The federal discount in NSW
Most of NSW, including Sydney, sits in STC zone 3. A 6.6 kW system installed in 2026 creates 45 STCs, worth up to about $1,800 at the Clearing House price. That discount is already in the Sydney average of $5,750 for a standard 6 kW system in October 2026. See STCs explained.
Home Energy Saver
| Part | Amount | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Discount | Up to $4,000 | Owners or tenants named on the lease, with household income up to $80,000 or an eligible concession card |
| Zero-interest loan | Up to $15,000 | Owners who are citizens or permanent residents, with combined taxable household income up to $210,000 |
Loans run through participating finance providers. When we checked in October 2026, loans were open and discount applications were listed as coming soon. Full details are on our Home Energy Saver page.
Solar for Apartment Residents grants
| Grant | Up to $150,000 per project, covering up to 50% of eligible costs |
|---|---|
| Who applies | Owners corporations, or a strata managing agent, building manager, consultant or nominated resident they authorise. Individual owners cannot apply. |
| Covers | Panels, inverters, mounting, solar sharing technology, labour and safety equipment. Enabling works up to 10% of the project. |
| Not covered | Systems that only power common areas, batteries and EV charging |
| Dates | Applications close 5pm, 4 December 2026. Projects must be complete by 30 April 2027. |
Between July 2025 and October 2026, 224 recipients were approved for almost $10 million in grants. If you live in a strata building, raise it with your strata committee soon, as the closing date is near.
Batteries in NSW
The NSW battery installation discount was replaced by the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program in July 2025. NSW still pays an upfront incentive for connecting a battery to a virtual power plant, with batteries up to 50 kWh eligible from 1 July 2026. See battery rebates and virtual power plants.
Use your solar well
NSW feed-in tariffs are low, so the savings come from using solar at home. The IPART benchmark and the best retailer offers are on our NSW feed-in tariff page.
Common questions
There is no general NSW solar rebate. Everyone gets the federal STC discount. Home Energy Saver offers discounts to lower-income households and loans to owners, and apartment buildings can get SoAR grants.
The owners corporation can apply for a Solar for Apartment Residents grant of up to $150,000, covering up to half the cost of a shared rooftop system. Applications close on 4 December 2026.
The NSW battery installation discount ended when the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program started in July 2025. NSW still pays an incentive for joining a virtual power plant.
Sources
Program rules come from the NSW Government, checked in October 2026. The system price is from the Solar Choice Price Index. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.
- NSW Climate and Energy Action, Home Energy Saver
- NSW Government, Solar for Apartment Residents grant program
- NSW Climate and Energy Action, virtual power plant incentive
- Clean Energy Regulator, calculate small-scale technology certificate entitlements
- Solar Choice, Solar Panel Price Index, 1 October 2026