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Solar Feed-in Tariff Calculator (Australia)

Calculate your annual solar FIT revenue under Australian state schemes. Free 2026 calculator with VIC 3.3c, NSW 4.9c, QLD 6c, SA 4.3c, WA DEBS 2.5c rates.

Solar Feed-in Tariff Calculator

Annual production
7,791 kWh
Annual FIT revenue
$273
Self-consumption savings
$795
Total annual value
$1,067
How the math works
Annual production: 7,791 kWh
Self-consumed: 2,337 kWh · Annual exported: 5,453 kWh
Blended $/kWh: $0

How the calculator works

The Solar Feed-in Tariff Calculator estimates the annual A$ value a residential PV system generates from self-consumption (avoided import at retail) and FIT exports (paid at your retailer’s rate). It uses AER DMO 2026 retail defaults and Clean Energy Council typical generation factors.

Six inputs:

  1. System size (kW) — Australian residential average is 8.8 kW per Clean Energy Council 2025 installation data; most state schemes cap subsidised FIT at 10 kW single-phase or 30 kW three-phase. Use the how many solar panels do I need calculator to size for your bill first.
  2. Peak sun hours/day — Brisbane 5.2, Sydney 4.5, Melbourne 4.0, Adelaide 4.6, Perth 5.0, Hobart 3.9, Darwin 5.8, Canberra 4.5. CEC SunWiz dataset.
  3. Annual usage (kWh) — AEMC 2025 average: NSW 5,500, VIC 4,400, QLD 6,700, SA 4,800, WA 4,900, TAS 7,200, NT 7,800.
  4. Retail rate (A$/kWh) — AER DMO 2026 ~A$0.34/kWh (NSW Ausgrid), A$0.28 (VIC Citipower), A$0.30 (SA Powercor), A$0.31 (QLD Energex), A$0.32 (WA Synergy).
  5. Feed-in tariff (A$/kWh) — state-specific (see table below). Default 5c reflects national average flat rate.
  6. Self-consumption (%) — 25–35% no battery, 70–90% with battery.

How the math works

annual_kWh_produced  = system_kW × peak_sun_hours × 365 × 0.77
self_consumed_kWh    = min(annual_use_kWh, annual_kWh_produced × self_pct/100)
exported_kWh         = annual_kWh_produced - self_consumed_kWh
self_consume_value   = self_consumed_kWh × retail_rate
fit_revenue          = exported_kWh × fit_rate
total_annual_value   = self_consume_value + fit_revenue

The 0.77 multiplier is the IEC 61724 performance ratio. CEC accreditation uses a PVWatts-style calculation with location-specific NREL/BoM solar irradiance and 14% derating — our integrated 0.77 is on par.

Worked example: 6.6 kW system in Melbourne on AGL Solar Savers FIT 4.1c

  • System: 6.6 kW DC, 4.0 PSH (Melbourne BoM), 0.77 PR
  • Annual production: 6.6 × 4.0 × 365 × 0.77 = 7,420 kWh/yr (matches CEC PVWatts 7,400–7,600)
  • Annual use: 4,400 kWh, retail rate A$0.28 (Citipower DMO)
  • AGL Solar Savers flat FIT 4.1c (above the 3.3c minimum)
  • Self-consumption 30% (typical no-battery) → 2,226 kWh × A$0.28 = A$623
  • Exported: 7,420 − 2,226 = 5,194 kWh × A$0.041 = A$213
  • Total annual value: A$836/yr

Compare against the same system on Energy Locals Premium Solar FIT 8c flat:

  • Exported: 5,194 × A$0.08 = A$415
  • Total: A$1,038/yr — A$200/yr more

Add a 10 kWh Tesla Powerwall 3:

  • Self-consumption climbs to 80% → 5,936 kWh × A$0.28 = A$1,662
  • Exported drops to 1,484 kWh × A$0.04 = A$59
  • Total: A$1,721/yr — battery worth A$885/yr extra

Battery economics in Australia are best in regions with the widest retail-to-FIT gap: VIC (28c–3.3c = 25c spread), SA (30c–4.3c = 26c spread). NSW and QLD with higher FITs (6–8c) have weaker battery cases but still profitable over 10–12 year battery life.

State-by-state FIT snapshot (Q2 2026)

StateMinimum FITTypical retailer FITBest available
VIC3.3c (ESC)4.1–6.3c (AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia)8c (Energy Locals Premium)
NSWNone (IPART benchmark 4.9–8c)5–7c (Origin, AGL)12c (Powershop Trade In)
QLD SEQNone6–10c (AGL, Origin, Alinta)12c (Energy Locals)
QLD Regional13.281c regulated (Ergon)flat regulatedn/a — Ergon only
SA4.3c (regulated minimum AGL)5–9c (Origin, AGL, EnergyAustralia)16c (Diamond Energy Maximiser)
WA (SWIS)2.5c off-peak / 10c peak (DEBS TOU)DEBS only — Synergy/Horizonn/a — single-buyer
TAS8.883c regulated (Aurora Energy)flat regulatedn/a
ACTNone6–10c (ActewAGL, Origin)11c (Energy Locals)
NT19.86c (Jacana)retail-rate equivalentn/a — Jacana only

Sources: ESC Victoria FIT decision 2026, IPART NSW solar feed-in tariff benchmark, Queensland Competition Authority, ESCOSA, Synergy DEBS terms, Aurora Energy regulated tariffs, ICRC ACT, Jacana Energy NT.

STCs and the federal SRES

Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the Federal Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) are a one-off upfront subsidy — not a FIT. Your installer assigns STCs as point-of-sale discount: roughly A$36–A$40 per STC at current market clearing prices, with 6.6 kW system in Zone 3 (Sydney/Melbourne) earning ~83 STCs = A$3,000 upfront. STCs phase down 1/15 each year until scheme close in 2030. Don’t confuse upfront STC discount with the ongoing FIT — both stack.

State rebates additional: VIC Solar Homes (A$1,400 panel rebate + interest-free loan), NSW Empowering Homes Program (interest-free loan), SA Home Battery Scheme (closed 2022 but battery loans active), QLD Battery Booster (A$3,000–A$4,000 on battery, opens periodically), WA Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme.

Self-consumption strategies for FIT-poor states

In VIC at 3.3c minimum FIT and 28c retail, the average kWh of solar production is worth more if self-consumed (28c) than exported (3.3c) by a factor of 8.5×. Strategies:

  1. Schedule big loads to midday. Dishwasher, washing machine, dryer between 10am–3pm. Reduce monthly bill by A$30–A$60.
  2. Heat pump hot water on midday timer. Modern Sanden / Reclaim systems heat 250L water with 1 kWh in 4–6 hrs of solar.
  3. Pre-cool/pre-heat the house. Reverse-cycle AC pre-cooling 11am–3pm for late-afternoon comfort.
  4. EV charging on solar. A 6 kW PV array can charge an EV at 3–5 kW directly midday — turning 5,000 kWh export at 4c (A$200) into 5,000 kWh of driving (replaces ~A$1,500 of petrol).
  5. Battery storage. A$8,000–A$13,000 installed for 10 kWh Tesla Powerwall 3 or Sungrow SBR HV, payback 7–10 years in VIC/SA, 9–12 years in NSW/QLD.

The CEC’s 2025 Solar Citizens Report found Australian households with batteries capture 91% of their solar production for own use, vs 32% for PV-only households. That’s the biggest lever you control.

Sources

  • Australian Energy Regulator, Default Market Offer 2026–27.
  • Essential Services Commission (Vic), Minimum Feed-in Tariff Final Decision 2026–27.
  • IPART NSW, Solar Feed-in Tariff Benchmarks 2025–26.
  • Clean Energy Council, Rooftop Solar Installations Database 2025 Annual Report.
  • SunWiz, Australian PV Report Q4 2025.
  • Synergy WA, DEBS Customer Charter 2026.
  • Energy Made Easy comparison tool (energymadeeasy.gov.au).

Frequently asked questions

What is the current feed-in tariff rate in Australia in 2026?
There is no national rate — each state sets its own minimum (or none) and retailers compete above the floor. As of Q2 2026: Victoria 3.3c/kWh minimum (Essential Services Commission decision Feb 2026), NSW 4.9–8c/kWh range (IPART benchmark, retailer-set), Queensland 6c (Origin/AGL Regional QLD) to 12c (Energy Locals SE QLD), South Australia 4.3c (AGL) to 16c (Diamond Energy Maximiser), Western Australia 2.5c off-peak / 10c peak (DEBS time-varying), Tasmania 8.883c (Aurora Energy regulated), ACT 6–10c (depending on retailer), NT 19.86c (Jacana Energy 1:1 retail equivalent). Compare current offers at energymadeeasy.gov.au.
Why has the Victoria feed-in tariff dropped so much?
Victorian FIT was 11.3c in 2018, 5.2c in 2022, and 3.3c minimum for 2026/27. The Essential Services Commission's annual review reflects wholesale electricity prices during solar export hours (10am–3pm) which now regularly trade at zero or negative on the AEMO NEM due to oversupply. Multi-state network curtailment (CER's October 2025 export limits) and rapid rooftop solar penetration (now 38% of Victorian dwellings) have pushed midday wholesale prices to A$15–A$25/MWh. The minimum FIT is the wholesale price plus regulated network deferral value.
Should I take a flat or time-varying feed-in tariff?
Depends on your generation profile. Flat tariffs pay the same per kWh regardless of when you export. Time-varying tariffs (WA DEBS, EnergyAustralia Solar Max, Engie Solar Peak Plus) pay 2–5× more for late-afternoon exports (3pm–9pm peak) but as low as zero or 1c for midday. A standard north-facing array exports 75% of generation between 10am and 3pm, hurting time-varying earnings. West-facing arrays (270° azimuth) shift output later — generating 8–15% less total energy but 30–50% more revenue under TOU exports. Run the calculator twice with both rate structures to see which wins for your roof.
Does my solar feed-in tariff lock in for a set period?
Generally no — retailers can change FIT rates with notice (typically 30 days under AER rules). The legacy Premium Feed-in Tariff (PFiT) in Victoria for systems installed before 29 Sep 2011 paid 60c/kWh locked in until November 2024 — now expired. The Standard Feed-in Tariff (post-PFiT) varies. NSW Solar Bonus Scheme (60c) ended 31 Dec 2016. The current minimum-FIT system in VIC, SA, and QLD floats with annual reviews — your retailer must give 5 business days notice before reducing. Shop annually using Energy Made Easy.
What is the WA DEBS scheme and how does it work?
WA's Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) replaced REBS in Aug 2020 for new connections in the SWIS (Synergy/Horizon Power). It pays a time-of-use rate: 2.5c/kWh for exports 9am–3pm (low-demand window) and 10c/kWh for exports 3pm–9pm (high-demand peak). Pre-existing REBS customers retain 7.135c flat until they upgrade, modify the system, or move address. Battery storage strongly favoured under DEBS — charging midday and discharging at peak captures the 4× rate differential. A 10 kWh battery in Perth typically earns A$400–A$600/yr in DEBS arbitrage on top of self-consumption savings.

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