When Does the Government Solar Rebate End?

In 2011, a scheme offering rebates for solar was introduced to encourage Aussies to tap into solar energy.

The government solar rebate is set to end on 31st December 2030.

The Australian government decided that rather than stopping the rebate immediately, it was a better idea to phase it out gradually. The government decided that the gradual phasing out period should take 15 years up to December 31, 2030.

As a result of this decision, the small-scale technology certificates (STCs) system by the Australian government started being phased out on January 1, 2017. What this means is that once the government solar rebate ends, people will stop receiving rebates for solar system installations in their homes and properties.

Solar rebate phasing out by 2030

How the Solar Rebate Works

There are factors that determine how the solar rebate works. One of the factors is the location of your property.

A place that has more sunshine hours causes a solar power system to generate more power. Thus, if your solar system produces more power, you receive a higher amount of rebate. For instance, if a person resides in Western Australia, the amount of rebate will be more than a person who lives in a state that receives a few hours of sunshine.

Another factor that determines the amount of incentive that one receives is the size of the solar panel system. If the solar panel system is large, it will generate more power, thus attracting a higher solar rebate.

It’s worth noting that the solar rebate system works through the issuance of STCs. STCs are issued according to zones. Essentially, the Federal Government divides Australia’s postcodes into 4 zones. This is how this works: If you live in zone 1, you get a greater rebate than a person who lives in zone 2, who, in turn, receives a higher rebate than a person in zone 3 and so on. Once you are issued with STCs, you sell them to companies that generate fossil fuels. The sale happens on the open market, so the price fluctuates depending on the current demand for solar energy.

Who Pays the Rebate?

In simple terms, the rebate is paid to your installer by the government, who has already passed the saving onto you when they sold you the system.

In reality, the rebate is paid through the sale of STCs. Once homeowners install solar panel systems, they are issued with STCs, which are, in turn, paid to the installer based on the size of the system installed and the zone they reside in.

The price of an STC certificate depends on the supply and demand factor of renewable energy. Generally, if the supply of solar energy is high, then the STC price will go down.

STC-solar-rebate-zones-Australia2

How much is the Solar Rebate in 2024

Solar rebates in 2024 will still see those installing solar power systems in their properties receiving generous incentives.

So, anyone who missed the opportunity to install a solar panel system in their home has the chance to become part of the solar rebate scheme in 2024.

For instance, if a person residing in Adelaide installs a 6.6kW solar system, the incentive offered by the State of SA is around $2,476, according to the current STC values on the open market. This means that the early part of 2024 is a good time for one to install solar power systems.

Full rebate information for other states can be found below:

New South Wales
South Australia
Queensland
Victoria

How Much Is the Solar Rebate: By State

The following is the solar rebate on solar in different states based on the STC price of $39.30. The amount of solar rebate is equal to the number of STCs x STC value

Example: 1.5kW in Zone 3 gets 14 STC’s.

Calculate: 14 x $39.30 = $550 Rebate

Please see the following tables to calculate the rebate for your system size.

FAQ’s

If you are installing a solar power system less than 100kWh in size and is installed by a clean energy Council accredited professional. The amount you get will depend on the size of the system and the state you live in.

You can get solar panels installed on your home today with no upfront cost with the use of an interest free solar loans. These are available to anyone installing a solar system before 2030. They allow you to pay the system off over a 4 year period meaning you own it at the end. This is the closest you will get to a free system, but it works out to you paying about what you are now on your power bill for the next 4 years, then after that power is free or there about!

If the system is owned outright and it is not some kind of a leased system or still being paid off with a loan then it will definitely add value to your home. According to the selling into the suns Berkley lab report you can expect a 2 – 3% increase in your property value just by installing a solar system. The average boost in home sale price with a Solar PV system was $24,000.

Considering the cost of energy in Australia, solar is becoming more and more handsome an investment as time goes on. The fact it will pay for itself in 3 – 4 year and you will enjoy free power thereafter, you would be mad not to invest.

The main disadvantage to solar is the initial upfront cost. But as mentioned above you can get interest free loans that will cover the cost and allow you to pay them off over 4 years. Another disadvantage is they do take up a lot of roof space. I personally like the look of them, but not everyone does.

Yes, solar panels are generally very low maintenance. They contain no moving parts so there is very little that can be broken or damaged. The only solar panels maintenance they need is cleaning. Dust and dirt need cleaning off as it builds up over time so panels can absorb as much sunlight as possible. Luckily, the rain will take care of this for you in most cases. You should hire a professional to do the job every 12 – 18 months or if you notice a drop in power production.

Solar panels do not need a lot of maintenance, they don’t break very easily and often will last for a very long time. However, they will start to become less effective over the years. They decrease in effectiveness by an average of 1% per year. This means a solar panel won’t become completely redundant for at least 40 years. You may wish to replace them sooner should you start to notice a problem with their decreased output. Warranties on solar panels are typically 25 years.