Solar rebates and support in Victoria
A clear guide to the financial support available when you install solar in Victoria: the federal scheme that lowers the upfront cost, Victoria's own state rebate for solar panels, the federal battery scheme, and the feed-in tariff that credits your exported power.
- Independent and Victoria-focused
- Checked May 2026
- Primary sources
The short answer
Victoria is one of the best supported states for solar. A federal scheme reduces the upfront cost of solar panels, and on top of that Victoria runs its own Solar Homes rebate for the panels themselves, something most states do not offer. For home batteries, support comes through a federal scheme, since Victoria's old state battery loan has closed. A feed-in tariff credits the surplus power you export, with the state regulator setting a minimum retailers must pay at least. Figures and eligibility are reviewed regularly, so a quote is the best way to know what applies to your system.
The federal scheme for solar panels
The first layer of support that lowers the upfront cost of a solar panel system in Victoria is a national scheme run by the Australian Government. It applies in Victoria exactly as it does in every other state.
The scheme works through small-scale technology certificates. When an eligible system is installed, it creates a number of certificates based on the system's size and its expected generation. Those certificates have a market value, and in practice your installer claims them and applies that value as a discount on the price you pay. You do not apply separately, the saving comes off the upfront price at the point of sale.
The value of the certificates moves with the market, and the scheme reduces over time on a set schedule that winds down toward the end of the decade, so the exact discount on a given system changes year to year. Your installer's quote reflects the rate that applies when you buy.
The Victorian Solar Homes rebate
This is where Victoria stands out. On top of the federal scheme, the Victorian Government runs its own rebate for solar panels through the Solar Homes Program. Most states do not have a state rebate for the panels themselves, so this is a genuine advantage of going solar in Victoria.
The Solar Homes solar panel rebate is for eligible owner-occupiers and is applied as a point-of-sale discount, so like the federal scheme it comes off your price rather than being claimed back later. There are eligibility rules, covering things like household income, property value, and whether the property has had solar or a rebate before. There is also an optional interest-free loan available alongside the rebate. The current figure and the full eligibility rules are in the date-stamped block below.
Support for home batteries in Victoria
For batteries, Victoria relies on a federal scheme. The Australian Government runs a national scheme that reduces the upfront cost of an eligible home battery, using the same certificate mechanism as the solar panel scheme. Your installer claims the certificates and applies the value as an upfront discount, broadly around a third of the eligible battery cost. It is not means tested, and the value per unit of storage steps down over time.
Victoria used to offer a state interest-free loan for batteries through the Solar Homes Program, but that closed to new applications and has not been replaced. So if you are weighing up a battery in Victoria, the federal scheme is the support to know about. The batteries guide covers how it works and whether a battery suits your home.
The Victorian feed-in tariff
A feed-in tariff credits you for surplus solar power your home exports to the grid. When your panels generate more than your home is using, the excess flows to the grid and you are credited for it on your power bill.
In Victoria, the state's energy regulator sets a minimum feed-in tariff each year. Retailers must pay at least that minimum, and many compete by offering more, with rates and structures varying between plans. Because the regulator reviews the minimum annually, the rate changes over time, so it is worth comparing retailers rather than assuming a single number.
The reason it matters less than you might expect is simple. Feed-in rates are relatively low compared with what you pay to buy power back in the evening, so the better financial move is usually to use your own solar during the day, or store it in a battery for the evening, rather than export it cheaply. The feed-in tariff is a useful addition on top of self-consumption, not the main benefit.
Victoria solar support at a glance
The summary below reflects the position as at the date shown. Solar support is reviewed regularly. Always confirm the current detail with your installer when you request a quote.
Last checked: May 2026. The Solar Homes panel rebate figure and eligibility rules, the federal scheme values, and the annual feed-in minimum are all reviewed and can change, with the state rebate and feed-in minimum typically updated around the start of the financial year. If you are reading this later, confirm the current support before relying on it.
See the support applied to your system
A quote shows how the federal schemes and the Victorian rebate apply to your actual property and system.
Get a Victoria solar quote→Making the most of the support available
A few practical points help you get genuine value from the schemes rather than just assuming a headline figure.
Use a quote, not a headline
The schemes are applied by your installer at the current rate. A quote shows the real discount, a general figure online may be out of date.
Check your eligibility
The Victorian rebate has income, property-value and prior-rebate rules. Confirm you qualify before you commit.
Check the timing
The federal schemes step down over time, and the state rebate runs in funding rounds, so when you buy matters.
Lean on self-consumption
Because Victorian feed-in rates are relatively low, using or storing your own solar usually beats exporting it.
Victoria solar rebates FAQ
Is there a solar rebate in Victoria?
Yes, and Victoria is unusually well supported. There are two layers for solar panels: a federal scheme that reduces the upfront cost, and Victoria's own Solar Homes rebate of up to $1,400 for eligible owner-occupiers on top of it, which most states do not have. For home batteries, support is through a federal scheme, as Victoria's state battery loan has closed.
How much is the Victorian solar rebate?
As at May 2026, the Victorian Solar Homes rebate for solar panels is up to $1,400 for eligible owner-occupiers, applied as a point-of-sale discount. To qualify, combined household income must be under $210,000, the property value under $3 million, the address must not have previously received a panel or battery rebate under the program, and no system can have been installed there in the last 10 years. An optional interest-free loan of up to $1,400 is also available.
Is the Victorian battery loan still available?
No. Victoria's Solar Homes interest-free battery loan closed to new applications and has not been replaced. Battery support in Victoria now comes through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries scheme, which reduces the upfront cost by roughly a third of an eligible battery and has no income or property-value test. The $1,400 state rebate is for solar panels, not batteries.
What feed-in tariff will I get in Victoria?
Victoria's energy regulator sets a minimum feed-in tariff each year that retailers must pay at least, and many offer more. Rates and structures vary between retailers and plans, so it is worth comparing rather than assuming one number. The bigger saving from solar usually comes from using your own power rather than the credit for exporting it.
Do solar rebates change over time?
Yes. The federal schemes for both solar panels and batteries step down over time on a set schedule. The Victorian rebate runs in funding rounds with eligibility rules, and the feed-in minimum is reviewed each year. Because of this, a current quote is the most reliable guide to the support that applies when you buy.
Related guides
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