Solar Rebate QLD

Does QLD have any rebates for solar? 

Unfortunately, as of May 2024, the Queensland Government doesn’t have any solar rebates waiting for you to apply. 

However, Queensland does have a good track record for solar rebates and the like. This includes the Battery Booster Rebate, which offers up to $4,000 on a solar battery,¹Queensland Government – Battery Booster rebate for householders and the Climate Smart Energy Savers Rebate which could be anywhere from $300 to $1,000 back on upgrading appliances at your place, like swapping your electric or gas hot water heater for a solar one.²Queensland Government – Climate Smart Energy Savers rebate So, while there mightn’t be anything right now, who knows what’s around the corner. 

Additionally, the Federal Government’s Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme is still going and will be sticking around until 2030. However, what you’ll get back depends on how much electricity your new solar system can generate before the scheme ends. So, as they say, there’s no time like the present. 

Are there other solar incentives I could apply for? 

When it comes to small solar, Queenslanders have been showing the rest of the nation how it’s done, with more than one in three homes having it on their roof. Plus, for the March 2023 to February 2024 period, rooftop solar accounted for 10.9% of the state’s renewables — almost half the renewable energy total.³Queensland Government – Queensland’s renewable energy targets

However, it looks like the Queensland Government has its eyes set on larger-scale solar projects, like installing solar at more than 900 state schools as part of the Advancing Clean Energy Schools Program and the QREZ initiative to create and connect 22GW of renewables to the grid through 12 renewable energy zones across the state. Bigger and better definitely seems to be the name of the game. 

But we may still see the return of some smaller projects (and solar rebates!) in time. In March 2024, the Opposition flagged that the Solar for Rentals scheme — which previously saw solar installed on rental properties with a more than 50% reduction in payback time for landlords⁴Queensland Government – Solar for rentals trial — could come back in some form. 

So, solar may be off the table for you but that doesn’t mean you’re entirely on your own either if you’re looking for electricity bill relief. The $1,000 Cost of Living Rebate is set to be automatically applied to your bill during the 2024–25 period at least. Although that’s, of course, not a green light to start running your air con with the windows open. 

Helpful Tip:

Getting the most from your solar system can come down to some pre-planning, like figuring out your ideal system size, along with changing some habits – examples being using the delay timer feature on your washing machine or dishwasher or charging your car during daylight hours instead of the night if you can.

Dean Ipaviz

Sustainability Expert and Presenter

Is solar worth it in QLD? 

On average, a solar system could see you save anywhere from 40–60% on your next electricity bill.⁵Solar Savers – Frequently Asked Questions That’s the kind of saving that Black Friday and Boxing Day dreams are made of.  

But it’s what comes from living in a place where the Sunshine State isn’t just a name. Compared to some other parts of the country, Queensland boasts a higher daily average of sunshine hours and solar exposure.⁶Bureau of Meteorology – Sunshine: Average Daily Sunshine Hours,⁷Bureau of Meteorology – Average daily solar exposure This means you can be soaking up more vitamin D than your Tasmanian rellies, along with generating more electricity. 

Plus, when it comes to the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme, it could also mean you’re treated to more small-scale technology certificates (STCs) than other folks. This can depend a bit on where you are, for instance, out in Mt Isa and Quilpie you’ll get more STCs than someone on the Gold Coast or in Rockhampton. Regardless, more STCs can mean more money back. 

For instance, if you installed a 4kW system at your place in Brisbane on the 16^th of May for $5,650, while your mate installed the same model at their home in Roma, you could end up neding to pay different amounts once STCs came into the equation. 

Speaking of money back, you could also be treated to some extra return on your solar investment if you get a feed-in tariff (FiT). Again, with a place as big as Queensland, different rules apply in different parts of the state. For those in the Great South East, there’s no mandated rate or a guarantee of an FiT, so you may need to shop around. Elsewhere though, there’s the regional FiT with a minimum set by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA). The QCA decides what that is each year based off the costs retailers avoid when they buy electricity from folks like you rather than the big producers. The 2024–25rate is 12.337 cents per kWh you put back into the grid.⁸Queensland Competition Authority – Electricity FAQs

If you could have sworn a mate told you about getting a really big FiT, they were probably talking about the Solar Bonus Scheme. This is a bit of a dinosaur from back when far fewer people had solar and the Queensland Government really wanted to change that. So, they offered a whopping 44 cents for every kWh. Some lucky folks are still on it, but it’ll be wrapping up in July 2028. Unfortunately, there’s also no way to get onto it now. Turns out sometimes it really does pay to be an early adopter of technology (although it can also pay to wait for someone else to work out the kinks!). 

But even without this monster of an FiT — or an FiT at all — your new solar system could be paying itself off nicely with some serious electricity savings. While it can be a bit of a balancing act in finding a size that covers your average needs without picking something so big it’ll take an age to pay off, it’s a method that can work if you’ve got the sunshine and the motivation to make the most of it. In the case of a solar system, this means trying to use as much of the electricity you generate as possible, otherwise known as self-consumption. 

You can do the maths for yourself to see how self-consumption could change your bills. You’ll just need to know a few key figures: 

• How many kWh you expect to generate on average each day
• How much of that electricity you’ll be using (a conservative estimate is 40%)⁹MASH – How much can I save with solar panels?
• What you’d be paying for that much electricity if you were buying it from the grid 

FYI: If you’re not sure what size system would be good for your household, you can ask for quotes from different solar retailers or check out the online calculator at SunSPOT. 

Where can I find and compare Electricity Plans? 

Just because the rebates aren’t ripe this year, it doesn’t mean you need to miss out on savings. In fact, you could find yourself getting more from your solar with a tactical Electricity Plan switch.  

This could be a plan with a higher FiT for when you can’t keep up with what your system is generating. Alternatively, you might have your heart set on a better-value rate for buying electricity from the grid at night and solar isn’t an option. Whatever your reason for switching, iSelect is here to help. You can call one of our Energy comparison experts on 13 19 20 or use our online comparison tool to find and compare a range of Electricity Plans from different providers in a matter of minutes. 

Written by

Madeline Pettet

Digital Writer (Health)

Madeline is ready to demystify the technical so customers can save and live their best lives. She’s passionate about sustainability and overall wellbeing. In her spare time, she’s staring adoringly at her cats.

Edited by

David Rayfield

Digital Editor – Marketing, iSelect

David has extensive experience in writing, editing and marketing before joining iSelect in 2023 as Digital Editor. When not making our content better, you can find them browsing log cabins for sale in the forest.

Reviewed by

Dean Ipaviz

Sustainability Expert and Presenter

Dean Ipaviz is a qualified builder, project manager and carpenter who’s passionate about the environment, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture. He lives in Byron Bay with his partner, their daughter, and their dog, Fred.

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