Guide to Solar & Battery Rebates
Stop leaving your hard-earned cash on the table.
Here is exactly how to get the government to pay for your off-grid power setup.
There are a lot of rumours floating around the bush about government handouts for home wind turbines. Let's shoot straight: unless you are letting a commercial energy company build a 100-metre turbine on your back paddock, there is no residential wind subsidy in Australia.
But there is a massive pile of government cash available right now that you can claim for your off-grid shed, cabin, or home backup system. If you are building a heavy-duty battery bank, you need to know exactly what you are entitled to before the rules change.
The Federal Battery Rebate
No matter where you live in Australia, you have access to the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. This is a point-of-sale discount (using Small-scale Technology Certificates, or STCs) that knocks thousands off the upfront price of a solar battery setup. For a standard 10kWh battery, the government is currently covering around $3,300 directly off your invoice.
The Catch: The government is changing the rebate rules on May 1, 2026, which will significantly reduce the payout—especially for larger 48V off-grid battery banks. If you are planning a build, the clock is ticking.
2026 State-by-State
The Breakdown is this, depending on what side of the border you live on, you can stack extra state bonuses on top of that Federal cash. Here is what is up for grabs right now:
- Western Australia (The Ultimate Setup): WA is the absolute best place to build an off-grid system right now. Through the WA Residential Battery Scheme, Synergy customers get an extra $1,300, and regional Horizon Power customers get a massive $3,800. Stacked with the Federal rebate, WA locals can get up to $7,500 off their setup, plus access to a $10,000 zero-interest loan.
- ACT (The Dream Build): While they don't offer a direct cash rebate, the ACT runs the Sustainable Household Scheme. This gives locals access to a massive $15,000 zero-int