Solar and battery incentives in Victoria changed significantly in 2026, and it’s important to understand which support applies to which part of your system.
Eligible Victorian households can access up to $1,400 towards a residential solar system through the Solar Homes Program. Batteries are supported separately through the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which provides an upfront discount through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Because these are two separate programs, the eligibility rules, incentive amounts and technical requirements are different.
Here’s what Victorian homeowners need to know about solar and battery incentives in 2026.
What solar and battery incentives are available in Victoria in 2026?
There are two main incentives to understand
| Program | What it supports | Potential support | Income test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Victoria Solar Homes Program | Solar PV | Up to $1,400 rebate + optional matching interest-free loan | Yes |
| Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program | Eligible battery systems | Around 30% discount, calculated through STCs | No household income threshold applies under the federal battery eligibility rules. |
Solar rebate in Victoria: up to $1,400
The Victorian Government’s Solar Homes Program provides eligible households with a solar PV rebate of up to $1,400.
Eligible applicants can also opt for an interest-free loan equivalent to their rebate amount, up to $1,400. The loan is repaid monthly over four years.
Who can qualify for the Solar Homes rebate?
From 1 July 2026, the combined household taxable income of all owners need to be less than $150,000 per year.
Other key requirements include:
• You must be an eligible owner-occupier of an existing property or an owner of a home under construction.
• The property must be valued at less than $3 million.
• The property must not have previously received a Solar Homes solar PV or battery rebate.
• The property must not have had a solar PV system installed within the previous 10 years.
• You must use an authorised Solar Victoria retailer.
• The products used must be eligible under the program.
There are also separate provisions for eligible rental properties.
Is the $1,400 guaranteed?
No.
The Solar Homes rebate is up to 50% of the purchase cost, capped at $1,400, after other discounts have been applied, including STCs.
So $1,400 is the maximum rebate available, not an automatic payment for every installation.
Is there a battery rebate in Victoria in 2026?
The current battery incentive available to Victorian households is the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program. It is not a separate Victorian Solar Homes battery rebate.
The federal program provides a discount of around 30% on the upfront cost of eligible battery systems with between 5 kWh and 100 kWh of nominal capacity, although STCs can only be claimed for the first 50 kWh of usable capacity.
The battery can be connected to:
• a new solar PV system, or
• an existing solar PV system.
And unlike the Solar Victoria solar rebate, the federal battery program does not have an income test.
How does the battery discount work?
The battery discount isn’t simply a fixed dollar rebate.
It works through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The number of STCs a battery can create depends on its usable capacity and the applicable STC settings.
From 1 May 2026, the STC factor was changed to 6.8 for the May–December 2026 period. The factor is scheduled to decrease over time.
The amount of support also varies according to battery capacity:
• First 14 kWh of usable capacity: 100% of the applicable STC factor
• Above 14 kWh up to 28 kWh: 60%
• Above 28 kWh up to 50 kWh: 15%
The program can support battery installations up to 100 kWh, although the STC calculation applies to the relevant eligible capacity.
Why does the exact discount vary?
Because the discount is linked to the STC mechanism rather than being a fixed dollar amount. The applicable STC factor is based on when the battery is installed, so the incentive can change over time.
That’s why it’s better to look at the actual incentive attached to your proposed battery and installation date rather than assuming every battery receives the same dollar discount.
Can you claim both the solar and battery incentives?
Potentially, yes.
The two programs are separate.
If you’re installing solar panels and a battery, you may be able to receive:
Solar PV → Solar Homes rebate
Battery → Federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount
However, being eligible for one doesn’t automatically make you eligible for the other.
For example, the Victorian solar rebate requires the combined household taxable income of all owners to be less than $150,000 per year, while the federal battery program does not have an income test.
Each program also has its own product, installer and technical requirements.
So it’s important to check the eligibility requirements for both rather than treating them as one combined rebate.
Can you add a battery to an existing solar system?
Yes.
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program allows eligible batteries to be connected to existing as well as new solar PV systems.
But there’s an important distinction between being eligible for the program and having a suitable existing system.
Your installer should look at things such as:
• your existing solar system
• daily electricity consumption
• solar generation
• inverter capacity
• battery size
• how the battery will be configured with the existing system.
The Australian Government’s own guidance notes that bigger isn’t necessarily better. A battery should be appropriately sized for the home, solar system and inverter.
Final Takeaway
If you’re researching solar and battery rebates in Victoria, it’s worth looking beyond the headline discount.
In 2026, eligible Victorian homeowners may be able to access:
• Up to $1,400 through the Victorian Solar Homes rebate for solar PV
• Around 30% off an eligible battery through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program
But the rebate is only part of the equation.
Your solar and battery system still needs to be designed around your home, your energy use and how you want to use your system over the long term. Battery size, existing solar, inverter compatibility and system design can all affect how well the finished system works for you.
At Bespoke Solar, we believe good solar starts with understanding the property before recommending the system. Because the best system isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest rebate, it’s the one that’s designed to make sense for your home.
