Quick answer
Green finance is borrowing used to buy or install energy-saving and low-emission assets such as rooftop solar, home batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps and EV chargers. It can be unsecured, secured against the asset or secured against property. Ownright Custom Finance arranges green finance Australia-wide for households, businesses and farms.
Key points
- Covers solar, batteries, EVs, chargers, electrification and efficiency upgrades
- Government rebates and certificates often reduce the amount you need to borrow
- Loans can be unsecured, asset-secured or secured against property
- Homes, businesses and farms each have their own best-fit structure
- Ownright looks for workable options even when a bank has said no
- Suits
- Households, landlords, business owners and farmers upgrading to cleaner energy
- Security
- Unsecured, the asset itself, or property equity
- Typical uses
- Solar, batteries, EVs, chargers, heat pumps, efficient equipment
- Australia-wide
- Yes, every state and territory
What counts as green finance in Australia?
Green finance is a plain idea with a fancy label. It means borrowing to buy something that reduces energy use, cuts emissions or generates clean power: rooftop solar, a home battery, an electric car, a heat pump hot water system, an EV charger, or a more efficient piece of equipment for a business or farm. There is no single government-run “green loan”. Instead, a range of ordinary lending products get used for green purposes, and the right one depends on who you are and what you are buying.
That is why the topic is broader than people expect. A young family fitting solar to a rented-out unit, a café replacing its refrigeration, a cattle property adding solar pumping and an electrician buying an electric ute are all green borrowers, and each one needs a different structure.
Who is green finance for?
Green finance suits a wide mix of borrowers:
- Homeowners who want lower power bills or a more comfortable house
- Landlords upgrading investment properties
- Renters and non-owners who want an EV or a portable battery
- Sole traders and companies electrifying vehicles, tools or premises
- Farmers adding solar, storage or efficient pumping
- Businesses installing chargers for staff, fleets or customers
If you are weighing up whether it makes sense for you, start with the question of what the asset replaces. A solar system replaces part of a power bill. An EV replaces fuel spending. Looking at that offset alongside the repayment gives a more honest picture than looking at the repayment alone.
How do lenders look at green upgrade loans?
Lenders treat a green loan like any other loan first and a green project second. They want to understand your income, your existing debts, your credit file and what security is on offer. They also want a proper quote or invoice so they know exactly what is being funded.
Some things are specific to this area. Lenders pay attention to the age and condition of a used EV, the warranty on a battery, whether the installer holds the right licences and accreditation, and whether the asset will hold its value. Assets that are fixed to a building are harder to repossess, which is why a lender may prefer a different kind of security for larger projects.
Unusual income, a short trading history or a blemished credit file do not automatically rule you out. They change which lenders are suitable, and that is where careful matching matters. A guide such as how to get loan-ready is a useful way to tidy things up before you apply.
What are the main ways to fund a green project?
| Funding route | How it works | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured personal loan | No asset pledged, fixed term | Smaller projects, renters, people without equity |
| Secured personal loan | Backed by a vehicle or other asset | Larger amounts or tidier pricing |
| Asset or vehicle finance | The financed item is the security | EVs, equipment, chargers |
| Chattel mortgage | Business owns the asset, finance secured on it | Company and sole trader purchases |
| Novated lease | Employer-linked arrangement for a vehicle | Employees buying an EV |
| Home equity or second mortgage | Borrowing secured against property | Large installs, whole-of-house upgrades |
| Green home loan or top-up | Added to a mortgage | Renovations and builds with efficiency goals |
No row is “best”. A smaller solar job might sit comfortably on an unsecured loan, while a combined solar, battery and heat pump project may be cheaper to carry as part of a property-secured facility. Our personal loans page and secured vs unsecured personal loans guide explain the trade-offs in more detail.
How do rebates and certificates change the amount you borrow?
Federal incentives can reduce the up-front cost of some green assets. Small-scale technology certificates, created under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and administered by the Clean Energy Regulator, are usually passed to the installer, who then lowers your quote by their value. There is also a federal incentive for home batteries, and several states have their own programs that come and go. The settings change from time to time, so check the official pages for the current position.
For borrowers, the practical point is simple: get the final quote after incentives, and borrow against that figure. If you borrow the pre-discount number, you may end up carrying more debt than you need.
Where does green finance fit with the rest of your borrowing?
Green upgrades rarely happen in isolation. People often combine them with a renovation, a refinance or a debt clean-up. If you are already planning building work, renovation loans may carry the efficiency upgrades inside the same project. If you hold equity and want one structure for several jobs, home equity loans can be a way to fund them together.
The question to keep asking is whether the loan term suits the life of the asset. Borrowing over a longer period than a battery or vehicle will realistically last is a common slip, and we will raise it when we see it.
Which green loans can Ownright arrange for homes?
Household projects are where most people begin, and there are several distinct paths.
Solar. Solar panel loans spread the cost of a rooftop system, with certificate discounts usually coming off the quote before you borrow. They suit owners and landlords who want to lower daytime power costs.
Batteries. Home battery loans cover storage on its own or alongside solar. Because battery incentives and prices move quickly, the quote and the timing of installation are worth checking carefully.
Electrification. Home electrification loans fund the switch from gas to electric: heat pump hot water, induction cooking, reverse-cycle heating and the switchboard work that goes with them.
Efficiency. Energy efficient upgrade loans cover insulation, glazing, ventilation, shading and similar work that makes a house cheaper to run and more comfortable.
Mortgage-based options. Green home loans look at efficiency features in a purchase, build or refinance, and can include funds for upgrades.
What about electric vehicles and charging?
An electric car is often the single biggest green purchase a household makes. EV car loans cover new and used vehicles for individuals, sole traders and companies. Lenders look at the vehicle’s age, kilometres and battery condition, and the finance can sit alongside ordinary car loans thinking while allowing for the way EVs hold value.
If you are employed and want to pay through your salary, a novated lease is another route to explore. Tax treatment depends on the vehicle and your circumstances, so talk to your employer and accountant about that side.
Home charging, workplace chargers and public-facing sites are covered by EV charging finance, which suits landlords, body corporates, fleets and businesses that want to host chargers.
Can businesses finance green assets?
Yes, and the structures are usually asset-based. Business solar finance funds rooftop and ground-mount systems for shops, warehouses, workshops and offices, where daytime consumption is high and the savings can be measured against real bills.
Green equipment finance covers efficient refrigeration, LED retrofits, electric forklifts, induction kitchens and other plant that cuts running costs. For these purchases, the general options in equipment finance and chattel mortgage loans apply, and used equipment finance can be useful when the asset is second-hand.
Businesses that need working capital around the install, or that lack a long financial history, may also look at unsecured business loans.
How does green finance work on farms?
Farms are well placed for renewables: big roofs, open land, high pumping loads and cold storage that runs all day. Farm solar and renewable finance covers solar for sheds and dairies, solar pumping, storage and related works. Lenders think about the farm’s overall cash flow, the security and the way savings land across the year.
Machinery is part of the picture too. If you are weighing electric or efficient equipment, see farm equipment finance and tractor finance for the general mechanics of financing farm plant.
Which product should I look at first?
| If you want to | Start with |
|---|---|
| Cut your power bill | Solar panel loans |
| Use your solar at night | Home battery loans |
| Get off gas | Home electrification loans |
| Make the house cheaper to run | Energy efficient upgrade loans |
| Buy an electric vehicle | EV car loans |
| Put chargers on a property | EV charging finance |
| Power a shop or workshop | Business solar finance |
| Upgrade plant and appliances | Green equipment finance |
| Power a farm | Farm solar and renewable finance |
If you already know what you want to buy, you can send us the quote and see what is possible and we will come back with the options that suit the amount, security and timing.
What does a typical green finance situation look like?
Illustrative scenario only. A couple own a family home with a modest mortgage. They want solar, a battery and a heat pump hot water system, with a total quote that is too large for their savings. One of them is a contractor with irregular invoices, which has made their bank cautious. We would look at their tax returns, the combined quote and the equity in their property, and then compare an unsecured loan, a secured personal loan and a modest second mortgage. Each carries different costs, terms and risks, and they choose after seeing how the monthly repayment sits against the likely savings. Some situations call for a bridging option when an install has to go ahead before other funds arrive.
What if my credit history is not perfect?
A past default, a few missed repayments or a cluster of recent enquiries do not automatically end a green project. They do reduce the number of suitable lenders, and they make secured structures more attractive. Read the guide on how to improve your credit score if you have time before applying, and see bad credit personal loans for how lenders approach the topic. Where equity is available, second mortgages can sometimes work when other doors are closed, though they need careful thought.
What mistakes should I avoid with green loans?
- Borrowing the pre-rebate amount instead of the final discounted quote
- Choosing a loan term far longer than the life of the asset
- Signing with an installer before checking licences, warranties and accreditation
- Assuming savings projections are guaranteed; they depend on usage and tariffs
- Overlooking how a vehicle’s resale value affects the finance
- Applying with several lenders at once and marking up the credit file
Our guide on why you should not apply for loans everywhere explains why that last one matters.
Which documents should be on hand?
- Photo ID and proof of address
- Latest payslips, or for the self-employed, tax returns plus business statements
- Bank statements showing your income and spending
- A written, itemised quote or dealer invoice for the green purchase
- Details of existing loans, cards and any property you own
- Installer licence and accreditation details, if relevant
If you are not sure where to find any of these, the checklist at what documents do I need for a loan walks through it step by step.
How does Ownright approach green finance?
Ownright Custom Finance is built around solutions. Trevor Scott, our director, brings four decades-plus of finance experience and guides a team that places loans across the country, including the tricky files other brokers decline. For green projects, that means we start with the purpose and the quote, then work out which lender types, security and structure make sense, rather than pushing every borrower into the same box.
Sometimes the answer is a simple unsecured loan. Sometimes it is an asset-backed facility, a property-secured option or a staged plan that funds the most valuable part of the project first. Where an incentive affects the numbers, we build it into the picture so you borrow only what you need. If Ownright can’t find the solution, no one can.
Where to from here?
If you know what you want to install or buy, start with the matching page above, or read more in our guide library at /guides/. When you are ready, start your green finance enquiry and tell us about the project. You can also call us on 03 7043 7233, and we will take it from there.
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How it works, step by step
- 1
Step 1
We talk through what you want to install or buy, and what you are trying to save or earn from it.
- 2
Step 2
We look at the quote, any rebates in play and the security that makes the most sense.
- 3
Step 3
We approach lenders comfortable with the asset and your circumstances, and put your case clearly.
- 4
Step 4
We work through conditions and settlement so the installer or dealer can get going.
Frequently asked questions
What is green finance?
Green finance is a loan or lease used for assets that cut energy use or emissions, such as rooftop solar, a home battery, an electric vehicle or a heat pump. The label describes the purpose, not a special legal product. Lenders still assess your income, credit and security, and the structure depends on who is borrowing and what is being bought.
Can I finance solar and a battery together?
Often yes. Many lenders will fund a combined solar and battery quote as one loan, which can be simpler than two separate applications. Certificates or incentives may reduce the invoice, so the amount you borrow can change. Send us the quote and we will look at the cleanest way to structure it.
Do I need to own my home to get green finance?
Not always. Unsecured personal loans can fund solar or an EV for people who rent or have no equity, and business or vehicle finance can be secured on the asset. Owners can also use property equity for larger projects. Which route fits depends on the amount, your credit and the term you want.
Is green finance cheaper than a normal loan?
Some lenders do offer a different price for approved green assets, but not all do, and every loan is priced on your circumstances. The real saving usually comes from lower power or fuel costs once the system is running. We compare structures so you can see the full picture rather than one headline number.
Can a business or farm get green finance?
Yes. Companies, trusts, sole traders and farms can fund solar, batteries, chargers and efficient equipment through chattel mortgages, equipment finance or secured loans. Tax treatment varies, so your accountant should confirm how it applies to you. We arrange the finance side and work around your accountant's advice.
What if a bank has already declined my green upgrade loan?
A decline from one lender is not the end. Other lenders weigh income, credit history and security differently, and secured options can open doors that an unsecured application cannot. We look at what went wrong, what can be tidied up and which lenders are likely to be comfortable with your situation.
Do I have to use a specific installer?
Usually not, although lenders want a proper written quote from a licensed, reputable installer or a dealer invoice. Installers who are accredited for the relevant government scheme can also handle certificates on your behalf. Get a detailed, itemised quote first, and we can work from that.
How quickly can green finance be arranged?
It can sometimes be quick, but the timing depends on the lender, the security and how quickly your documents and the quote arrive. Unsecured loans tend to move faster than property-secured ones. Having ID, income evidence and the installer's quote ready is the biggest time saver.