Solar, battery and hot water rebates in WA (2026)

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 2 October 2026

Western Australia solar rebate 2026

WA households get their solar discount from the federal STC scheme, because the state does not run a panel rebate at the time of writing. Perth and the south-west sit in the mid zone band (rated 1.382), so a 6.6 kW system under the 5-year deeming period for 2026 installs earns around 45 certificates, a four-figure discount at roughly $38 to $40 spot. Further north in the Pilbara and Kimberley, higher zone ratings lift the count per kilowatt, which is why postcode lookup matters. The deeming period falls to 4 years in 2027 and 1 year in 2030, and the scheme ends on 31 December 2030.

WA has one of the highest rooftop solar penetrations in the country, so network export limits and the state’s feed-in arrangements shape what customers actually want to buy, often more than incentives do.

WA battery rebate

This is where WA stands apart. The WA Residential Battery Scheme launched on 1 July 2025 and, at the time of writing, adds a state rebate and an interest-free loan option for eligible households on top of the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount. Third-party sources report that the rebate is higher in Horizon Power areas than in the Synergy area, that the battery must be an approved product, installed by an accredited installer and enrolled in an approved VPP, and that the loan has an income threshold. We could not confirm the current remaining funding, so check Energy Policy WA before telling a customer what they will receive.

The federal layer is the same as everywhere: CEC-approved, VPP-capable batteries from 5 to 100 kWh usable, up to 50 kWh eligible, one per property. The STC factor is 6.8 per kWh for 2026 installs and steps down to 5.7 on 1 January 2027 and 5.2 on 1 July 2027, and larger capacity tiers earn a reduced rate from 1 May 2026. See our battery STC pillar and installer guide to the program.

Heat pump rebate in WA

For heat pump hot water, WA relies on federal STCs. We did not find a state hot water rebate at the time of writing. The STC count depends on the system’s capacity, its efficiency and the zone, and the customer sees it as a discount. The hot water STC page and the hot water checklist set out what the installer must record.

Western Australia STC trading for installers

Most WA installs connect to Western Power in the Perth region, with Horizon Power covering remote and regional areas. The STC claim goes to the Clean Energy Regulator like any other, but the extra layer of the state battery scheme means you are managing two evidence sets on one battery job. Keep the serial numbers, the VPP enrolment record and the photo set consistent. The battery submission guide and photo requirements will save you rework.

When you compare traders, how STC audits work is worth reading alongside the certificate trader checklist. For metro specifics, see the Perth page, and for the national mechanism, the STC trading pillar.

How the WA stack works in practice

Picture a Perth household adding a battery to an existing system. The federal battery STCs come off the invoice first. If the household qualifies for the WA Residential Battery Scheme, the state rebate is applied under that scheme’s rules, and a loan may cover some of what remains. The customer’s out-of-pocket cost is the invoice less the federal discount and the state rebate, with any loan repaid over time. Because the state scheme requires VPP enrolment, the VPP contract is part of the sale, not an afterthought.

Customers should also know that the federal discount tiers down for larger batteries since 1 May 2026. A 10 kWh battery sits entirely in the top tier, while a 20 kWh battery has part of its capacity earning a reduced rate, so the discount per kilowatt-hour falls as you go up in size. Installers who show two or three capacities on the quote usually close faster than those who show one.

The same year-by-year drop applies to the solar deeming period, so a 2026 install earns more STCs than the same system in 2027. The January 2027 explainer walks through the change for customers asking whether to wait.