All Perth solar rebates and incentives in 2026: a complete guide

Three financial incentives reduce the cost and improve the return on residential solar in Perth in 2026. They apply at different stages of the solar journey and come from different sources — federal, state, and energy retailer. Here's what each is worth.

1. Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) — federal

What they are: STCs are a federal government incentive for small-scale renewable energy systems under Australia's Renewable Energy Target. For solar panels, each STC represents one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity the system is expected to generate over a deeming period (currently 5 years from installation, based on the zone rating and system size).

How they work for Perth homeowners: STCs are almost always handled as a point-of-sale discount — your installer applies the STC value to reduce your upfront system price. You assign the STCs to the installer (who sells them), and the installer subtracts the STC value from the invoice. You never receive STCs as cash.

What they're worth: For a Perth 6.6kW system in 2026:

• Zone rating: 1.382 (STC Zone 3 — Perth)
• Deeming period: 5 years remaining (for systems installed in 2026)
• Approximate STC count: 6.6kW × 5 years × 1.382 zone rating ≈ 45–46 STCs
• STC spot price (market-traded): typically $35–$39/STC in mid-2026
• Total STC discount: approximately $1,600–$1,800 for a 6.6kW system

This is already included in the prices quoted to you. If a quote shows system prices "before" and "after" STC discount, the "after" price is what you pay.

Important: STCs are not a separate cash payment — they reduce your upfront cost. No application process is required from you. The installer handles the paperwork.

Battery systems and STCs: Battery storage alone does not generate STCs (no renewable energy generation). Solar panels do. A solar + battery package generates STCs based on the solar panel component only.

2. WA Battery Scheme — Synergy state rebate

What it is: The WA Battery Scheme provides a rebate for eligible battery storage systems installed alongside solar by eligible Synergy customers. The rebate is issued as a credit on your Synergy account.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a Synergy residential customer (the scheme is for Synergy customers on the SWIS network — Synergy-only)
• Battery must be on Synergy's approved Scheme Storage List (SSL)
• Solar system must be connected
• Battery must be installed by a CEC-accredited installer
• System must comply with AS/NZS 5139

Rebate amount:

• $130 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of eligible battery capacity
• Maximum rebate: $1,300 (capped at 10kWh of eligible capacity)

Examples:

• 5kWh eligible battery: $650 rebate
• 10kWh eligible battery: $1,300 rebate (maximum)
• 13.5kWh eligible battery: $1,300 rebate (cap applies at 10kWh)

Important — Tesla Powerwall 3: The Powerwall 3 is not on Synergy's SSL as of 2026 — it uses an integrated inverter that does not meet the SSL requirements. Do not choose the Powerwall 3 expecting to receive the WA Battery Scheme rebate.

How the rebate is paid: The rebate appears as a credit on your Synergy account, applied after the installation is registered and approved by Synergy. Processing typically takes 4–12 weeks from lodgement.

Application process: Your CEC-accredited installer lodges the rebate application to Synergy on your behalf. You don't need to apply separately — confirm with your installer that they will handle the lodgement.

3. Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) — Synergy export payments

What it is: DEBS is not an upfront rebate but an ongoing payment for electricity exported from your solar system to the grid. New solar connections from 1 August 2021 are automatically enrolled in DEBS.

Rates:

• Peak: 10 cents per kWh exported between 3pm and 9pm
• Off-peak: 2 cents per kWh exported all other hours

What DEBS is worth annually: For a 6.6kW Perth system with moderate self-consumption (~40% self-consumption):

• Annual export: approximately 6,000–8,000 kWh
• Export timing split (rough): 15–25% in peak window, 75–85% in off-peak
• Annual DEBS income: approximately $180–$400/year depending on usage pattern

DEBS payments appear as credits on your Synergy bill against your energy usage charges.

REBS (existing customers before August 2021): If you connected before 1 August 2021 and are still on the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS), your export rate is 7.135c/kWh flat. REBS is better than DEBS off-peak (2c) but worse than DEBS peak (10c). REBS customers can switch to DEBS permanently — the switch cannot be reversed.

What's NOT a rebate (common misconceptions)

State government upfront rebate: WA does not offer a direct upfront cash grant for residential solar panels in 2026 (unlike some eastern-state programs). The STC is a federal scheme, not state-funded.

"Limited time" rebate offers: Sales pressure claiming that "government rebates are ending soon" is a pressure tactic. STCs exist under legislation and phase down gradually through a published schedule — they don't end suddenly. Any claim of a special government rebate deadline should be treated with scepticism.

Synergy bill reduction: The reduction in your Synergy bill from solar self-consumption is not a rebate — it's cost avoidance. Economically valuable, but not government-funded.

Summary table — 2026 Perth solar incentives

| Incentive | Source | Type | Approximate value (6.6kW solar + 10kWh battery) | |---|---|---|---| | STCs | Federal government | Upfront price reduction | ~$1,600–$1,800 | | WA Battery Scheme | WA Government / Synergy | Bill credit (post-install) | up to $1,300 | | DEBS | Synergy | Ongoing export payment | ~$200–$400/year |

Total first-year value (solar only, no battery): approximately $1,600–$1,800 in STCs + $200–$400 DEBS. Total first-year value (solar + 10kWh battery): approximately $2,900–$3,100 in year 1.

These values are indicative for a typical Perth household. Your actual STC count depends on your system size; DEBS income depends on your export volumes and timing; the battery rebate depends on your battery's SSL-eligible capacity.