NSW Home Energy Saver, live now
NSW’s $15,000 Interest-Free Solar LoanCheck Your Eligibility in 2 Minutes
Borrow up to $15,000 at zero interest for solar, a battery or home energy upgrades, and repay it over up to ten years. It sits on top of the federal rebates you already qualify for, which is how systems get close to $0 upfront.
- 0% interest, no ongoing fees
- Repay over up to 10 years
- Stacks with federal rebates
Three boxes decide whether you are eligible
The rules are short. Tick all three and you are likely in.
Tick each box that applies to you.
How the loan stacks with rebates you already get
Rebates shrink the price. The loan spreads what is left. Here is a worked example for a 6.6 kW solar system with a 10 kWh battery.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Solar + battery system, fully installed | $18,500 |
| Federal battery discount (Cheaper Home Batteries) | -$2,584 |
| Solar STC incentive | -$1,710 |
| Left to pay | $14,206 |
| Covered by the 0% Home Energy Saver loan | $14,206 |
| Upfront cost today | $0 |
Illustrative example only. Real prices and rebate amounts vary with system size, hardware and your home. Repaying $14,206 over ten years works out to about $118 a month, interest free.
When the loan is worth it, and when it is not
Let us be plain about what this is: a loan, not a rebate. You repay every dollar you borrow. The value is that spreading the cost over ten years costs you nothing extra, where a commercial green loan on the same amount would charge thousands in interest.
The question that matters is whether your bill savings outrun the repayment. For most households with a decent power bill, they do, comfortably.
| Typical month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Loan repayment ($14,206 over 10 years) | about $118 |
| Bill savings, well-sized solar + battery | $165 to $235 |
It does not suit everyone. If your electricity bill is small, say under $250 a quarter, the repayment can outweigh the savings and you may be better off with a smaller solar-only system, or waiting. Savings also depend on your daytime usage, your tariff and your feed-in rate, which is exactly what the calculator works through.
How it works
Check your eligibility
A few questions, about two minutes. We work out the rebates and the loan you are likely to qualify for from your postcode and household.
We match you with one Why Solar Approved installer
One installer who has cleared the six checks in the Why Solar Approved standard gives you one written quote for your home, and a solar expert goes through it with you for 15 minutes before you sign. The installer never cold-calls.
Rebates first, then the 0% loan
Federal rebates come off the price first. The interest-free loan, delivered through Brighte or Plenti, covers the rest, up to $15,000.
Install and start saving
Your installer handles approvals and installation. From day one, your bill savings work against a repayment that never charges interest.
Why go through Why Solar?
- Google rating
- 5
- Stars on Google
- Expert call
- 15 min
- With a solar expert before you sign
- Installers matched
- 1
- Why Solar Approved installer, one written quote
- Collapsed solar companies
- 270+
- Solar companies collapsed since 2010
That last number is why we exist. A ten-year loan is pointless if your installer folds in year two, so every installer we match has cleared the six checks in the Why Solar Approved standard, including years trading and the financial stability to still be around when the loan is paid off. We are independent and family owned, we do not sell your details, and the service is free for homeowners.
Check your eligibility in 2 minutes
Postcode first, then a few quick questions about your home and your bill. You will see the rebates and the loan you likely qualify for before anyone contacts you.
Until the next federal rebate step-down
Federal solar and battery incentives reduce again on 1 January 2027. Rebates are set by your installation date, so starting now gives your installer time to complete the job at the current, higher rates.
Questions people actually ask
Is the $15,000 a grant or a loan?
It is a loan. You repay every dollar you borrow over a term of up to ten years. What you do not pay is interest, ongoing fees or early-exit penalties, which on a comparable commercial green loan would cost thousands. The only part of the Home Energy Saver program you do not repay is a separate discount of up to $4,000 for lower-income households, due to open later in 2026.
Who is eligible for the loan?
NSW homeowners and landlords with a combined household taxable income of up to $210,000. The work must be done by an installer accredited under the program (NETCC accreditation), and the loan itself is subject to credit approval by Brighte or Plenti, the two approved finance providers.
Can I combine it with the federal rebates?
Yes, and that is the whole point. Federal incentives are applied to your quote first: the Cheaper Home Batteries discount on a battery and STC incentives on solar panels. The interest-free loan then covers what is left, up to $15,000. Stacked together, a solar-plus-battery system can get close to zero upfront.
What can the loan cover?
Rooftop solar, a home battery, a switchboard upgrade, heat pump or solar hot water, reverse-cycle air conditioning, an induction cooktop, a home EV charger, ceiling fans, ceiling insulation, draught-proofing, double glazing and a NatHERS home energy assessment. You can fund one upgrade or bundle several into the one loan.
Do renters qualify?
Not for the loan, which is limited to owners and landlords. Renters may be able to access the separate $4,000 discount when it opens later in 2026, with their landlord’s permission. If you rent, our solar for renters guide covers the options that exist today.
What are Brighte and Plenti?
They are the two finance providers approved by the NSW Government to deliver the loans. They assess your application, approve the credit and onboard the accredited installers doing the work. You repay the loan to them, at zero interest, on the terms set by the program.
What if my household income is over $210,000?
You will not qualify for the interest-free loan, but the federal rebates have no income test. The battery discount and solar STC incentives typically take thousands off a system before you pay a cent, so a quote is still well worth getting.
Renting? See what solar options renters have while the discount half of the program is still on its way.
Why Solar is an independent comparison and installer-matching service. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the NSW Government. The Home Energy Saver program is administered by the NSW Government; loans are subject to program eligibility and lender credit approval by Brighte or Plenti. Figures on this page are illustrative examples, not quotes or financial advice. Information current as at July 2026. Confirm program details at energy.nsw.gov.au.