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

Free. No obligation. We don’t sell your details. No calls until you say so.

Are you eligible? Three boxes decide it.

The program has surprisingly simple rules. If you can tick all three, 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.

Solar + battery system, fully installed$18,500
Federal battery discount (Cheaper Home Batteries)-$2,520
Solar STC incentive-$2,000
Left to pay$13,980
Covered by the 0% Home Energy Saver loan$13,980
Upfront cost today$0

Illustrative example only. Real prices and rebate amounts vary with system size, hardware and your home. Repaying $13,980 over ten years works out to about $117 a month, interest free.

Is it actually worth it?

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 monthAmount
Loan repayment ($13,980 over 10 years)about $117
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 below works through.

How it works

1.Check your eligibility

Two minutes, a few questions. We confirm the rebates and the loan you likely qualify for based on your postcode and household.

2.We match you with ONE vetted installer

One accredited installer who passes our vetting, not five strangers buying your number. They quote your home properly.

3.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.

4.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?

4.9

Google rating from 127 reviews

10,000+

Aussies helped

1

Installer match, never sold to five

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 we only match installers with the accreditation, track record and financials to still be around when the loan is paid off. We are independent, we do not sell your details, and the service costs you nothing.

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.

Free. No obligation. We don’t sell your details. No calls until you say so.

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.

Up to $5,350 in rebates • Federal rebates step down in 170 days