NSW Solar Rebates & Feed-in Tariffs 2026: What Has Changed and How to Apply

Solar power continues to be one of the smartest investments for both households and businesses across New South Wales. With electricity costs continuing to rise, and sustainability a priority, installing solar in 2026 can significantly reduce both your bills and carbon footprint. In this guide, we break down the latest NSW solar rebates, feed-in tariffs and give insight on how to apply, so that you can best take advantage of all available savings.

 

Understanding Solar Rebates in NSW in 2026

Federal Rebates Still at the Core

In 2026, the primary solar rebate available to NSW residents remains the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which provides Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). STCs translate into a substantial upfront discount on your solar system cost when you assign them to your accredited installer, effectively reducing your cost at the point of sale.

This national rebate program is designed to encourage renewable energy uptake, but as it reduces in value over time as the scheme gradually winds down toward 2030, the sooner you install solar, the more value you will receive.

As your local Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited installer, we can manage this process for you, including calculating and applying STCs to your quote.

 

Solar Battery Rebates and Incentives

While NSW itself does not offer a standalone solar panel rebate for 2026, it does provide incentives for batteries connected to Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). These VPP incentives can be combined with the federal battery rebate (the Cheaper Home Batteries Program) to further reduce the cost of battery storage.

The federal rebate for solar batteries aims to cover roughly 30% of eligible battery costs and is calculated based on usable kilowatt-hours of capacity. From 1 May 2026, changes to the rebate structure will see adjustments that impact larger battery systems more significantly.

In addition, NSW VPP incentives can assist up front in the cost for connecting a qualifying battery to a VPP network. Along with boosting your grid connection benefits, this also helps support NSW’s grid stability.

These changes mean that acting sooner rather than later provides the most savings, before these programs continue to step down. Installing solar in 2026 means you can take advantage of rebates and incentives while they remain valuable.

 

Feed-in Tariffs in NSW in 2026: What’s Changed

A solar feed-in tariff (FiT) is the credit you receive from your energy retailer for any excess solar electricity your system exports back to the grid. These credits are then applied to your electricity bill and are therefore a critical aspect to overall solar savings.

Benchmarks and Retailer Offers

Unlike some other states, NSW does not mandate a minimum feed-in tariff. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) instead sets the recommended benchmarks to assist you in comparing retail offers. The all-day FiT benchmark for the 2025-26 financial year is 4.8 to 7.3 cents per kWh.

Individual retailers often set their own FiT rates, with some offering competitive rates above these benchmarks. FiT rates can vary significantly between retailers and may be structured differently (for example, higher rates for the first few kilowatt-hours exported). Retailers can also change FiT offers at any time, as they are not required to strictly adhere to IPART’s recommended range

You can compare our various solar plans and FiT offers at Hunter Solar Solutions. Websites like the Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy tool can also be useful for comparison.

 

How to Apply for Rebates and Feed-in Tariffs

Choose an Accredited System and Installer

To qualify for federal STCs and battery rebates, your solar PV system and battery must be installed by a Clean Energy Council accredited installer such as Hunter Solar Solutions. As your installer, we will submit the relevant documentation and claim the STCs on your behalf, applying the rebate discount directly to your system price.

 

Confirm Eligibility and Request Quotes

When getting a quote, you can discuss your energy usage, roof orientation and system size to ensure you maximise both rebates and feed-in opportunities. Explore our solar and battery packages and get a tailored quote that is specific to your requirements.

 

Apply for Feed-in Tariff with Your Electricity Retailer

After your system has been installed and connected to the grid, you can then register for a feed-in tariff through your electricity retailer by providing them with the necessary commissioning documents (such as your CEC certificate and meter details). You can then choose a plan that offers the best feed-in tariff for your circumstances.

 

Why Acting in 2026 Matters

Although rebates are still available, they are reducing over time toward 2030, as part of federal policy. Feed-in tariffs also often change, with retailers adjusting rates based on market conditions. By installing sooner rather than later, you can capture higher STC values, better battery incentives and export credits.

 

Ready to look at your Solar Options

Installing solar in 2026 is a smart choice for NSW homes and businesses. With federal STC rebates, battery incentives, and feed-in tariff credits, you can reduce your upfront costs, increase long-term savings and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Ready to see what solar can do for you? Explore our solar and battery packages, and receive a free personalised quote from Hunter Solar Solutions today.