Introduction:
If you’ve been thinking about solar or a battery for your Darwin home, now is the time to act. On 1 January 2027, the federal STC rebates for both solar panels and home batteries step down again. If your system is installed before then, you keep this year’s higher rebate.
To make the deadline even more worthwhile, until the end of the year the team at Top End Solar is adding a FREE Sungrow 5kWh battery module (valued at $1,500+) to every Sungrow battery we install. For a typical Darwin home, installing just a few weeks too late could mean around $1,180 less in rebates, and no free battery module!
Table of contents:
- Introduction
- In a nutshell
- What’s changing on 1 January
- What it means for a typical Darwin home
- Free 5kWh battery upgrade
- Conclusion
In a nutshell
FREE 5kWh battery module
Get a Sungrow SBH battery installed by 31 December 2026 and we’ll add an extra 5kWh module on us, valued at $1,500+.
Install before 1 January 2027
Your rebate is set by the date your system is installed, not the date you sign. Get installed in 2026 to keep this year’s higher rebates.
Solar rebate drops about 20%
The solar deeming period falls from 5 years to 4, so the solar rebate shrinks by about a fifth. It drops again every January until the scheme ends in 2030.
Battery rebate drops about 16%
The battery STC factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 on 1 January, then to 5.2 on 1 July 2027, and keeps stepping down every 6 months.
What’s changing on 1 January
The solar rebate. Solar STCs are based on how many years are left in the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (the “deeming period”). Systems installed in 2026 get 5 years. From 1 January 2027 that drops to 4 years, which means about 20% less solar rebate. It drops again every January until the scheme ends in 2030.
The battery rebate. Under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, the battery STC factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 on 1 January 2027 (around 16% less), then to 5.2 on 1 July 2027. It’s scheduled to keep stepping down every 6 months after that.
Why your install date matters. Your rebate is set by the date your system is installed, not the date you sign. December is our busiest month and wet-season storms can push installs back, so the earlier you book, the safer your 2026 rebate (and your free battery module).
What it means for a typical Darwin home
To show what the change looks like in practice, here’s an example for a Darwin home installing 10kW of solar with a 15kWh Sungrow battery*:
| Installed in 2026 | Installed from 1 Jan 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Solar rebate (10kW) | $2,940 | ~$2,350 |
| Battery rebate (15kWh) | $3,670 | ~$3,080 |
| Free Sungrow 5kWh module | Included | — |
| Total rebate | $6,610 | ~$5,430 |
That’s about $1,180 less in rebates, and no free battery module, just for installing a few weeks later. You can check the battery numbers for your own install date with the government’s battery STC calculator.
*Rebate figures are estimates only, based on current STC market prices for Darwin (Zone 1). Your actual rebate depends on system size, the date your system is installed and the STC price at the time.
Free 5kWh battery upgrade
Until the end of the year, get your Sungrow battery installed before 1 January and we’ll add an extra Sungrow SBH 5kWh battery module on us, valued at $1,500+. That’s more stored solar to run the air-con through those sticky build-up nights.
Already have solar? Adding a battery before 31 December gets you the higher 2026 battery rebate and the free 5kWh module. Store the sun you’re currently exporting for cents, and use it at night instead of buying power back from the grid.
T&Cs: One free Sungrow SBH 5kWh battery module per installation, for Sungrow SBH battery systems installed by 31 December 2026. Subject to site inspection and system compatibility. Not redeemable for cash.
Conclusion
The rebates aren’t disappearing on 1 January, but they are getting smaller, and they’ll keep shrinking every year until the scheme ends in 2030. For a typical Darwin home, waiting until the new year could cost around $1,180 in lost rebates, plus the free 5kWh battery module that’s only on offer for 2026 installs.
The simplest way to lock in this year’s rates is to book a free solar consultation now. We’ll size the right solar and battery system for your home, show you exactly what rebate you’re entitled to, and lock in an install date before the end of the year. Not sure what size system you need? Call us on 0480 091 288 or book a solar consultation online and we’ll walk you through your options before the 1 January change.
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