SOLAR REBATE IN NSW

The Empowering Homes Programme is the solar rebate in NSW. It offers interest-free loans to eligible residents to install solar PV and battery storage systems, or add a battery to their existing solar system.

You can get an interest-free loan for a:

• solar PV and battery system – up to $14,000 (repayable over up to 8 years), or
• battery to add to your existing solar system – up to $9,000 (repayable over up to 10 years).

You can’t use the loan for solar only. It’s got to be for a solar and battery system, or retrofitting a battery to your existing solar system if you have one already.

This program is currently just a pilot so it’s limited to certain postcodes in NSW until they have refined the processes. Then the plan is to roll it out to every location.

Eligibility

Here are the requirements to qualify:

• live in one of these postcodes
• your household income can’t be more than $180,000 a year
• live in your home and have the authority to have a system installed, e.g. if you’re part of a body corporate, you need to make sure you have approval to install solar and a battery.
• your home is connected to the electricity grid, e.g. you’re not on a rural property with its own power supply, or disconnecting yourself from the grid to be completely energy independent.
• meet their loan criteria.

Prices Without A Solar Battery Rebate NSW

Residential solar battery prices in NSW are around $1,000 per kWh, for both the battery itself and its installation.

For example, expect a 13kWh battery to cost around $13,000. Of course, the final price will depend on the make and model of the battery and the installers you use.

Prices do go up and down with supply and demand for battery storage.

Prices With A Federal Solar Panel Rebate NSW

For solar panels in NSW expect to pay between $3,000 to $7,000 for a residential system. If you have the roof space and need for a larger system, you could choose to pay more. This estimate is after the Federal Government’s STC rebate is applied.

As well as brand and the product model you choose, other factors that affect the final price tag of solar in NSW are how many storeys your house is, if you are on single or three phase power, how complex your roof layout is, and if you have tiles or a tin roof.