Solar panel (PV) rebate

We provide a rebate of up to $1,400 for the installation of solar panel (PV) systems. These rebates are offered to Victorians with existing homes or homes under construction. There are also solar rebates for rental properties.

Rebates are released each month according to the scheduled rebate release dates. You can reduce your upfront cost further by applying for an interest-free loan to match the rebate amount.

Check if you are eligible

As a Victorian householder, you could receive a solar panel (PV) rebate if:

you are the owner-occupier of an existing property or the owner of a home under construction where the system is to be installed
combined household taxable income of all owners is less than $210,000 per year
value of the property is under $3 million (for an existing home or when construction is complete)
property address has not previously received a solar panel (PV) or solar battery rebate under this program
the property address has not had a solar panel (PV) system installed in the last 10 years*
you received a Solar Homes rebate and/or loan but have moved house. You can apply for another incentive at your new address as an owner-occupier if the property has not received these rebates before.

*If you are participating in the Premium Feed-in Tariff scheme you should consider whether you will be better off if you replace your existing system before the scheme ends on 1 November 2024.

You must use an authorised solar retailer and use only eligible products.

Process for solar panel (PV) installations

If you think you are eligible, follow the step-by-step process:

Do some research – read our Solar Panel (PV) Buyers Guide
Talk with an authorised solar retailer
Select a system using products on our list to meet your energy needs
Ask for a written quote (your retailer will upload it into the Solar Victoria portal)
Wait for our email confirming the quote has been uploaded
Get pre-approval to connect and export to the grid
Prove you are eligible – upload your paperwork into the portal
Wait for us to confirm your eligibility and send your QR code
Install the solar system (within 120 days, or 270 days for homes being built)
Pay the difference to the retailer – the total cost minus the rebate
Start repaying the interest-free loan, if you opted for one.

If you install your system before your eligibility is approved, you will not receive a rebate.

Building a house – applying while under construction

You can apply for a solar panel rebate while your house is being built.

Talk to your builder early – preferably during the planning phase to:

discuss your preference for solar
get their consent to install solar during the build
work out when and how the installer will access the site
submit the rebate application at the right stage of construction.

Homes that are under construction are not eligible for any other Solar Homes Program rebates or loans. You may be eligible for other rebates when construction is complete.

Interest-free loans

You will be offered an interest-free loan of up to $1,400 in your application. No collateral is required. If you opt in for the loan, the amount will be processed along with the rebate payment and paid directly to the solar retailer.

Loan repayments:

are paid monthly over 4 years (monthly repayment for a loan of $1,400 is $29.16)
will be debited from your account (you can provide your financial institution details in your application)
begin 30 days after the installation is approved.

Understand rebate requirements

As part of your application you will need to supply:
- identification – 2 forms of ID
- income proof
- property ownership proof.
Attach a copy of 2 of the following:
- Driver’s licence
- Medicare card
- Australian passport
- Australian birth certificate
- Australian citizenship certificate
- Foreign passport (with a valid Australian Visa)
- Immicard.
You’ll need to make sure the names on both documents are the same. You can find out more about your Australian citizenship by visiting the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
Ask your retailer to get pre-approval for your installation from the Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) to connect it to the grid. Your retailer must also advise you of any export constraints. This needs to happen before they upload your quote to our portal.
Make sure you understand what the DNSP is offering you. Any solar export constraints can change your feed-in- tariff and your ability to join Virtual Power Plants. Find out more about DNSPs.
The rebate will be paid directly to your retailer and deducted from your invoice. You only pay any outstanding balance once the system is installed.
The solar panel (PV) rebate is a discount of up to 50 per cent of the purchase cost to install solar panels, to a maximum of $1,400. It is calculated after any other discounts have been applied, including Small-scale Technology Certificates.
You can also apply for an interest-free loan for the equivalent to your rebate amount.

Get started – apply for a solar panel (PV) rebate

Apply online

Resources

Customer portal user guide

PDF 4.7 MB

Your guide to solar panels (PV)

View transcript

Save on energy costs

Households who maximise the use of the energy generated by their solar panel (PV) system can save over $1,000 each year.

Eligible Victorians can save even more by replacing a gas hot water system with a quality heat pump hot water system, saving around $250 a year on energy costs. Find out about other Solar Homes rebates and loans.

FAQs

You can apply for a solar panel rebate and interest-free loan AND a solar battery loan and plan to install them at the same time. You will receive a separate email for each quote and you must complete a separate eligibility application for each of the products. If you would like to apply for a hot water rebate, you will need to confirm you meet the eligibility criteria for that rebate and submit a separate application.