Yes. All Australian residents qualify for the Solar rebate program.
The Australian government has an ongoing Solar Rebate program that is set to end on 31st December 2030. The main objective is to have all households using solar systems as their primary source of power.
The amount of solar rebate you get depends mainly on your location (different for those living in New South Wales, QLD, and SA), the time you get the system installed, and the current value of the small-scale technology certificates (STC).
As an Australian resident, you qualify for both the federal STC rebates and local solar rebates only if you meet the requirements.
To qualify for the STC solar rebate in Australia;
- You need to own a home, caravan, or any property you want the solar system installed on.
- The solar PV system you purchase and install must meet the quality standards set. The installation process also has to follow all the guidelines set by the council.
- Also, the solar PV system should not have a nominal capacity exceeding 100Kw and a yearly output not more than 250 Mwh.
- The company doing the installation must be a recognized organization. The authorities have to ensure that they meet all the requirements set by the Clean Energy Council.
- After you apply for the certificates, you have up to 12 months to do the solar system purchase and installation. Failure to comply with this condition makes the certificates irrelevant.
- The whole installation process has to meet the safety guidelines set by the federal and state authorities.
- You can only claim your solar rebate once.
Most vendors comply with all these requirements making the purchase and installation process more manageable. It is a challenge doing this on your own without the help of such vendors.
Be careful when picking the right contractor because they will save you more than half of the total cost. Pick one who is eligible and can claim the rebates on your behalf. This makes you avoid unnecessary trips to the Clean Energy Council.
Do I Qualify For The Solar For The Low Income Rebate?
It depends. There is another limited solar rebate program by the Australian government for specific people. This program is to help this group of people reduce their power bills. It is essential to mention that since it is a limited program, only a few vendors can claim the rebates.
To qualify for the solar for low-income rebate;
- You have to own a home, caravan, or any property in Australia to claim the rebate.
- You should not be living in a strata building or a retirement village.
- You should have a concession card from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services or the veteran Affairs body.
- Somebody is using an approved life support machine in your home.
- You have particular medical needs.
- You are a senior.
How Do I Apply For The Government Solar Rebate?
There are two ways to claim the rebate; through the vendors or by yourself.
To claim the rebate on your own, you need to make a formal application after having your solar system installed. It would be best if you made this application less than 12 months after installing the system. You need to gather all the required documents.
This list of the needed documents is available on the Energy Regulator's official website. This process is demanding as it involves regular visits to the Clean Energy Council.
The best option is to claim the rebates through the vendor. The government made partnerships with qualified vendors to directly make these discounts after purchase and installation. Your job is to specify the type of solar system you want and the vendor bills you after considering the rebate you qualify for.
Can My Solar Rebate Claim Get Rejected?
Yes. There are higher chances of your rebate claim getting rejected if you decide to do it yourself. Some of the main reasons that can cause the rejection include;
Giving the wrong information
You need to be careful when making your solar rebate application. Any errors or omissions can lead to the rejection of your claim. You have to present documents to the Clean Energy Council, and you have to ensure that they have accurate information.
If you cannot verify your solar installation
If you cannot fully account for all the solar purchase and installation process, your rebate claim gets rejected.
Claiming the rebate late
Guidelines clearly state that you have a maximum of 12 months to claim the rebate; otherwise, you are not entitled to one.
Can I get a rebate on a battery?
As of the writing of this article, only Victoria has a solar battery rebate. Other states are yet to follow suit. You can save about 40% off the price of batteries in Victoria. Even with this discount, I don't think solar batteries are worth the extra cost. Over the next few years, the cost of batteries is going to be reduced significantly making a full off-grid system economically viable, but for now, I would just stick to a traditional rooftop system.
How do Feed-in Tariffs work?
Basically, you get paid for the excess energy you produce and do not use. This is perfect as you only use about 30% of your daily consumption during the day. Most energy consumption happens at night. This means about 70% of the energy you generate would normally go to waste. With feed-in tariffs, power companies give you credits on the power you feed into the grid, which you can then draw on at night at a slightly higher price. This is like using the grid as a virtual battery.
