Quick answer: the federal rebate (STCs under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme) takes thousands off a business solar install today, on any system up to 100kW. On 5 August the government announced the scheme will cover systems up to 1MW from 1 October 2026, which cuts install costs on the bigger systems by about 20%.
Most businesses don't pay cash either way. The rebate comes off the invoice, finance covers the rest at $0 upfront, and the power bill savings cover the repayments. This guide shows what your business type can claim and what it really costs. Verified August 2026.
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What changed on 5 August
For years the federal rebate stopped at 100kW. Anything bigger got a different scheme (LGCs) that pays out slowly over years instead of upfront. That's why so many warehouses and factories with huge roofs never bothered.
On 5 August the government announced the fix. From 1 October 2026, the upfront rebate covers systems up to 1MW. The government's own examples: about $68,000 off a 250kW system and about $232,000 off an 850kW system, roughly 20% off the install price.
If your system is under 100kW, don't wait for October. Smaller systems can claim the rebate today, and the STC value steps down every January. A 30kW or 50kW install claimed now gets this year's rate.
One more thing worth knowing: the rebate isn't a cheque in the mail. Your installer claims it and takes it straight off the invoice, so the price you're quoted is already thousands under the sticker price.
What solar costs by business type
Roof size and daytime power use decide your system size, and system size decides your rebate. Rough 2026 numbers, after the federal rebate, before any state extras:
| Business type | Typical system | After-rebate cost | Typical payback |
|---|---|---|---|
Cafe / retail | 10-20kW | $8,000 to $18,000 | 2 to 4 years |
Office | 20-40kW | $16,000 to $35,000 | 2 to 4 years |
Most popular Warehouse | 50-100kW | $40,000 to $80,000 | 2 to 5 years |
Factory / workshop | 80-100kW+ | $65,000 to $90,000 | 2 to 5 years |
Farm | 20-100kW | $16,000 to $80,000 | 2 to 5 years |
Why the payback is faster than home solar: a business burns power at the exact hours the panels make it. A cafe's fridges, an office's air-con and a factory's machines all run through the middle of the day, so almost nothing gets exported at a few cents. It offsets grid power you'd have paid 25 to 40c for.
The instant asset write-off can sweeten the tax side as well. That one's between you and your accountant, and it stacks on top of the rebate, not instead of it.
How $0 upfront works
Most commercial installs in 2026 are financed, and the maths is simple. Say a 50kW system saves your business around $1,500 a month on power. Finance repayments on the after-rebate price run less than that. So the system pays its own way from month one, and you put in nothing to start.
The rebate, the finance and your own bill savings do the paying, so nothing comes out of your pocket to start. Anyone selling it as "free solar" is glossing over the finance part, and that's worth knowing before you sign. After the finance term (usually 3 to 5 years) the savings are all yours, and commercial panels are warrantied for 25.
The 30-second check asks your business type, roof and average power bill, then a vetted commercial installer prices your actual roof. Free, no obligation, and the quote shows the rebate already taken off.
State extras (VIC especially)
Victoria runs its own discount for business solar on top of the federal rebate, through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. It covers systems from 30kW to 200kW, and it's open to any Victorian business or non-residential site: shops, offices, warehouses, schools, community buildings. Your installer applies it upfront, same as the federal one.
NSW, QLD, SA, WA: no state-level commercial solar discount right now, but the federal rebate applies everywhere, and some states run energy-efficiency schemes that cover other upgrades. The check picks up anything your postcode qualifies for.
Frequently asked questions
If your system is 100kW or under, yes, today. Systems from 100kW to 1MW become eligible on 1 October 2026. Your installer handles the claim either way, and it comes off the invoice.
It scales with system size and your zone. As a rough guide it knocks about 20% off the install price. The government's examples for the expanded scheme: about $68,000 off a 250kW system and about $232,000 off an 850kW system.
Most trading businesses with a decent daytime power bill do. The rebate cuts the price, finance covers the rest, and the bill savings cover the repayments. The 30-second check gives you a straight answer for your situation.
You'll need the landlord's sign-off on the install, which is common and usually quick, since it improves their building. Plenty of tenanted cafes and warehouses run solar under exactly this arrangement.
No. Check My Rebates is an independent advisory service. We check what you're eligible for and connect you with one vetted commercial installer. The rebates themselves are claimed through your installer under the federal scheme.
