There is a firm end date and a gradual fade, and it is worth separating them. The date is 31 December 2030. The fade happens every 1 January before then.
The end date
The federal rebate for solar panels is delivered through STCs under the small-scale renewable energy scheme, which closes on 31 December 2030. Systems installed after that date will not create STCs under the scheme.
The fade
The number of certificates for a solar system depends on a deeming period that falls by one year each January. It is 5 years for 2026, 4 for 2027, 3 for 2028, 2 for 2029 and 1 for 2030. For a 6.6 kW system in zone 3, that is about 45 certificates in 2026 and about 36 in 2027. At roughly $38 to $40 per certificate, the rebate moves from about $1,700 to $1,800 in 2026 to about $1,370 to $1,440 in 2027, and is smaller again after that.
State rebates and other help
State and territory programs run to their own timetables, and amounts and income tests change. In Victoria, the Solar Victoria rebate has a household income cap that fell to $150,000 on 1 July 2026. Check your state energy department page for the current terms rather than assuming a national date applies.
What this means for existing systems
If you already have solar, nothing changes. The rebate was paid once at installation, and your savings continue. Adding a battery to an existing system does earn battery certificates under the federal program, so the scheme remains relevant to you even if your panels were installed years ago.
What this means for you
You do not need to rush to catch a cliff, but each year of delay costs money in rebate, while hardware prices and your bills pull in other directions. See should I install now or wait, the schedule by year and the STC trading pillar. The STC quote explainer shows what the discount on your quote means.