Free solar panels are not available to most Australian households in November 2026. No government program we found pays the whole cost of a rooftop system for an ordinary owner. What exists is the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme discount (about A$1,400 to A$1,840 off a 6 kW system), state grants of up to A$4,000, shared “Solar Banks” projects and zero-interest loans. Anything marketed as “free” is usually finance.
Key facts
- As at November 2026, the federal Community Solar Banks Program has A$75.90 million in funding to help 25,000 households that cannot get rooftop solar, with a focus on low-income households, apartments and rental housing, according to the federal financial relations website.
- The Clean Energy Regulator says the STC Clearing House price is fixed at A$40 excluding GST, so a 6 kW system in most capital cities gets about A$1,640 off, not a free system (Solar Cobber calculation).
- The NSW Home Energy Saver discount pays up to A$4,000 off solar, batteries and other upgrades for households with combined income up to A$80,000 or a qualifying concession card, and was open at 13 November 2026.
- The Queensland Government’s Supercharged Solar for Renters program pays landlords up to A$3,500 per rental house, duplex or townhouse, but not apartments, on a page last updated 4 March 2026.
- The ACT Home Energy Support Program pays concession card holders 50 per cent of rooftop solar costs, up to A$2,500, according to our ACT guide checked in November 2026.
- On 1 January 2027 the STC deeming period falls from 5 years to 4, cutting the discount on a 6.6 kW Sydney system from 45 certificates to 36, by our calculation.
Source: Federal Financial Relations, Community Solar Banks Program, read November 2026.
Are free solar panels really free?
No. “Free solar” offers are one of three things: the federal STC discount presented as a gift, finance with no deposit, or a rental or power purchase contract where someone else owns the panels. In each case the cost is recovered elsewhere, through the price, the interest, or a multi-year charge for the electricity.
The STC discount is a real saving, but it is not the whole system. A Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) is a tradable certificate created when you install eligible solar; your installer takes it and deducts its value from your price. The working is system size in kW, times your zone rating, times the deeming years (5 for a 2026 install), according to the Clean Energy Regulator. Our STC explainer and STC calculator show the steps.
How much of a solar system does the federal discount cover?
The federal STC discount covers about 16 to 24 per cent of the price of a 6 kW system in the capital cities, depending on zone and local prices. The Clean Energy Regulator sets the zone ratings, and the STC Clearing House price is fixed at A$40 excluding GST.
This is our calculation. We took Solar Choice’s average installed price for a 6 kW system in each city (standard offers, 1 November 2026, which already includes the STC discount) and added back the STCs at A$40, using the CER zone ratings and rounding down.
| City | Zone rating | STCs for 6 kW (2026) | STC value at A$40 | Solar Choice 6 kW price after STCs | Price before STCs | STC share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | 1.382 | 41 | A$1,640 | A$5,230 | A$6,870 | 24% |
| Adelaide | 1.382 | 41 | A$1,640 | A$5,470 | A$7,110 | 23% |
| Sydney | 1.382 | 41 | A$1,640 | A$5,800 | A$7,440 | 22% |
| Canberra | 1.382 | 41 | A$1,640 | A$5,790 | A$7,430 | 22% |
| Brisbane | 1.382 | 41 | A$1,640 | A$6,200 | A$7,840 | 21% |
| Melbourne | 1.185 | 35 | A$1,400 | A$5,750 | A$7,150 | 20% |
| Hobart | 1.185 | 35 | A$1,400 | A$6,680 | A$8,080 | 17% |
| Darwin | 1.536 | 46 | A$1,840 | A$9,890 | A$11,730 | 16% |
Sources: Solar Choice Solar Panel Price Index, November 2026; Clean Energy Regulator zone ratings. Solar Choice does not publish a 6.6 kW column, so we used 6 kW.
- You pay (after STCs)
- STC discount
Source: Solar Choice Solar Panel Price Index (standard offers, 1 November 2026); Clean Energy Regulator zone ratings. Solar Cobber calculation: STCs = 6 kW x zone rating x 5 years, rounded down, valued at the A$40 Clearing House price.
View the data as a table
| You pay (after STCs) | STC discount | |
|---|---|---|
| Darwin | A$9,890 | A$1,840 |
| Hobart | A$6,680 | A$1,400 |
| Brisbane | A$6,200 | A$1,640 |
| Sydney | A$5,800 | A$1,640 |
| Canberra | A$5,790 | A$1,640 |
| Melbourne | A$5,750 | A$1,400 |
| Adelaide | A$5,470 | A$1,640 |
| Perth | A$5,230 | A$1,640 |
In every capital the STC discount is a minority of the price, and a Darwin buyer pays the most for the same system.
The discount is also shrinking. The deeming period drops by one year each 1 January, so the same system earns fewer certificates from 2027.
- 2026 (5 years)
- 2027 (4 years)
Source: Clean Energy Regulator zone ratings and deeming periods, read 14 November 2026. Solar Cobber calculation: 6.6 kW x zone rating x deeming years, rounded down, times A$40.
View the data as a table
| 2026 (5 years) | 2027 (4 years) | |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | A$2,120 | A$1,680 |
| Zone 2 | A$2,000 | A$1,600 |
| Zone 3 | A$1,800 | A$1,440 |
| Zone 4 | A$1,560 | A$1,240 |
Installing before 31 December 2026 locks in the larger 2026 discount, which is worth about A$360 more on a zone 3 home.
What free solar panels government programs exist in each state?
No state or territory runs a program that gives a standard owner-occupier a fully free system, as at November 2026. They pay part of the cost, mostly through concession tests, landlords or owners corporations.
This table lists the programs we verified, checked in November 2026. Amounts are “up to” figures and each state’s page decides who qualifies.
| State | Program | Who it helps | Worth | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Home Energy Saver discount | Income up to A$80,000, or Health Care, Low Income Health Care, Pensioner Concession or Veteran Gold card | Up to A$4,000 off solar, batteries and other upgrades | Open, no closing date; apply before taking the loan |
| NSW | Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative | Social housing tenants | Solar and batteries on about 24,000 homes by June 2027 | Providers choose homes; tenants cannot apply |
| Queensland | Supercharged Solar for Renters | Landlords | Up to A$3,500 per rental house or townhouse | Not apartments; rent up to A$1,000 a week; fixed lease with 8 months left |
| ACT | Home Energy Support Program | Concession card holders who own their home | 50% up to A$2,500 for solar, plus a 0% loan to A$10,000 | Owners only; unimproved value limits apply |
| Victoria | Solar Homes rebate | Owner-occupiers under A$150,000 income | Up to A$1,400, plus optional A$1,400 interest-free loan | 50% of cost after STCs, so never free |
| NT | Solar for Multi Dwellings Grant | Unit management corporations | Up to A$7,500 per dwelling, up to 50% of cost | Buildings only, not individual homes |
| WA, SA, Tasmania | No state solar panel rebate | Not applicable | Bill concessions only | Federal STC discount only |
Sources: our state guides for NSW, Queensland, the ACT, Victoria, the NT, WA, SA and Tasmania, and the Queensland Treasury program page, updated 4 March 2026.
View the data as a table
| Maximum payment | |
|---|---|
| NT apartments (per dwelling) | A$7,500 |
| NSW Home Energy Saver | A$4,000 |
| Qld renters (landlord) | A$3,500 |
| ACT concession | A$2,500 |
| Vic Solar Homes | A$1,400 |
| Vic rental rebate | A$1,400 |
Only the NT apartment grant tops A$4,000, and it pays the building, not a household. Even the largest household payment is smaller than the price of a 6 kW system anywhere in the country.
What are Solar Banks and can you get free solar from one?
Solar Banks are community-scale solar projects for people who cannot put panels on their own roof. The federal Community Solar Banks Program runs from 29 September 2023 to 30 June 2028 with A$75.90 million, and its agreements list the ACT, NSW, NT, SA, Victoria and WA.
On average that is A$3,036 for each of the 25,000 target households (A$75.9 million divided by 25,000, our calculation). Households do not receive that as cash. It pays for shared systems and clean energy technology, so most people reach it through an owners corporation, housing provider or council project.
Here is what we could confirm, and what we could not:
- NT: the Solar for Multi Dwellings Grant Scheme is funded by the Community Solar Banks Program, according to our NT guide.
- NSW: RenewEconomy reported in January 2024 that A$30 million of a joint A$206 million Commonwealth and NSW package was for Solar Banks, expected to reach more than 10,000 households with savings of about A$600 a year. The NSW page we opened lists a separate Solar for Apartment Residents grant for owners corporations and does not use the Solar Banks name.
- Queensland: not in the federal list of six agreements, and we could not open a primary page for any Queensland community solar project, so we make no claim about it.
- Victoria, SA, WA and the ACT: the federal agreements exist, but we could not open a state page that says which local scheme uses the money. Check each state’s energy department.
If an ad says “apply for Solar Banks”, treat it as a sales pitch. We found no public sign-up form for households.
Is there free solar for pensioners and low-income households?
Not for panels on a private home in most states. Pensioners and concession card holders get the best deals in NSW and the ACT, and bill concessions everywhere else.
- NSW: a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Veteran Gold card qualifies you for the Home Energy Saver discount, up to A$4,000, with landlord approval if you rent.
- ACT: concession card holders who own their home get 50 per cent of solar costs up to A$2,500, plus a zero-interest loan of up to A$10,000.
- Queensland, SA, WA, NT and Tasmania: concessions come off the power bill, not the panels. Queensland’s Electricity Rebate is A$399.47 a year and the WA Energy Assistance Payment is A$377.14 a year from 1 July 2026. Our energy bill rebates guide lists the rest.
- South Australia: a priority group of concession holders and low-rent tenants gets the better share of the retailer-funded virtual power plant (VPP) battery incentive, but it covers batteries, not panels.
Can renters or apartment owners get free solar?
Renters cannot install panels without the owner, and nobody pays tenants to do so. The programs pay the landlord (Queensland, Victoria) or the owners corporation (NSW, Victoria, ACT, NT). Our apartments and renters guide covers each scheme.
Renters can still get free daytime power without panels. The Solar Sharer Offer gives eligible smart meter homes in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia free electricity for three hours a day, up to 24 kWh, and Victoria’s Midday Power Saver started on 1 October 2026. Rates outside the window are higher, so compare. See our Solar Sharer Offer guide.
Is a zero-interest solar loan free solar?
A zero-interest loan removes the deposit, not the cost. You still repay the full price, and the saving is only that you pay no interest.
As at November 2026, NSW offers a Home Energy Saver loan up to A$15,000 at 0 per cent for up to 10 years (income up to A$150,000), WA offers A$2,001 to A$10,000 at 0 per cent with a battery, and Victoria’s is A$1,400. Our solar loans guide has the table.
The difference matters if the loan is not zero. A A$12,000 purchase repaid over 10 years at 4.99 per cent costs about A$15,270, which is A$3,270 more than the sticker price (Solar Cobber calculation using the standard repayment formula).
What about solar rental, power purchase and “$0 upfront” deals?
These offers keep the panels in someone else’s name and charge you for them over time. They can suit a household that cannot find a deposit, but the contract decides whether it is a good deal.
We did not verify any provider’s rates, so we give no prices. Ask these before signing:
- Who owns the system, and who is responsible if the inverter fails?
- Is the monthly fee fixed, or does it rise each year?
- What does it cost to exit early, sell the house or buy the system out?
- Does the contract include a VPP or retailer lock-in? See our VPP explainer.
- Is the finance a regulated credit contract, with the interest rate and comparison rate shown in writing?
How do you spot a misleading free solar offer?
Treat the word “free” as a prompt to ask what you are paying instead. The checks below take a few minutes.
| Claim | What it usually means | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| “Free solar panels” | The STC discount, or finance with no deposit | The total you will pay in dollars, including interest and fees |
| “Government-funded” | Federal STCs or a state rebate you could claim yourself | Which program, and the program’s own page |
| “Apply for Solar Banks” | A community project run through a building or council | Who is delivering it and where the sign-up is published |
| “Limited-time rebate” | A real deadline, such as the 1 January 2027 deeming change | The exact date, from the Clean Energy Regulator |
| “$0 upfront” | Rental, lease, PPA or buy now pay later | The contract term and exit cost |
Confirm the installer and retailer on the Clean Energy Council approved retailer list and Solar Accreditation Australia register yourself; Solar Cobber does not verify accreditation. Get three quotes; our quote comparison guide and solar panel cost guide help. Check the installer in our directory, and see what happens if an installer fails.
FAQ
Can I get free solar panels from the government in Australia?
No, not as an ordinary homeowner. The federal STC discount takes roughly A$1,400 to A$1,840 off a 6 kW system in 2026, and some states add up to A$4,000 for low-income or concession households. Social housing tenants can get free upgrades only if their provider chooses their home.
What are Solar Banks?
Solar Banks are community-scale shared solar projects for households that cannot install panels. The federal program has A$75.90 million to help 25,000 households, with a focus on low-income households, apartments and rentals, and runs to 30 June 2028. Households usually reach it through a building or council project, not a direct application.
Are there free solar panels for pensioners?
Not as a general program. In NSW a Pensioner Concession Card qualifies you for the Home Energy Saver discount of up to A$4,000, and in the ACT concession card holders get up to A$2,500 off solar. Other states give concessions on the power bill.
Can renters get free solar panels?
No, renters cannot install panels alone. Queensland and Victoria pay landlords to install solar, and Queensland’s rebate is up to A$3,500 for houses and townhouses. Renters can use the Solar Sharer Offer for free midday power instead.
Will the solar rebate drop in 2027?
Yes. The STC deeming period falls from 5 years to 4 on 1 January 2027, so a 6.6 kW Sydney system earns 36 certificates instead of 45, about A$360 less at A$40 a certificate.
Is zero upfront solar really free?
No. A zero upfront deal is rental, lease or finance, and you repay the cost over time, so ask for the total repayment and exit cost in writing.
Is there free solar for low-income households?
Only partly. NSW and the ACT pay a share for qualifying households, and NSW is upgrading about 24,000 social housing homes by June 2027, but no national scheme pays the full cost for a private home.
Sources
- Community Solar Banks Program, Federal Financial Relations
- Calculate small-scale technology certificate entitlements, Clean Energy Regulator
- Buy and sell small-scale technology certificates, Clean Energy Regulator
- Postcode zone ratings, Clean Energy Regulator
- Solar Panel Price Index, Solar Choice
- Supercharged Solar for Renters, Queensland Treasury
- Solar Banks and electrification, RenewEconomy, 15 January 2024
- Solar for apartment residents, NSW Government
About this guide
This guide is independent desk research by the Solar Cobber editorial team, checked in November 2026 against the Clean Energy Regulator, federal and state government pages and the price indexes named above. No installer, retailer or program was contacted. Solar Cobber is a free directory that may earn referral or advertising fees from installers, and commercial relationships never affect our content. This is general information, not financial advice. Send corrections through /contact.
Filed under Savings
Back to blog
