SA Solar Rebate & Home Battery Scheme Guide

Energy & Telecom SEO Specialist

Updated on 16/11/2023

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Renewable Energy in South Australia is in a massive boom. Over 35% of the population has residential solar energy, with more than 275,000 panels installed onto rooftops. Given South Australia’s notoriously high electricity prices, and the declining cost of solar, it makes sense to get in on the solar energy action. If you’re wondering how you can affordably access renewable energy through solar panels, continue reading below to discover solar rebates and schemes available in South Australia.

South Australia Solar for Low Income Households (Switch for Solar)

The South Australia Solar for Low Income Households scheme, AKA Switch for Solar is available to eligible concession holders, who can agree to give up their SA Energy Concession and Cost of Living Concession for 10 years. in exchange for a new 4.4kW solar PV system at little or no additional upfront cost. While not necessarily a solar rebate, the Solar for Low Income Households scheme is available to South Australians in one of the approved suburbs.

Eligibility for the Solar for Low Income Households Scheme in South Australia

In order to be eligible for the Switch for Solar program, you must:

Be the owner-occupier of a detached or semi-detached home in South Australia
Live in one of the currently approved suburbs
Hold an eligible Centrelink or DVA card, or receive an eligible pension or allowance
Not already have a solar PV system on your place of residence
Consume more than 2,000kWh of electricity per year
Currently be a recipient of the SA Energy Concession and SA Cost of Living Concession
Agree to not receive the SA Energy Concession and Cost of Living Concession for 10 years

Concession card holders in other parts of South Australia not yet on the list of approved suburbs can register their interest and receive updates about the Switch for Solar expansion. Households who register but are not yet eligible may be able to join before August 2022, subject to availability and program rollout.

How to Register for SA Switch for Solar for Low Income Households

The easiest way to apply for the Switch for Solar program is to register online.

If you don’t have access to the online Switch for Solar application, you can also call 8226 3100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Once you’ve registered for the South Australia solar program your application will be reviewed and, if approved, you’ll be put in contact with an approved solar program partner.

An approved solar partner will contact you and arrange an inspection of your home
If your house is found suitable for solar panels, the solar provider partner will send you an estimate of potential savings and any additional upfront costs
If you’re happy with the offer, you can accept and be confirmed to the Switch for Solar program
Your solar PV installation will be scheduled
Once your new solar PV system is installed, your concessions will stop

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South Australia Switch for Solar FAQ

The typical South Australian household who joins Switch for Solar can save between $157 and $525 per year.

Below, we break down how much the typical household receives from the SA Energy Concession and SA Cost of Living Concession, compared to the average savings a typical household could experience with Switch to Solar and a new 4.4kW solar PV system.

SA Energy Concession vs Switch for Solar*
SA Concession	Amount per Year
SA Energy Concession	$233.60 per year
SA Cost of Living Concession	$217.20 per year
Total SA Concession Amount	$450.80 per year
Average Solar Savings	$538 per year

*SA Concessions based on typical owner-occupier household, your actual concession amount may vary. Average Switch for Solar savings are from February 2022 quoted savings and based on an average electricity usage of 4,000kWh per year. Your actual savings will vary based on your energy consumption and habits. Your solar installer will be able to provide a more accurate quote.

A typical solar PV installation under the Switch for Solar program will usually come at no upfront cost to you, the homeowner.

However, in certain instances, you may need to pay a small upfront cost in certain, specific, situations such as:

The installation of the solar PV system requires more work than a typical installation (ie: major wiring, meterboard, or switchboard upgrades)
You need to upgrade your electricity meter that supports solar and your energy retailer charges for the upgrade
You elect to upgrade the size of your new solar PV system to more than 4.4kW
You install a solar battery in conjunction with your solar PV system

Any additional costs you might need to pay upfront will be outlined before installation and you are free to cancel your Switch for Solar application at any time before installation if you don’t want to pay these additional fees.

Provided your circumstances have not changed, your concessions will automatically restart after 10 years. In addition, you will be able to continue to own your solar PV system and reap the benefits.

With Switch for Solar, you do not need to give up other concessions, such as the medical heating and cooling concession or South Australian Concession Energy Discount Offer with Origin Energy. You will only need to give up the SA Energy Concession and SA Cost of Living Concession for 10 years.

South Australia Solar Home Battery Scheme

The South Australia Solar Battery Rebate is available to all grid-connected South Australian households.

South Australian households could get up to $2,000 to go towards the cost of a new solar battery system, along with additional low-interest loans to go towards the cost of the battery system or new solar panels if necessary.

**How Much is the SA Solar Home Battery Scheme?**
Household	Amount per kWh
Energy concession households	$250 per kWh
All other households	$150 per kWh
Maximum solar battery subsidy	$2,000

In order to be eligible for the South Australia Solar Battery Scheme, you need to have a solar PV system of at least 5.5kkWh installed on the property, which can be installed at the same time as your battery system, or prior. Financing through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation can be used to purchase new or additional solar panels to meet this requirement.

To receive the Solar Battery subsidy, you first need to get in contact with an approved battery system provider in your area. It’s recommended that you get several quotes from several battery system providers for several different battery system models, in order to find the best price and system for your home.

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What Additional South Australia Solar Rebates are Available?

The unfortunate truth is that as more Australians invest in solar, and the cost of solar technology decreases, government solar rebates and subsidies are slowly beginning to get phased out, and solar feed-in tariffs are being reduced.

While the South Australian government does not have any additional solar energy rebates, you have two additional options to reduce the cost of solar installation and recoup your investment.

Small Scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

Small Scale Technology Certificates are available through the Clean Energy Regulator and are equal to 1MWh of renewable electricity generated or displaced by a small-scale renewable energy system. STCs are not necessarily solar rebates but more like discount coupons you can resell for a set price.

This does not only include solar PV systems. You can apply STCs to small-scale wind, hydroelectric, solar hot water, and heat pumps as well, though residential solar PV systems are by far the most common.

It’s important to note that the STC price, meaning how much you could save on your small-scale renewable energy system, is being reduced until it is phased out in 2030 so if you’re interested in capitalising on these STCs and renewable energy, now is the time to invest.

South Australia Solar Feed-in Tariffs

A solar feed-in tariff is the solar credits your energy provider pays you for the energy your solar PV system generates and sends back to the grid.

The unfortunate fact is that while the typical South Australia solar feed-in tariff was once over 10c/kWh, as interest in residential solar increases, feed-in tariffs are decreasing.

Some energy providers, such as Tango Energy or Origin Energy, offer a higher solar feed-in tariff if you purchase a new solar PV system through them directly. However, it’s important to do the math and research whether you’re better off with these higher feed-in tariffs, or purchasing a solar PV system elsewhere and opting for a lower feed-in tariff.