The federal solar discount is not means-tested. If your system meets the technical and installer requirements, you qualify, whatever your income and whether you own or are buying the home. Eligibility depends mainly on the equipment and who installs it.
The main conditions
- New, approved equipment. Panels and inverters must be on the Clean Energy Council’s approved lists and be new, not second-hand.
- Accredited installer. The installer must hold Solar Accreditation Australia accreditation and, for grid-connected work, the right electrical licence.
- System size. Small-scale means up to 100 kW, and annual generation under 250 MWh. Solar above 100 kW and up to 1 MW installed from 1 October 2026 also creates STCs (see mid-scale solar STCs), while larger systems go through the large-scale scheme. See commercial solar and the 100 kW limit.
- A real, compliant installation. It must follow the relevant Australian standards and be photographed and documented for the registry.
- A timely claim. STCs must be created within the allowed window and the system must be registered.
What does not matter
Your income, your tax bracket, whether you have solar already on a separate system, or whether you are on a battery program. These do not affect the federal solar discount. A battery, by contrast, has its own rules under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
State programs are separate
State incentives have their own eligibility. For instance, Solar Victoria’s rebate has a household income cap, which fell to $150,000 on 1 July 2026. Check the relevant state agency for current rules, since they change.
From the desk: the biggest eligibility trap is the installer, not you. If they are not accredited, the STCs cannot be created and you lose the discount. Ask for their details before you sign.
If you are buying a home with solar
Solar already on a property you are buying does not earn new STCs, because the certificates belong to the original installation. If you are adding panels to an existing system, the addition may be eligible, but the installer needs to check the rules for your situation and confirm it before you sign. Ask them to put the answer in writing.
What this means for you
If you are installing a standard rooftop system through a licensed, accredited installer, you almost certainly qualify. Read who is eligible for STCs for the wider rules and whether your system is eligible for equipment checks. The resources hub and STC trading give more context.