The federal solar rebates provide an incentive for solar systems both small and large under the Renewable Energy Target (RET).
The RET incentivises small-scale and large-scale solar projects differently, with separate segments known as the Large-Scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) and the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
In this article, we discuss how incentives operate under each of these programs.
Incentives For Small-scale Solar – Residential & Commercial Under 100kW
The SRES was developed to assist households, small businesses and community groups with the cost of installing a solar PV system.
The SRES works by issuing Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) to homes & businesses that install systems under 100 kilowatts (kW) in terms of the DC Solar Panel capacity.
The STCs are officially created once an accredited Solar Installer has commissioned the system.
How Are STCs Calculated?
STCs are based on the expected output of the solar system until 2030 when the STC rebate will cease.
One STC is the equivalent of 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy.
So to calculate your STCs you will need to calculate how many MWh is produced by your system each year until 2030.
Important the number of years in the calculation changes on the 1st of January each year.
Without fail many in the solar industry will use this date to create a false sense of urgency as the change of one year will only impact the purchase price by around 4-5%.
To check the current STC price and calculate the number of STCs currently available for your project you can use this online stc calculator.
The key thing for solar system shoppers to know is that installers assume responsibility for STCs, applying the incentive in the form of a ‘discount’ directly to the price of your system.
The STCs are sold by agents or by solar installers themselves on a live market where the price is constantly fluctuating, although we don’t see regular price shifts like the currency or stock markets.
The main thing for end-consumers to focus on and compare is the final price that the installer is asking you to pay.
Example and Typical System Sizes
The most common residential system size is a 6.6kW Solar Panel system with a 5kW inverter – as this is the maximum allowable for single-phase connections in many of Australia’s electrical networks.
A 6.6kW Solar Panel System in Sydney would generate approximately 9.1 MWh per year.
As 1MWh = 1 STC then the system would generate 9.1 STCs per year.
As there are 10 years left between 2021 and 2030 (inclusive) then a system installed this year would generate 9.1 x 10 = 91 STCs.
At today’s price of $35 per STC, the rebate for a 6.6kW system in Sydney would be worth $3,185.
As a 6.6kW system would generate a different amount of power depending on where in Australia it is installed (based on the different amounts of sunlight), the clean energy regulator has split Australia into four zones.
The remaining factors that would influence the output of a system like shading, panel orientation, and efficiency losses are ignored for the purposes of the STC solar rebate.
STC Rebate for 6.6kW Solar Systems Around Australia | ||||
| Location | STC Zone | Annual Generation | STCs Created | Total Rebate @ $35 per STC |
| North West & Central Australia | 1 | 10.7 MWh | 107 | $3,745 |
| Darwin, Central Australia | 2 | 10.1 MWh | 101 | $3,535 |
| Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide & Perth | 3 | 9.1 MWh | 91 | $3,185 |
| Melbourne & Tasmania | 4 | 7.8 MWh | 78 | $2,730 |
See the full postcode list on the Clean Energy Regular website
The Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) – Solar Systems Over 100kW
Under the RET, in addition to STCs, power utilities are also required to surrender a set number of Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs).
LGCs can only be generated by commercial and utility-scale renewable energy generation systems (such as solar power systems) over 100kW in capacity that have undergone an accreditation process to produce them.
An important difference between STCs and LGCs is that LGCs are produced on an ongoing basis after the system is accredited, installed, and producing power.
Large-scale generators therefore provide an ongoing revenue stream for their operators.
As with STCs an LGC is a tradable unit that acts as a currency for renewable energy, and prices therefore fluctuate with supply and demand.
In recent years the market price for LGCs has crashed in line many Solar Farm projects being commissioned.
Currently, commercial and utility-scale projects are designed off the underlying cost of solar power rather than relying on LGCs to support the business case.
You can check the future outlook for LGC prices here.
Read more about the creation of LGCs.
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