Article sourced from SolarQuotes
Queensland’s Supercharged Solar for Renters program is beginning to gain traction, with more than 250 applications now conditionally approved and several installations already completed since the initiative launched in December 2025.
The $26.3 million program is designed to expand access to rooftop solar for rental households, a segment of the market that has historically been less likely to benefit from distributed energy technologies.
According to Queensland Treasury, the initiative aims to provide cost-of-living relief for tenants while encouraging landlords to invest in rooftop solar systems on leased properties.
“The Queensland Government is delivering cost-of-living relief for Queenslanders through the Supercharged Solar for Renters program to help reduce energy bills,” a Treasury spokesperson told SolarQuotes.
“Since its launch in December 2025, over 250 applications are now conditionally approved, and multiple installations already complete.”
Under the scheme, landlords can access rebates of up to $3500 to install solar photovoltaic systems on rental properties. Applications must be approved before installation begins, with rebates paid once systems are installed and verified.
The program is expected to support around 6500 rental households over its three-year duration, with tenants estimated to save about $700 per year on electricity bills once systems are operational.
Although the current number of approvals represents only a small share of the program’s intended reach, the initiative is still in its early stages.
Program guidelines require landlords to obtain tenant consent before installing solar systems on rental properties. Installers must also comply with specific technical and administrative requirements before a rebate can be claimed, with these measures intended to ensure tenants benefit directly from the installations.
The initiative seeks to address the long-standing ‘split incentive’ challenge in the rental housing market. While landlords typically pay the upfront cost of installing rooftop solar, tenants receive most of the savings through reduced electricity bills. This dynamic has historically limited uptake of solar in rental housing.
Advocacy group Solar Citizens has identified renters as one of the largest groups currently missing out on the financial and environmental benefits of rooftop solar.
In a recent report examining solar access in the rental sector, the organisation highlighted rising energy costs for tenants and proposed a national target of installing rooftop solar on 30 per cent of freestanding rental homes by 2030.
With around one-third of Australian households living in rental accommodation, programs such as Queensland’s are seeking to expand solar access by providing targeted incentives for landlords while enabling tenants to benefit from lower electricity costs.
