Commercial Solar Rebates in Australia: Every Incentive for Businesses in 2026

Commercial solar rebates in Australia work differently from residential ones, and they are often more generous in total dollar terms. A typical 30kW rooftop system for a small business can attract $7,500–$9,500 in federal STCs alone, before you factor in state programs and tax benefits. Yet many business owners I speak to have no idea these incentives exist, or they assume the “solar rebate” is only for households.

It is not. Businesses of all sizes can access the same federal STC scheme as residential customers, and several states run commercial-specific programs on top. Let me walk you through every incentive available right now.

The Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) scheme is the primary federal incentive for commercial solar. It applies to systems up to 100kW in capacity, which covers the vast majority of small-to-medium business installations. Warehouses, retail shops, offices, cafes, workshops: if your system is under 100kW, you qualify.

STCs work by crediting your system for its expected electricity generation over the remaining “deeming period” until the scheme ends in 2030. In 2026, that is approximately 5 years of deemed generation. Your installer typically handles the STC paperwork and applies the value as an upfront discount on your quote.

The number of STCs scales with system size, so commercial systems generate substantially more certificates than a residential 6.6kW setup. A 30kW system in Sydney creates roughly 200–250 STCs depending on zone. At current spot prices of around $37–$39 per certificate, that translates to approximately $7,500–$9,500 off the purchase price.

The catch: this rebate shrinks every year as the deeming period shortens, and it disappears when the scheme ends in 2030. For the full timeline, see our STC rebate phase-out guide.

This is the incentive that many business owners overlook because it does not appear on your solar quote. Under the instant asset write-off, eligible businesses can deduct the full cost of a solar system (after the STC discount) in the financial year it is installed, rather than depreciating it over multiple years.

For a business paying the 25% company tax rate, a $50,000 solar system (net of STCs) effectively costs $37,500 after the tax deduction. At the 30% rate for larger companies, the effective cost drops to $35,000. That is a significant reduction that stacks on top of the STC rebate you have already received.

Eligibility thresholds and conditions change with federal budgets, so speak to your accountant before committing. We cover the details in our instant asset write-off guide for solar.

The NSW and Victorian programs deserve extra attention because they are certificate-based, meaning your installer can trade them for cash value that reduces your upfront cost. They work similarly to STCs but are administered at the state level.

In NSW, the Energy Savings Scheme and Peak Demand Reduction Scheme create tradeable certificates for eligible energy upgrades. However, standard commercial solar PV is not a straightforward eligible activity under these schemes. Businesses may be able to access certificates through certain pathways, but this is not guaranteed. Ask your installer whether ESC or PRC value is included in your quote and how they qualify.

In Victoria, the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program generates VEECs (Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates) for commercial solar. The value of VEECs fluctuates with the certificate spot market, but for a 30kW commercial install, the VEU contribution is typically worth $1,500–$4,000. Some installers absorb this into their pricing and others list it separately, so ask your installer to break it out.

If your business needs a system larger than 100kW, the rules change. You no longer qualify for STCs. Instead, your system generates Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) under the Renewable Energy Target.

The key difference: LGCs are earned annually based on actual generation, not claimed as an upfront discount. You receive one LGC for every megawatt-hour (MWh) your system generates. LGC prices have dropped significantly in recent years and currently sit around $4–$6 per certificate. A 100kW system generating approximately 150 MWh per year would earn roughly $600–$900 annually in LGC revenue at current prices.

This is a different financial model. You pay the full system cost upfront (minus the instant asset write-off) and recoup LGC income over time. For large commercial and industrial installations, this can still be attractive, but it requires more capital upfront than an STC-eligible system under 100kW.

Getting the most out of available incentives comes down to timing, sizing, and paperwork. Here is what to keep in mind.

Install before January 2027. The STC deeming period drops by one year every January. A 30kW system installed in 2026 generates roughly 20% more STCs than the same system installed in 2027. That is thousands of dollars in lost rebate value. Read more in our STC phase-out guide.

Size your system below 100kW if possible. A 99kW system qualifies for STCs (a large upfront discount). A 101kW system does not. If your roof can support 110kW but you can live with 99kW, the STC-eligible system may actually deliver better financial returns despite being slightly smaller.

Time the install within your financial year. To claim the instant asset write-off in the current tax year, the system must be installed and ready for use before 30 June. If you are planning a large system, start the process early. Commercial installations take 4–8 weeks from quote acceptance to commissioning, and longer if you need a grid connection upgrade.

Ask your installer about state certificates. Not all installers automatically pass on ESC, VEEC, or PDRS certificate value. Some pocket it, some discount it off your quote, and some leave it as a separate line item. Ask explicitly what certificate value your quote includes.

Understand your depreciation options. If your system is too large for the instant write-off, the ATO depreciation rules still let you claim the cost over time. The simplified depreciation pool for small businesses is often the fastest route.

Farmers get extra advantages. Agricultural businesses often qualify for additional primary producer tax concessions on top of the standard write-off. Our farm solar guide covers the specific rebates and tax benefits available to farming operations.