Key points
- South Australia has no state solar or battery rebate in 2026. The SA Home Battery Scheme closed in 2022.
- The main solar rebate in SA is the federal STC discount: about 45 STCs (roughly $1,800) for a 6.6kW system in Adelaide installed in 2026.
- The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes about $3,400–$3,700 off a 13.5 kWh battery until 31 December 2026, then the rate drops.
- The REPS VPP battery incentive ran out of general funding in May 2026. Only priority group households can access it for the rest of 2026.
- Homes and businesses in the City of Adelaide council area can get council cash back on solar, batteries and switchboard upgrades.
If you are looking for a solar rebate SA homeowners can still claim, the short answer is that the big incentives in 2026 are federal. South Australia has no state solar panel or battery rebate. You can still cut thousands off a system through federal small-scale technology certificates (STCs) for panels and the Cheaper Home Batteries Program for batteries. A few smaller retailer and council incentives sit on top. Here is everything South Australians can still claim, what each is worth, and who qualifies.
Solar rebate SA: is there a state rebate in 2026?
Not from the state government. The SA Home Battery Scheme, which offered battery subsidies from 2018, closed in 2022. There has been no state rebate for solar panels for many years. Everything below is either federal, run through energy retailers, or offered by a local council. For the national picture, see our 2026 guide to solar and battery rebates in SA and Victoria.
| Incentive | What it’s worth | Who can get it | Status (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal STCs (solar panels) | About $1,800 off 6.6kW, $2,750 off 10kW in Adelaide | Any home or business, no means test | Open, shrinks each 1 January |
| Cheaper Home Batteries Program | About $2,500–$2,700 off 10 kWh; $3,400–$3,700 off 13.5 kWh | Homes, small businesses, community groups | Open, rate drops 1 January 2027 |
| REPS VPP incentive | Varies by VPP operator | Priority group households only | General funding ran out May 2026 |
| City of Adelaide Sustainability Incentives | Solar 20% up to $5,000; battery 50% up to $1,000 | Properties in the City of Adelaide council area | Listed as available |
| State solar or battery rebate | None | n/a | Home Battery Scheme closed 2022 |
The federal STC solar rebate in Adelaide
Every eligible solar system earns STCs based on its size, its zone and the year it is installed. Adelaide is in Zone 3, with a zone rating of 1.382 MWh per kW. Systems installed in 2026 get a 5-year deeming period. Adelaide’s strong sun means you earn about 17% more certificates here than in Melbourne for the same system.
| System size (Adelaide) | STCs if installed in 2026 | Approx. value at $39.85 | STCs if installed in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW | 45 | $1,790 | 36 |
| 10kW | 69 | $2,750 | 55 |
| 13kW | 89 | $3,550 | 71 |
Your installer normally takes the STC value straight off the quote. Our guide to how the STC solar rebate is calculated walks through the formula, so you can check any quote line by line.
The federal battery rebate in South Australia
Since 1 July 2025 the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program has cut the price of eligible home batteries. For batteries installed between 1 May and 31 December 2026, each usable kWh earns 6.8 STCs. The first 14 kWh earn the full rate, 14–28 kWh earns 60%, and 28–50 kWh earns 15%.
- 10 kWh battery: about $2,500–$2,700 off
- 13.5 kWh battery: about $3,400–$3,700 off
- 20 kWh battery: about $4,400 off
From 1 January 2027 the rate falls to 5.7 STCs per kWh, so the same 13.5 kWh battery loses roughly $550–$600 of discount. With 72,000+ SA homes already running a battery, this is now the biggest incentive in the state. Our post on the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in SA covers eligibility and the January cut in detail.
Tip: The CER only allows one battery STC claim per address. Upgrades or expansions of a battery already claimed under the program aren’t eligible. Size your battery properly the first time.
Retailer and council incentives in SA
REPS: retailer incentives and the VPP payment
The Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS) requires larger SA energy retailers to deliver energy-saving activities to households and businesses. Retailers can offer these as discounts, cash back or reduced-price products. The scheme is in its 2026–2030 stage.
One REPS activity pays an incentive for connecting a new or existing battery to an approved virtual power plant (VPP). General funding for the VPP incentive ran out in May 2026. For the rest of 2026 it is limited to priority group households, such as eligible concession holders. If you think you qualify, ask the VPP operator to confirm before you sign up. Don’t rely on it in a quote.
REPS also funds discounts on other upgrades, such as efficient hot water and heating. These are offered through participating retailers and providers, and the offers change often.
City of Adelaide council rebates
If your property is inside the City of Adelaide council area (the CBD and North Adelaide), the council’s Sustainability Incentives Scheme is worth a look. As of October 2026 it lists:
- Residential solar PV (over 1.5kW): 20% of the cost, up to $5,000
- Battery storage: 50% up to $1,000
- Switchboard upgrades for solar, batteries, electrification or EV charging: 50% up to $5,000
- Replacing gas appliances with electric or solar (e.g. hot water): 50% up to $2,000 for homes
There are separate streams for businesses, strata and not-for-profits. Read the council’s guidelines before you buy, because council schemes usually have conditions about timing and paperwork. Other SA councils occasionally run similar programs, so check your own council’s website too.
Feed-in tariffs and Solar Sharer: not rebates, but they change the maths
SA has no minimum feed-in tariff, and most retailers pay roughly 0–8c/kWh for exported solar. Households on the legacy 44c scheme keep it only until 30 June 2028. Since 1 July 2026, the federal Solar Sharer offer gives opted-in customers with a smart meter free power from 12pm to 3pm, up to 24 kWh a day.
The result is that solar in SA now pays you mainly through the power you use yourself, not what you export. A battery stores midday solar for the evening peak. Our guide to SA feed-in tariffs in 2026 explains why batteries and Solar Sharer now beat exporting.
Incentives for South Australian businesses
From 1 October 2026, solar systems up to 1 MW can earn STCs, up from 100 kW. Systems between 100 kW and 1 MW get a fixed 5-year deeming period. Government estimates put the benefit at around $68,000 off a 250 kW system. The CER expects applications to open in mid to late November 2026. Small businesses with turnover under $10 million may also use the now-permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off. Most commercial solar systems cost more than $20,000, though, so they usually go into the small business pool. Ask your accountant.
Worked example: what an Adelaide household can claim
Take a family in a northern Adelaide suburb that installs a 6.6kW solar system and a 13.5 kWh battery in November 2026:
- Solar STCs: 45 × about $39.85 = about $1,790
- Battery STCs: 13.5 × 6.8 = 91 STCs, worth about $3,400–$3,640 at $37–$40
- State rebate: $0
- Total upfront discount: about $5,200–$5,400
The same household in North Adelaide could add the City of Adelaide incentives on top, subject to the council’s rules. If the install slips into January 2027, both federal discounts shrink: 36 solar STCs instead of 45, and 5.7 battery STCs per kWh instead of 6.8. For more scenarios, including Victorian examples, see stacking solar and battery incentives.
How to make sure you get every rebate
- Choose an accredited installer. STCs require an SAA-accredited designer and installer and products on the Clean Energy Council’s approved lists.
- Check the quote. It should show the number of STCs for the panels and the battery separately, plus the price per certificate.
- Confirm the battery qualifies. It must be on the approved list, VPP-capable and between 5 and 100 kWh.
- Lock in an install date. Your discount depends on when the system is installed, not when you sign.
- Apply for council or REPS offers early, following each program’s own rules.
SA has no state interest-free solar loan in 2026, so if you need to spread the cost, compare the solar finance options before you sign anything.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Australia have a state solar rebate in 2026?
No. There is no SA Government rebate for solar panels or home batteries in 2026. The SA Home Battery Scheme closed in 2022. South Australians can still claim the federal STC discount on solar panels and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, plus some retailer (REPS) and council incentives.
Is the SA Home Battery Scheme still available?
No. The Home Battery Scheme closed in 2022. Its role has effectively been taken over by the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which started on 1 July 2025 and takes about 30% off the installed cost of an eligible battery.
Can I get the battery rebate if I already have solar?
Yes. You can add an eligible battery to an existing solar system and still claim the federal discount. It must be on the approved list, be VPP-capable and be installed by an SAA-accredited installer. Only one battery claim is allowed per address, so choose the right size first time.
Do I have to join a VPP to get the federal battery discount?
No. The battery must be capable of joining a virtual power plant, but you don’t have to join one to receive the federal discount. Joining a VPP is a separate choice that can earn you extra credits, and in SA some priority group households can get a REPS incentive for doing so.
Our Adelaide team, based in Newton, can price solar, a battery or both with every federal discount shown line by line. Visit our Adelaide solar and battery guide, browse our home solar packages, or get a free quote.
Sources: Clean Energy Regulator – Calculate STC entitlements (updated 18 Sep 2026); Clean Energy Regulator – Create STCs (updated 12 Oct 2026); Clean Energy Regulator – Mid-scale solar (updated 7 Oct 2026); City of Adelaide – Sustainability Incentives Scheme (accessed Oct 2026); ESCOSA – REPS FAQs. Rebate amounts, STC prices and REPS funding change often; check each program’s official page before you buy. Featured image: -wuppertaler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
