Victoria’s commercial solar incentive (VEU activity 47, 30–200 kW)

The program is run by the Essential Services Commission (ESC), and Solar Victoria’s commercial and industrial solar page (updated 26 August 2026) describes it as open to all Victorian businesses and non-residential sites, including community buildings, schools and hospitals. It lists no closing date. This guide explains the rules in plain English, based on the ESC’s activity page and its activity guide.

Who can use the Victorian commercial solar incentive?

A system qualifies when all of these are true:

• its solar panel capacity is between 30 kW and 200 kW
• it has a total connected inverter capacity of at least 30 kVA as installed and per the network contract (kVA is the inverter’s apparent power rating)
• it is connected to the electricity distribution network, as either a new connection or a connection alteration, and installed in line with the network’s connection contract
• the panels and inverters are on the Clean Energy Council’s approved lists
• the site is grid-connected and non-residential, not a Class 2 building such as an apartment building, and not a scheduled activity premises unless it has opted in

The guide splits the activity into two scenarios.

Above 200 kW, the system cannot claim under this activity. The guide points larger projects to the program’s project-based approach, which is a different process. For federal certificates on larger systems, see mid-scale solar STCs.

How are VEECs worked out?

The ESC uses a deemed method. That means the number of certificates comes from a formula, not from measuring what your panels actually produce. The guide lists four inputs:

The full formula sits in the VEU Specifications, which we did not reproduce, so we are not putting a certificate count or dollar figure on a system here. What the inputs tell you is that certificates scale with system size, and that a regional site gets a slightly higher factor than a metropolitan one. Your accredited person should show you the number of VEECs and the price per certificate used.

Can you claim VEECs and federal STCs together?

Yes. The ESC’s guide says accredited persons can claim VEECs for activity 47 as well as small-scale technology certificates (STCs) and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs). That is useful because the federal scheme now reaches systems up to 1 MW. See commercial solar rebates by state for how the layers fit.

For a sense of the price before incentives, see the 30 kW and the 50 kW pages, and then the 100 kW page. The commercial solar cost guide covers what drives the price.

What does an accredited person do, and what do you sign?

You cannot claim VEECs yourself. You must work with an accredited person who is approved to undertake commercial and industrial solar activities, and the activity must be done on or after the date they were approved.

• You sign: a VEEC assignment form, which gives the accredited person the right to create the certificates.
• The installer and designer: must be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) and use Clean Energy Council approved products.
• A licensed electrical inspector: must inspect the installation.
• Your electricity network: must give final approval before the VEECs can be created.

Because the network step comes before certificates are created, ask when the connection approval is expected and whether the quote depends on it. Our guide to grid connection for commercial solar explains that process.

What about batteries and the old Solar for Business program?

We found no commercial battery activity. The ESC’s list of VEU activities has none, and the solar activity guide mentions batteries only in sizing, photo and record-keeping rules. If you are adding a battery, the incentive will not cover it. See business batteries and, for NSW, the NSW business battery discount.

On Solar for Business, we can only say what is verified. Solar Victoria’s current page is the commercial and industrial discount linked above. A separate “Solar for Business: where to start” page exists, but it states no dates, eligibility or amounts, and we could not confirm when the earlier Solar for Business program closed. If someone quotes you an older program’s terms, ask them for the current one in writing.

When this incentive may not suit you

• Your system is under 30 kW or over 200 kW.
• Your inverter capacity would be under 30 kVA.
• The site is an apartment building or other multi-unit residential building.
• You are expecting a specific dollar rebate. The incentive varies with the accredited person’s pricing.

This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rules, rebates and prices change, so check the linked sources before you decide. Facts checked 31 October 2026.