RebatesSolar Rebate in NSW

Solar Rebate in NSW

The Empowering Homes Programme is the solar rebate in NSW. It offers interest-free loans to eligible residents to install solar PV and battery storage systems, or add a battery to their existing solar system.

You can get an interest-free loan for a:

solar PV and battery system – up to $14,000 (repayable over up to 8 years), or
battery to add to your existing solar system – up to $9,000 (repayable over up to 10 years).

You can’t use the loan for solar only. It’s got to be for a solar and battery system, or retrofitting a battery to your existing solar system if you have one already.

This program is currently just a pilot so it’s limited to certain postcodes in NSW until they have refined the processes. Then the plan is to roll it out to every location.

Eligibility

Here are the requirements to qualify:

live in one of these postcodes
your household income can’t be more than $180,000 a year
live in your home and have the authority to have a system installed, e.g. if you’re part of a body corporate, you need to make sure you have approval to install solar and a battery.
your home is connected to the electricity grid, e.g. you’re not on a rural property with its own power supply, or disconnecting yourself from the grid to be completely energy independent.
meet their loan criteria.

Solar Battery Prices in NSW

Residential solar battery prices in NSW are around $1,000 per kWh, for both the battery itself and its installation. For example, expect a 13kWh battery to cost around $13,000. Of course, the final price will depend on the make and model of the battery and the installers you use. Prices do go up and down with supply and demand for battery storage.

Solar Panels in NSW

For solar panels in NSW expect to pay between $3,000 to $7,000 for a residential system. If you have the roof space and need for a larger system, you could choose to pay more. This estimate is after the Federal Government’s STC rebate is applied.

As well as brand and the product model you choose, other factors that affect the final price tag of solar in NSW are how many storeys your house is, if you are on single or three phase power, how complex your roof layout is, and if you have tiles or a tin roof.

FAQs

How can I get free solar panels from the NSW government?

While it’s not possible to get free solar panels from the government, there are generous solar rebates in NSW available which will bring down the upfront costs for households.

For homes looking to invest in solar in NSW, you are likely eligible for the Federal Government’s STC incentive. PLUS you could be able to access the Empowering Homes Programme which provides interest-free loans if you are installing a solar panel and battery storage systems in one go, or adding a battery to your existing solar system.

How much is the solar rebate in NSW?

The solar panel and battery rebate in NSW is an interest-free loan of up to $9,000 for a retrofit solar battery or up to $14,000 for a solar system with both panels and a battery.

For the popular 6.6kW sized solar system, the average solar rebate in Sydney works out to be about $470 per kW of solar panels installed. The final amount of a solar panel rebate in NSW will depend on the size of the solar system, where your home is, when you install and what the value of STCs are at that point in time (hint – the value doesn’t fluctuate too much currently).

What is the current solar rebate in NSW?

Firstly, the Federal Government’s STC solar rebate is available no matter where you live. An additional solar rebate / incentive in NSW is on offer – you can apply for an interest-free loan for the remaining cost of the system you would need to pay for yourself. Under the solar rebate in NSW, the loan can be up to $9,000 for a solar battery to add to your existing solar system if you have one. Or if you don’t yet have solar, you can get an interest free loan up to $14,000 for a solar PV plus battery storage system in one.

To be eligible for the solar rebate in NSW, you need to live in certain locations (you can check your postcode here), plus your combined household income needs to be under $180,000.

When do I apply for the solar rebate in NSW ?

The Empowering Homes Programme, which is the programme that delivers the solar panel rebate in NSW, is separate from the solar discount offered by the Federal Government.

Here are the steps to apply for the NSW solar and battery interest free loan:

Check you are eligible for the program (see above for the criteria)
Submit our form to request no obligation solar quotes from 3 independent installers
Discuss your energy needs with the suppliers.
Go to the Accept your quote portal- external site, managed by Plenti- external site our delivery partner. Enter your quote details, review and accept the quote and complete the loan application.

If the loan is approved, your chosen supplier will contact you to arrange installation.

How to read a smart meter with solar panels NSW?

Your smart meter is usually located at the front or back of your home. Once you have located it, there is a display on the device where you can use to read the meter.

Most meters has a scroll button to scan through different display options, such as the date and time of your electricity usage, and the net amount of kWh of electricity that you used (i.e. how much you imported from the grid versus the solar electricity you exported to the grid).

With accurate data on how much electricity you are buying (importing from the grid) versus generating yourself from your solar system, you are better informed to take control of your energy usage, bring down your energy bills and decide if battery storage is right for you.