An increasing number of Australians have been realising the benefits of solar power, thanks to the country’s range of government incentives. While many people are aware of the environmental and financial bonuses of residential and commercial solar power, not so many know their financial entitlements upon installation.
Sunstainable is passionate about powering as many Australian homes as it can, thanks to the power of the sun. So this blog will clear up any questions about each solar rebate Australia offers.
Nation-wide Rebates
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme offers financial incentives for the installation of solar, wind and hydro systems, as well as solar water heaters and air source heat pumps. These incentives come in the form of small-scale technology certificates (STC) which are equivalent to 1 megawatt hour of renewable electricity.
These can be traded on an open market or through the STC clearing house for a fixed price of $40.
Alternatively, the rights and admin associated with these certificates can be signed over to an agent in return for a cheaper renewable electricity system.
To be eligible for the small-scale scheme, you must have your system designed and installed by an accredited entity, such as Sunstainable. Your solar panel system must also have a capacity of less than 100 kW, and an annual electricity output less than 250 MWh.
Victoria
If you’re looking for a solar rebate Melbourne-wide, you’re in luck! Victoria offers several rebates and incentives to increase the uptake of solar power.
There are programs specific to homes which discount individual parts of the solar system like panels, batteries or hot water, and there is a program to benefit businesses that aren’t operated on a private residence.
There are also programs for rental properties and community housing. This ensures access is made easier for everyone who wants to take advantage of solar power.
With so many incentives, it’s difficult to succinctly outline each and every eligibility criterion. Get in touch with Sunstainable to learn about the various criteria, or visit the Solar Victoria website.
Some mutual criteria between the various parts of the residential system include a combined household income of less than $180,000; a residential value of less than $3 million; and not having received benefits from the program before.
New South Wales
NSW is home to more than 650,000 rooftop solar PV systems (21% of homes), making it the second most powerful solar state in Australia, behind Queensland.
Despite this, NSW has far fewer state-based rebates on top of the federal incentives.
In 2022, however, it has expanded its Solar for Low Income Households offer which applies to those currently on the Low Income Households (LIH) rebate. This rebate is offered to those with concession cards from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and helps people to pay their bills.
To receive the Solar version of this incentive, you must agree to forego the LIH for 10 years; own your own home; and live in Greater Sydney or regional NSW.
QLD, TAS, SA & WA
These four states offer little to no state-based incentive to buy solar systems, but the national programs still apply.
In Queensland, which is home to Australia’s largest number of solar systems (850,000), solar energy is a hot commodity and it is still very worth investing in a solar system.
In South Australia, the Switch for Solar program will close applications from August 31, 2022, so it may be too late for some. This program allows eligible concession holders to swap their Energy and Cost of Living rebate for a 4.4kW solar system. To be eligible, the previous rebate must be foregone for 10 years, and the home must use more than 2,000kWh of electricity per year.
Contact Sunstainable
The ACT and the NT also have notable rebate programs available and our friendly team are ready to answer questions you might have regarding these regions.
If you’d like to take advantage of Australia’s numerous solar incentives, get in touch with us to have your system installed by an accredited professional.
