Solar Rebate Queensland

The solar rebate is part of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target and was introduced at the start of 2011. The Australian Federal Government solar incentive scheme entitles you to claim rebate on purchase and installation of solar system. The rebate or subsidy referred to as STC (Small Scale Technology Certificate) allows a discount on the final price of the solar system that you actually have to pay out of your pocket. Usually, the amount of rebate depends on the place where you live and it phases out slowly every year. Currently, it ranges anywhere between $500-$600 per kilo-watt.

Steps towards claiming your solar rebate

Installing an eligible system allows the creation of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) with a value that can be redeemed by selling or assigning them, these are termed as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The number of RECs created is based on:

  • Rated output capacity of the solar system in kilo-watts.
  • the climate region where it’s installed
  • The year of installation
How to claim STCs

There are certain conditions to claim STCs which are as below :

  • STCs can be claimed only for a solar system capacity of less than 100 kW. For system capacity of 100 kW or more Large-Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) will be applicable and it can be claimed over a period of time.
  • Solar panels and Inverters listed with the Clean Energy Council of Australia are eligible for the STC claim entitlement.
  • Only the installations performed by the Clean Energy Council accredited installers are eligible for the STC entitlement.

You can check the STCs you are eligible on Clean Energy Regulator website with the help of STC Calculator.

Reap the benefits of STCs

Owners have 2 options for receiving benefit for their STCs:

  • assigning them to an agent, usually the system installer, in exchange for a discount or delayed cash payment, or
  • selling the certificates themselves

For Example, the price of a 6.6 kW fully installed solar power system in Brisbane in 2020 is around $7500. You are entitled for total RECs of 100. Price of RECs ranges between $0-$40. Let’s assume currently, RECs are priced at $37, then you are entitled for a total rebate of 100 X $37 = $3700. Effectively, your out of pocket system price will be $7500 – $3700 = $3800.

Make the most of your RECs

Price of RECs fluctuate depending on factors like demand of solar system. If demand increases, price goes down and vice versa. In order to keep this simple, you can surrender these RECs to your solar system supplier. By doing this

  • Primarily you are freed from paying the entire amount of $8000 all at once and then getting the rebate amount at a later date.
  • Secondly, you are not required to do any paperwork to make a claim for rebate, all the paperwork is taken care by your solar system supplier.
  • Finally, you are safe from any REC price fluctuations. You just pay the price agreed upon with the supplier and pass on the risk of REC fluctuation to the supplier.

Call us on 1300 650 747 to book the solar system for you and take care of the rebate paperwork on your behalf.