Queensland’s (QLD) clean energy story has taken a surprising turn. Once seen as a national leader in rooftop solar and renewable ambition, the state has now walked back its key energy targets and delayed plans to retire coal. The new Queensland Energy Roadmap puts long-term decarbonisation on hold. For households, this could have real consequences.
From feed-in tariffs (FiTs) and energy prices to the pace of battery rebates, policy direction shapes the financial returns of every solar system. While Canberra is stepping in with federal support, Queenslanders may now find themselves relying more on their own rooftops than their government to keep the energy transition moving.
Inside QLD’s new energy roadmap
The Queensland Energy Roadmap marks a sharp departure from the state’s earlier climate and energy commitments. The previous plan aimed for 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 80% by 2035, alongside a managed phase-out of coal-fired generation. Those targets are now gone.
Coal units will stay online for as long as they remain “technically and economically viable,” and gas will play a larger role in the state’s supply mix.
While the government has set aside $10 million for community battery projects and announced a new “Supercharged Solar for Renters” rebate, these are relatively small steps compared with what’s been scrapped. There’s no clear consumer energy strategy, no new incentives for household solar or electrification, and limited attention to grid upgrades that would make renewable exports more efficient. In short, QLD has shifted from leading Australia’s clean energy race to watching from the sidelines.
What it means for homeowners
For QLD households, the new energy roadmap alters the environment in which home solar thrives. Removing renewable targets means there’s no clear signal for private investment in new solar farms, large-scale batteries, or grid upgrades. That matters because a slower rollout of clean generation can keep electricity prices tied to fossil fuel volatility. In practical terms, it could mean higher wholesale prices and smaller reductions on household power bills over the next few years.
Feed-in tariffs (FiTs) could also feel the ripple effect. If the grid becomes more congested without investment in storage or smarter infrastructure, excess solar exports may earn less, making batteries or energy-sharing programs increasingly valuable for self-consumption.
Battery adoption itself may plateau without additional state support. The federal Cheaper Batteries program is still cutting around 30% off installations, but state-level rebates often provide the final push for homeowners sitting on the fence.
Finally, for anyone planning to fully electrify their home (swapping gas heating or hot water for electric systems) the lack of state incentives slows the financial payback. Queenslanders can still make the switch, but it now requires more self-driven investment rather than policy-led encouragement.
Federal support continues
While QLD’s roadmap may have dimmed expectations for local support, federal programs continue to do the heavy lifting for households. The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) still provides generous rebates through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), reducing the upfront cost of rooftop solar by thousands of dollars, depending on system size. For most homes, this remains the single biggest saving on installation, and it’s still going strong in 2025.
The Cheaper Batteries program is another major drive. Offering around 30% off the cost of approved home batteries, it’s already helped more than 4,000 QLD households join the next wave of solar independence. For many, it turns a five-digit investment into something achievable, especially when paired with time-of-use tariffs that reward off-peak charging and self-consumption.
Federal agencies such as ARENA and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) also continue to invest in large-scale renewables and storage, strengthening the national grid that QLD households rely on. These measures can’t fully replace state leadership, but they do ensure that solar remains one of the most reliable and rewarding investments for homeowners.
Rooftop solar is already QLD’s quiet powerhouse
Despite policy uncertainty, QLD households have already built one of the strongest clean energy foundations in the country. Rooftop solar isn’t just a trend, but a backbone of the state’s energy mix. More than 40% of free-standing homes now have panels, generating around 7 gigawatts of capacity across rooftops. Collectively, that’s more than the output of all the state’s large-scale solar farms combined.
On a typical sunny day, household systems now meet up to 13% of QLD’s total grid demand, easing pressure on fossil fuel plants and keeping wholesale prices lower than they would otherwise be. Each installation contributes to grid stability during daylight hours and helps offset carbon emissions that coal plants continue to produce.
This quiet success story shows how much progress has come from the ground up, not through mandates, but through the decisions of individual homeowners. However, without continued investment in storage, smarter exports, and grid upgrades, this community-driven momentum risks hitting a ceiling. Queenslanders have proven what’s possible. Now, the policy needs to catch up to the people powering the change.
What homeowners can do now
Even with state policy slowing, there’s still plenty homeowners can do to stay ahead of the curve. The most important step is to keep their own systems performing at their best. Checking inverter efficiency, cleaning panels, and monitoring production data through a smart app or energy dashboard can ensure you’re getting the most from every kilowatt.
For homes without a battery, it’s worth exploring how much you could save under the federal Cheaper Batteries program before the funding pool tightens. A battery can increase your solar self-consumption from roughly 30% to over 70%, reducing your reliance on the grid and protecting against future tariff drops.
Those not ready for storage can still get more from their system by shutting heavy-use appliances down during daytime hours. Joining an emerging virtual power plant (VPP) can also help you earn credits for sharing stored energy back to the grid.
Queensland’s policy direction may have slowed, but its households haven’t. Every new panel and battery added strengthens the state’s energy future — one roof at a time. The clean energy shift has always started at home, and Queenslanders are proving that progress doesn’t wait for permission.
Energy Matters has been in the solar industry since 2005 and has helped over 40,000 Australian households in their journey to energy independence.
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