Solar Victoria: Solar Homes Program

The Solar Homes Program in Victoria is dedicated to helping households reduce energy costs, combat climate change, and promote a renewable energy future. This program offers substantial support for eligible Victorian residents to maximise their savings with solar solutions.

Under the Solar Homes Program, eligible Victorian households can benefit from various rebates and loans, including solar panel PV rebates, interest-free solar battery loans, and hot water system rebates.

Rebate Amount Summary

Solar Panel Rebate Solar panel rebates of up to $1,400 plus the option of an interest-free loan are available for existing homes and homes under construction. 
Hot Water Rebate A hot water rebate of up to $1,000 is available on eligible heat pumps and solar hot water systems. 
Solar Battery Loan Interest-free loans of up to $8,800 solar battery loans to reduce the upfront cost of installing a battery, with repayments made over a four-year period. 

 

Hot Water Rebate

The hot water rebate helps reduce the upfront costs of installing efficient heat pumps or solar hot water systems, cutting down greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.

Up to $1,000 in hot water rebates are available on eligible heat pumps and solar hot water systems.

Without limiting the original periods of the product warranty, a 5-year whole-of-product warranty will be applied to the water heater where a rebate has been received under Solar Victoria’s Solar Homes Program for an installation from 1st July 2023. For further details, call your Solahart Dealer on 1300 721 984.

Note: The hot water rebate is calculated after any other discounts (including STC and VEEC financial benefits) have been applied to the purchase and installation price. It is a 50% rebate on the remaining amount up to the value of $1000.

How do I claim the rebate if I need an emergency installation?

If your hot water system breaks down or is unsafe, you can install a replacement without waiting for eligibility confirmation. Eligibility must be proven soon after installation. Your local Solahart Dealer can guide you through this process.


Solar Battery Loan

Interest-free loans of up to $8,800 are available to eligible Victorian households to reduce the upfront costs of installing a solar battery. Payments are made over a 4-year period. 

The application process is completed in two stages - an initial eligibility check and a financial check. 

BLOG: Should I install a solar battery? Here are six factors to consider. 

Solar Panel (PV) Rebate

Solar Victoria provides a rebate of up to $1,400 for the installation of solar panel (PV) systems. These rebates are offered to Victorians with existing homes or homes under construction. There are also solar rebates for rental properties.

Rebates are released each month according to the scheduled rebate release dates. You can reduce your upfront cost further by applying for an interest-free loan to match the rebate amount. 

How to Apply for the Rebates and Loans

The Victorian Solar Homes Program offers financial assistance through rebates and loans, making it easier for households to transition to solar energy. Contact your local Solahart Dealer for assistance with selecting the best solar system for your needs and help with the application process. Call 1300 721 984 for more details.

For more information, visit the Solar Victoria website.

Victorian Solar Homes Solar Rebate

To find out how to claim the Victorian Solar Homes solar rebate, or to get an in-home solar assessment, just fill in your details or call 1300 721 984.

Please answer all questions to request an In-Home Appointment (Optional)

As a Victorian householder, you could receive a solar panel (PV) rebate if:

  • you are the owner-occupier of an existing property or the owner of a home under construction where the system is to be installed
  • combined household taxable income of all owners is less than $210,000 per year
  • value of the property is under $3 million (for an existing home or when construction is complete)
  • property address has not previously received a solar panel (PV) or solar battery rebate under this program
  • the property address has not had a solar panel (PV) system installed in the last 10 years*
  • you received a Solar Homes rebate and/or loan but have moved house. You can apply for another incentive at your new address as an owner-occupier if the property has not received these rebates before.

*If you are participating in the Premium Feed-in Tariff scheme you should consider whether you will be better off if you replace your existing system before the scheme ends on 1 November 2024.

As a Victorian householder, you could receive a hot water rebate if:

  • you are the owner-occupier of an existing property where the system is to be installed
  • the household taxable income of all owners combined is less than $210,000 per year
  • the value of the property is under $3 million
  • the property address has not already received a hot water or a solar battery rebate under the Solar Homes Program
  • the hot water system to be replaced is at least 3 years old from the date of purchase
  • you received a Solar Homes rebate and/or loan but have moved house. You can apply for another incentive at your new address as an owner-occupier if the property has not received these rebates before.

As a Victorian householder, you could be eligible for a solar battery loan if you meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • you are the owner-occupier of an existing property where the system is to be installed
  • the combined household taxable income of all owners is less than $210,000 per year
  • the property is valued at under $3 million
  • the property address has not previously received a solar battery rebate
  • the property has a solar panel system with an inverter capacity equal to or greater than 5kW,or will have one installed in conjunction with the solar battery installation.
  • the energy storage solution has a capacity equal to or greater than 6kWh and is listed on Solar Victoria’s battery product list and the property does not have an existing energy storage system.
  • pre-approval is obtained from your Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) to safely connect a battery to the grid
  • the owner/s agrees to receive information from their Distribution Network Service Provider about taking part in battery trials to maximise the value households get from them.

The hot water rebate will cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of a hot water system with properties eligible for a rebate of up to $1000.

All hot water installations must be completed by an authorised hot water retailer. Retailers must:

  • ensure plumbing work is undertaken by an appropriately licensed plumber and that a Plumbing Certificate of Compliance is supplied to the householder
  • ensure any electrical work is undertaken by an electrician that holds a current Class A Electrical Licence issued by Energy Safe Victoria and that a Certificate of Electrical Safety, certified by a licensed inspector registered with Energy Safe Victoria, is supplied to the householder
  • provide a minimum five years’ warranty on all major components of your solar hot water system.

No, you can install any system on the Hot Water Approved Products list.

This means that households that have no available or suitable roof space to install PV or solar hot water, such as apartments and townhouses, will still be able to access the program to install a heat pump hot water system.

Eligible owner-occupier households that have received a hot water rebate can also apply for a solar PV rebate and loan and a battery loan. Learn more about applying for a solar panel PV rebate.

No, only owner-occupier households are eligible for a hot water rebate.

No. If you have already installed a solar system, you will not be able to claim a rebate after installation. 

Yes. If you have moved house, you can apply for a hot water rebate, solar PV rebate and loan and a battery loan as the owner-occupier of the property you have moved to.

No, the Victorian Government has said it will provide a rebate on the cost of solar panel (PV) systems, up to a maximum rebate value. You will need to speak to your Solahart Dealer to ensure the size of your system meets any other restrictions that may be in place.