New builds slash costs with solar

The changes will save homeowners up to $800 on installation costs by fitting panels as they wire the electricity to their new homes, as well as an average of $1073 each year in energy costs.

The expansion paves the way for the increasing electrification of homes, while opening the program to tens of thousands of additional households each year — with around 40,000 new homes built in Victoria annually.

Under the changes, eligible Victorians building homes will be able to apply for a rebate of $1400, as well as being able to access a $1400 interest-free loan to install solar panels during construction.

Since it began in 2018, the government’s $1.3 billion Solar Homes Program has helped more than 195,000 Victorian households install solar PV systems.

This investment has already cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes — equivalent to the emissions produced by 500,000 cars each year — while supporting 5500 clean energy jobs.

Solar Homes Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said household solar was expected to generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent renewable energy target by 2025.

“We know energy prices are putting pressure on households — expanding Solar Homes to new builds will help tens of thousands of Victorians save thousands on electricity costs and help us cut emissions by 50 per cent by 2030,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“We’re putting power back into the hands of Victorian households — driving down energy costs and boosting supply, creating thousands of jobs and cutting solar installation costs for new builds by hundreds.”

This financial year, there are 64,000 government rebates available for solar PV systems.

Applicants must use a Solar Victoria authorised retailer and install a product included on the approved products list to qualify for the rebate.

For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit solar.vic.gov.au