Supercharged Solar for Renters
The Queensland Government pays landlords up to $3,500 to install solar on a tenanted rental property. The grant stacks with the federal STC rebate, the maths works for landlords, and tenants save around $700 a year. Here is how the program works and how to apply through QRIDA.
Grant tiers by system size
The grant scales with system size, capped at $3,500. The minimum eligible size is 3 kW.
Eligibility
Landlord
- check_circleAustralian resident individual landlord (not trust, SMSF or company)
- check_circleOwns the rental property in their own name
- check_circleCurrently rents the property out (not owner-occupied)
- check_circleLimit of 3 properties per landlord
Property
- check_circleLocated in Queensland
- check_circleClass 1a building (house, duplex, townhouse) or secondary dwelling (granny flat)
- check_circleCurrently tenanted under a fixed-term lease, $1,000 per week or less
- check_circleAt least 8 months remaining on the lease at final approval
- check_circleIndividually metered, with no existing solar PV system
- check_circleApartments, units (Class 2 buildings) and embedded-network properties are not eligible
System
- check_circleMinimum 3 kW system size
- check_circleSupplied by a New Energy Tech Approved Seller
- check_circleCEC-approved panels and inverter
- check_circleDesigned by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited designer
- check_circleInstalled by appropriately licensed installers
- check_circleGeneration signalling device fitted
How to apply
QRIDA administers the grant. Applications are submitted online with quote and tenancy paperwork. The grant is paid as a point-of-sale discount, not a rebate cheque after the fact, so you only fund the gap.
Get tenant consent in writing
Talk to your tenant first. The grant requires written tenant consent and a fixed-term lease with at least 8 months left at final approval. Frame the conversation around their savings (~$700 a year).
Get a quote from a New Energy Tech Approved Seller
You must use an approved seller for the program. They will quote a system that meets the program rules (3 kW minimum, CEC-approved equipment, SAA-accredited design).
Apply through QRIDA
Submit your application through the Queensland Rural and Industrial Development Authority (QRIDA), the program administrator. You will need property details, the tenancy agreement, written tenant (and body corporate) consent, and your quote.
Wait for conditional approval
QRIDA reviews your application and issues conditional approval. Do not start the install before this comes through, or the grant may be voided.
Install the system
Your approved seller installs the system using CEC-approved equipment. Coordinate access with your tenant under your state's tenancy laws. The grant is applied as a point-of-sale discount on the invoice.
Submit final paperwork
After install, the seller and QRIDA reconcile the paperwork (compliance certificate, grid connection, generation signalling device commissioning). Once verified, the grant is finalised and your tenant's power bill starts dropping.
What it costs after the grant
A worked example for a typical Brisbane rental, 6.6 kW system, top-tier grant.
The system is also depreciable against your rental income, the property typically rents faster, and your tenant saves around $700 a year on power. North Queensland properties in STC Zones 1-2 see slightly higher federal rebates and a lower out-of-pocket figure. Add a battery and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program contributes around $252 per kWh post 1 May 2026.
What your tenant needs to know
Tenant consent is mandatory for the grant, so the conversation matters. The Queensland Government estimates renters will save around $700 a year on power bills depending on system size, location and how much electricity they use during daylight hours.
The electricity account stays in the tenant's name, so any feed-in tariff credits flow to them, not you. The program does not require a rent increase as a condition of the grant. Most tenants accept the install once they understand the bill impact.
On install day, your approved seller will need roof access. Standard practice is one day on site. Notify your tenant in writing at least 24 hours in advance under the Queensland Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008, or longer if your lease specifies it.
Stacks with these other programs
Federal STC rebate
Worth $2,400 to $2,800 on a 6.6 kW system in QLD STC Zones 1-3. Applied automatically as a point-of-sale discount.
Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Federal battery rebate at approximately $252 per usable kWh post 1 May 2026. Around $2,520 off a 10 kWh battery.
All Queensland rebates
Full breakdown of every rebate available to QLD residents in 2026, including STC zone differences.
Frequently asked questions
helpWhat is the QLD Supercharged Solar for Renters program?
It is a Queensland Government grant that pays eligible landlords up to $3,500 to install a solar PV system on a rental property. The program opened on 12 December 2025, has a $26.3 million budget and is expected to support around 6,500 households. It is administered by the Queensland Rural and Industrial Development Authority (QRIDA) and sits inside Treasury Queensland's energy program.
helpHow much is the grant exactly?
The grant is paid in three tiers based on system size: $2,500 for a 3 to 4 kW system, $3,000 for a 4 to 5 kW system, and $3,500 for a system 5 kW or larger. The minimum eligible system size is 3 kW.
helpWho is eligible to apply?
You must be an Australian-resident individual landlord (not a trust, SMSF or company) who owns and rents out the property. The property must be in Queensland, currently tenanted under a fixed-term lease at $1,000 per week or less, individually metered, with no existing solar. The building must be Class 1a (house, duplex, townhouse) or a secondary dwelling such as a granny flat. Apartments, units (Class 2 buildings) and properties on embedded networks are not eligible.
helpDo I need my tenant's consent?
Yes. Written tenant consent is mandatory. The lease must also be a fixed-term lease with at least 8 months remaining at the time of final approval. Where a body corporate is involved, written body corporate consent is also required.
helpHow many properties can I apply for?
A single landlord can apply for up to 3 rental properties under the program. Each property is assessed separately and must independently meet the eligibility criteria.
helpWhat does the tenant get out of it?
The Queensland Government estimates tenants will save around $700 per year on electricity bills depending on system size, location and usage patterns. The electricity account stays in the tenant's name, so any feed-in tariff credits also flow to the tenant.
helpWho installs the solar and where does the grant get paid?
The system must be supplied by a New Energy Tech Approved Seller, designed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited designer, and installed by appropriately licensed installers using CEC-approved panels and inverters. The grant is paid as a discount at the point of sale, so you fund the gap between the quoted price and the grant + federal STC rebate.
helpDoes the grant stack with the federal STC rebate?
Yes. The Supercharged Solar for Renters grant is on top of the federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate, which is worth approximately $2,400 to $2,800 on a 6.6 kW system depending on your STC zone. It also stacks with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program if you add a battery (currently around $252 per kWh post 1 May 2026).
helpWhen does the program close?
There is no fixed end date published. The program runs until the $26.3 million budget is exhausted, supporting approximately 6,500 households. Once the cap is reached, applications close. Landlords considering the grant should apply early.
helpHow long does the application take?
Most landlords report the QRIDA assessment takes a few weeks from submission to conditional approval. Once conditionally approved, you have a window to complete the install with your approved seller. The grant is reconciled when QRIDA verifies the install paperwork.
helpCan I claim the system as a tax deduction?
Yes. Solar installed on an income-producing rental property is generally a depreciable capital asset. Most accountants treat it as a capital works deduction (Division 43) over 25 to 40 years, or as plant and equipment depreciation. Speak to your accountant about your specific structure.
Official sources
- Queensland Treasury, Supercharged Solar for Renters
- QRIDA, Supercharged Solar for Renters program
- Queensland Government, Supercharged Solar for Renters overview
Phone enquiries: 13 QGOV (13 74 68). Information current at time of publishing. Always confirm program details directly with QRIDA before submitting an application.
Apply the grant to your rental
We will match you with a New Energy Tech Approved Seller in QLD and walk you through the QRIDA application end-to-end.