The federal STC discount in New South Wales: who qualifies
Everyone with a new rooftop system up to 100 kW qualifies, because the Clean Energy Regulator calculates the entitlement from the system alone: kilowatts times the zone rating times the deeming period, rounded down. There is no income test, no property value cap and no application by the household; the installer takes the certificates and the discount comes off the quote. Sydney is in Zone 3 (rating 1.382), so a 6.6 kW system installed in 2026 earns 45 certificates, $1,755 at $39 each, which is already off the $6,170 to $7,284 installer offers on this site. From 1 January 2027 the deeming period drops from 5 to 4 years and the same system earns 36 certificates, $1,404, a cut of $351; the January 2027 guide has every capital.
The New South Wales schemes: who qualifies, who does not
New South Wales has no rebate on panels. The open state money is the Home Energy Saver zero-interest loan, $2,000 to $15,000 over up to 10 years for homeowners and landlords with combined taxable household income up to $210,000, assessed by participating finance providers from the owners' tax assessments and combinable with the federal discounts. The Home Energy Saver discount of up to $4,000 is for combined gross household income of up to $80,000 a year, or an eligible concession card and is on a waitlist. The battery installation incentive closed when the federal program started; the VPP connection incentive stays open through VPP providers.
| Scheme | Status | Who | Income test | Property value | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak Demand Reduction Scheme residential battery installation incentive (BESS1) | closed | owner-occupiers, renters, businesses | none stated | none stated | none stated |
| Peak Demand Reduction Scheme virtual power plant (VPP) connection incentive (BESS2) | open | owner-occupiers, renters, businesses | none stated | none stated | none stated |
| Home Energy Saver zero-interest loan | open | owner-occupiers, landlords | Combined taxable household income of up to $210,000 a year | none stated | Zero-interest loan of at least $2,000 and up to $15,000 per property, repayable over up to 10 years, for rooftop solar, batteries, insulation, heating and cooling and other eligible upgrades |
| Home Energy Saver discount | waitlist | owner-occupiers, renters | Combined gross household income of up to $80,000 a year, or an eligible concession card | none stated | Up to $4,000 off the cost of eligible energy saving upgrades |
| Energy Savings Scheme hot water upgrade incentive | not stated | owner-occupiers, renters, businesses | none stated | none stated | none stated |
The federal battery discount in New South Wales: who qualifies
Any household, small business or community facility with one new battery per premises: it must be on the CEC approved list, between 5 and 100 kWh nominal, installed by an SAA-accredited installer with battery endorsement on a VPP-capable inverter, with a new or existing solar system of no more than 100 kW. There is no income test and no property value cap. The discount is 6.8 certificates per usable kWh for the first 14 kWh, 68 certificates and $2,652 on 10 kWh at $39, taken off the quote by the installer; from 1 January 2027 the factor drops to 5.7 and 10 kWh earns $2,223. Whether the battery is worth it in New South Wales at that discount is worked through on the battery guide.
What an eligible household gets in Sydney
$6,170 to $7,284 is the 6.6 kW price range in Sydney after the $1,755 STC discount, standard and premium installer offers. No state amount comes off, so this is the range to hold a quote against. The Sydney solar cost page has every size and the quote check scores a quote against it.
If you are not eligible
Over the $210,000 income cap for the loan, or not a homeowner or landlord: no state money. Renters can be put on the discount waitlist with the landlord's approval, and every household gets the STC and battery discounts.
Closed schemes still asked about: Peak Demand Reduction Scheme residential battery installation incentive (BESS1) (The NSW battery installation discount for home and business owners was suspended from 1 July 2025 because the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides a larger discount, and PDRS rules do not allow incentives for batteries that create STCs. A separate NSW business battery discount starts 1 September 2026 for batteries up to 50 kWh (BESS4, see VPP page). Households use the federal program instead).
New South Wales eligibility questions
Who is eligible for the solar rebate in New South Wales?
$1,755 in federal STCs on a 6.6 kW system in Sydney goes to any household installing a new system up to 100 kW, with no income test. New South Wales adds no rebate; homeowners and landlords on up to $210,000 can take the $2,000 to $15,000 zero-interest loan.
Is there an income test for the solar rebate in New South Wales?
$210,000 combined taxable household income is the cap for the Home Energy Saver loan, and the discount is for combined gross household income of up to $80,000 a year, or an eligible concession card. The federal STC and battery discounts have no income test.
Can renters get the solar rebate in New South Wales?
$4,000 off upgrades through the Home Energy Saver discount is open to renters with landlord approval, on the waitlist, and a landlord can take the loan for a rental property. Renters cannot claim STCs themselves because the system belongs to the owner.
How much is the solar rebate in New South Wales in 2026?
$1,755 on 6.6 kW in Sydney from the federal STC discount (45 certificates at $39), and nothing from the state; a 10 kWh battery earns another $2,652. On 1 January 2027 the STC part falls by $351.
Do pensioners get a solar rebate in New South Wales?
$4,000 is the discount a pensioner household is most likely to qualify for, because its test is combined gross household income of up to $80,000 a year, or an eligible concession card; it is on a waitlist. The loan and the federal discounts have no pensioner condition.
Do I apply for the solar rebate in New South Wales or does the installer?
45 certificates on a 6.6 kW system are assigned to the installer, who applies the discount on the quote; the household signs the assignment form and does not deal with the Clean Energy Regulator. The Home Energy Saver loan is applied for through a participating finance provider, and the discount through the discount provider that issues the quote.