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Government Solar Power Incentives – State By State

Australians are lucky enough to be able to receive government solar power incentives that aim to lessen the initial outlay involved in going solar. These incentives are in place to accelerate the growth of renewable energy across our country to pave the way for a sustainable future for everyone.

The Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator has created the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme and this is the incentive that residents can take advantage of. Under this scheme residents are awarded STC’s to offset the initial cost of the purchase and installation of solar power systems.

government solar power incentives

What is an STC

Small Scale Technology Certificates, or STC’s, are awarded to residents when a solar system is installed in their home. The amount of STC’s given is calculated by measuring the estimated power a system will generate between now and 2030 when the scheme ends.

Each STC is worth around $35 to $40 and a standard solar system with an output of 10 kilowatts can expect to earn around 150 STC’s. This is subject to change and will vary depending on location. The more sun the more power you can potentially generate so those living towards the center of Australia can stand the benefit more.

The STC’s you are awarded are then sold to electricity retailers. This is due to the fact that under the Renewable Energy Target from the Clean Energy Regulator they are legally obligated to purchase STC’s. Global Solar Solutions takes care of this process for you so you don’t have to worry about filing paperwork or filling in forms.

We went over the details recently in our article listing the top 5 solar inverters installed during March of 2021. We recommend hopping over there to get more information about STC’s and why it is a great idea to get in sooner rather than later.

Queensland Government Solar Incentives

Queenslanders get to take advantage of 2 different government solar power incentives depending on the type of living situation you are in. If you own your home you are able to claim STC’s under the Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme as per the rest of the country.

Queensland also recently ran a trial of their Solar For Rentals Rebate to see the impact of offering landlords the option to have solar installed on their investment properties. Under this scheme a rebate was offered for each installation with the savings in power passed down to the renter.

Queensland also has a couple of feed-in tariffs that can help recoup costs through selling power your solar generates back to the grid for others to use. While this is not a rebate it’s still a great incentive to install solar and by sharing your renewable energy with others on the traditional grid you help create a better tomorrow for everyone.

queensland government solar power incentives

If you would like to know more about the feed-in tariffs that are available to Queensland residents we have you covered. Check out our Queensland solar feed-in tariff article to learn more about selling your power back to the grid.

New South Wales Government Solar Incentives

While the pickings are a bit slimmer in NSW when it comes to solar incentives, you can still take advantage of STC’s under the SRES. As NSW has some of the highest energy prices in Australia so offsetting this with solar can have a significant impact on the household budget.

There is also a scheme in place where the NSW government offers loans for solar power systems that include a battery or for those wanting to add a battery to their existing solar setup. This is a great initiative because solar batteries are becoming more and more common when it comes to solar as it gives your system much more versatility.

Victoria Government Solar Incentives

Victoria has a wealth of options in regards to government solar power incentives. While they are able to claim STC’s they can also take advantage of other offers through Solar Victoria. These offers include rebates for solar panels as well as solar batteries and solar water heaters.

The Solar Homes Program offers a rebate of up to $1,850 for the installation of PV solar panels with an option for an interest free loan to cover the rest. To claim this offer you need to have the installation carried out by an authorised solar provider such as Global Solar Solutions and the product used must be on a pre-approved list.

Another rebate on offer is the Solar Battery Rebate. Through this you can receive a sizable rebate of up to $4,174 at point of sale when purchasing a solar battery. Much the same as the panel rebate the product must be on an approved list as well as the installer being an authorised solar provider.

victorian government solar power incentives

Victoria also offers a Solar for Rentals program that gives landlords rebates on solar panels installed on investment properties. This means you can increase the value of your property by installing a solar system as well as charge increased rent due to lower power bills for the tenants.

All 3 of these rebates are available until the 30th of June 2021 and there is little information as to what is planned once we reach the end of these offers. We took a deeper look into Victorian Solar Rebates recently and if you would like to know more about what is on offer for your home we recommend you take a look.

Global Solar Solutions Can Find The Right Solar Incentive For You

We always recommend taking advantage of every possible offer available to you when installing solar power as the rebates are always changing as time goes on. We have found at times that some clients are eager to proceed as soon as possible, usually after seeing a friend’s power bill or solar system.

When we talk to potential clients about their solar power needs we will always take into consideration any rebates or schemes that apply. As most of the rebates on offer need to be applied before installation we will often take care of the paperwork involved in order to avoid any potential errors or confusement holding up the process.

We also process the claims for STC’s awarded under the Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme as this is standard within the industry. Making sure you have a clear picture of what your total costs are is a must before we move ahead with the order and installation of your solar system components.

complete solar package example

If you are curious as to what solar incentives your state government offers or would like to know more about the SRES and how it applies to you we encourage you to give us a call on 1800 255 474 to talk with a solar consultant. You can also contact us online to have someone get back to you via email.