Rebates & incentives · 2026
Commercial solar rebates in Australia
There is real government money on the table for commercial solar, and most of it comes straight off your install price. Here is what your business can claim in 2026, and how we apply it.
The short version
What your business can claim
Commercial solar in Australia is backed by a handful of federal incentives that work together. Most of the value lands as an upfront discount, so your quoted price is already net of the rebate.
The size of your system decides which scheme applies. Up to 100kW you claim STCs. Over 100kW you earn large-scale certificates instead. Add a battery and a separate discount applies to the storage.
On top of the certificates, the install can usually be claimed on tax through the instant asset write-off or depreciation, which your accountant confirms for your situation.
If the upfront cost is the hurdle rather than the payback, a solar PPA or finance option lets you go solar with little or nothing down and still capture the savings.
STCs (up to 100kW)
The main federal rebate for commercial solar. Small-scale Technology Certificates come off your install price as an upfront discount.
Battery discount
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program gives a discount of roughly 30% on eligible battery storage from 5kWh up to 100kWh.
LGCs (over 100kW)
Larger systems earn Large-scale Generation Certificates each year based on the power they actually generate, paid as ongoing income.
Tax treatment
Depending on your turnover, the system cost may be claimed through the instant asset write-off or depreciated. Your accountant confirms this.
Federal rebate · up to 100kW
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
STCs are the rebate most Gold Coast businesses use. They apply to solar systems up to 100kW, which covers the large majority of commercial rooftops.
Each system earns a number of certificates based on its size, its location and the years left until the scheme ends in 2030. The Gold Coast falls in STC Zone 3, a strong sunshine zone, so systems here earn well.
Your installer creates and sells those certificates and passes the value back as an upfront discount. You never wait for a payment, the rebate is simply off the price you pay.
The rebate shrinks every year
Because certificates are based on the years left until 2030, the same system earns fewer of them each January. Installing sooner locks in more of the rebate while it is at its highest.
Federal battery discount
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Adding commercial battery storage to your solar can attract its own discount under the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which households, small business and community sites can use.
It supports eligible batteries from 5kWh up to 100kWh, with a discount worth around 30% of the upfront cost, delivered through the same certificate mechanism as solar.
Since May 2026 the support is tiered by capacity. The strongest factor applies to the first portion of the battery, with reduced factors on the higher tiers, and the scheme steps down over time as battery prices fall.
- Eligible storage from 5kWh to 100kWh
- Around 30% off the upfront battery cost
- Strongest support on the first capacity tier
- Applied as a discount, not a wait-for payment
Larger systems · over 100kW
Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs)
If your system is over 100kW it falls outside the STC scheme and into the large-scale scheme instead. These systems earn Large-scale Generation Certificates.
Rather than an upfront discount, you earn one certificate for every megawatt-hour the system generates, year after year, which becomes ongoing income against the system cost.
It is a different model that suits big rooftops and ground-mounts. We will tell you clearly whether your project sits above or below the 100kW line and what that means for your numbers.
The tax side
Write-offs and depreciation
The certificate rebate is not the only saving. The cost of the system can usually be claimed on tax as well, and the two stack together.
Depending on your aggregated turnover, the net cost may be eligible for the instant asset write-off, or claimed through depreciation over the asset life. The right path depends on your business.
We are solar specialists, not accountants
We give you clean invoices and documentation, and your accountant confirms the exact tax treatment for your return. Always get advice specific to your business before relying on a deduction.
At a glance
Every incentive in one place
A quick summary of the schemes a Gold Coast business can use in 2026. We confirm which apply to your project on your quote.
| Incentive | Who it suits | How you get it | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| STCs (SRES) | Solar up to 100kW | Upfront discount on your quote | Steps down each January, ends 2030 |
| Battery STCs | Storage 5-100kWh | Upfront discount on the battery | Tiered by capacity since May 2026 |
| LGCs (LRET) | Solar over 100kW | Annual certificate income | One LGC per MWh generated |
| Instant write-off | Eligible businesses | Tax deduction in your return | Eligibility set by your turnover |
| Feed-in tariff | Any grid-connected site | Credit on your power bill | Rate set by your retailer |
How we apply it
We handle the rebate paperwork
You should not have to become a certificates expert to go solar. We do the rebate admin and show you the net price from the start.
1We size and quote
We design a system for your roof and usage, then show the rebate already deducted so you see the net price.
2We do the STC paperwork
We handle the certificate creation and assignment for your solar and any eligible battery, so you do not chase forms.
We install and commission
Accredited installers fit and commission the system, and the rebate value is already off your invoice.
4You claim the tax side
We give you clean documentation for your accountant to apply the write-off or depreciation in your return.
Good to know
Commercial solar rebate FAQs
What commercial solar rebates can a Gold Coast business get in 2026?+
The main one is the federal STC rebate for systems up to 100kW, applied as an upfront discount on your install. Businesses adding battery storage from 5kWh to 100kWh can also access the Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount, and systems over 100kW earn Large-scale Generation Certificates each year. On the tax side, the cost may be claimed through the instant asset write-off or depreciation. Queensland does not currently run a separate state solar rebate.
How much is the STC rebate worth?+
It depends on the system size, your STC zone and the certificate market price on the day. The Gold Coast sits in STC Zone 3. As an indicative guide, a 30kW system is commonly worth several thousand dollars off the install, and a system close to 100kW can be worth tens of thousands. We show the exact certificate value on your written quote, not an estimate.
Is the rebate going away?+
The STC scheme winds down gradually and ends in 2030. The number of certificates a system earns is based on the years left until then, so it steps down a little every January. The same system installed this year earns more certificates than it would next year, which is why earlier installs capture more of the rebate.
Do I get a rebate on a commercial battery?+
You may. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program supports eligible battery systems from 5kWh up to 100kWh for households, small business and community sites, worth roughly 30% off the upfront cost. Since May 2026 the support is tiered by capacity, with the strongest factors on the first portion of the battery and reduced factors above that. We confirm the eligible amount when we quote.
What is the difference between STCs and LGCs?+
STCs apply to systems up to 100kW and come off your price upfront as a discount. LGCs apply to systems over 100kW and are earned each year based on how much power the system generates, so they are ongoing income rather than an upfront rebate. We will tell you which one your system falls under before you commit.
Can my business claim solar on tax as well as the rebate?+
Often yes, and the tax benefit stacks on top of the certificate rebate. Depending on your aggregated turnover the net cost may be eligible for the instant asset write-off, or claimed through depreciation over time. We are not accountants, so we provide the documentation and you confirm the treatment with your tax adviser.
Gold Coast · Commercial Solar
See your price after rebates
Tell us about your site and we'll size a system, apply every rebate you qualify for and show you the net price and payback, no obligation.