when they upgrade to more sustainable energy systems such as solar systems.

With this program, eligible business owners might update to water- and energy-efficient technologies and receive a rebate of up to $5,000. These may include:

appliances
cooling or heating
hot water
insulation
lighting
refrigeration
tapware and toilets

Northern Territory

The Home and Business Battery Scheme is offered by the NT Government to assist businesses in the Northern Territory (NT) wanting to buy and install solar batteries and inverters.

To be eligible for a rebate, you must be:

a registered owner of a residential property in the Northern Territory
a registered business in the Northern Territory
a not-for-profit or community organisation operating in the Northern Territory in either owned or leased properties

There can only be one application per residence and per homeowner, regardless of whether the property is utilised for personal use or as an investment.

Homeowners and businesses in the Northern Territory can access grants of up to $12,000 for installing battery storage. This support makes it easier to invest in renewable energy and reduce long-term energy costs.

If you are both a homeowner and a business owner, you can submit separate applications for a grant for your home and your business.