Many Australians are going solar, which can not only be beneficial when it comes to reducing power costs. Solar energy is also considered renewable, which means you can reduce your carbon footprint. The Australian government supports the transition to renewable energy through its program of government solar rebates in QLD. Actually, most solar panel systems are carbon neutral.
However, the installation of a solar panel system can be expensive. To make the costs easier to handle, different financial incentives have been established.
For homeowners located in Queensland, it is possible to receive a federal government solar rebate in QLD. This incentive can make the installation and initial costs more affordable for your household.
The government solar rebates in QLD
As a resident, you should be eligible to receive a federal government solar rebate in QLD. When installing a solar panel system, small-scale technology certificates (STC) will be generated. One STC has a specific value and will work as a discount coupon.
In other words – the more STCs, the bigger the discount will be. The amount of STCs you will receive is based upon the size of the solar energy system, but also which STC zone you live in (zone 1, 2, 3 or 4).
Queensland is a big state and actually covers three different zones (zone 1, 2 and 3). The solar rebate given is bigger in the lower STC zones.
And also, the more power your solar system is expected to produce until 2030, the more STCs you will get. So, a 10 kW system will be eligible for a bigger government solar rebate than a 3 kW system.
Some examples
In general, a solar panel system installed in Queensland will be eligible for up to 12 STCs per kWh the system will generate. If you were to install a 12 kW system, this will typically give you 12 certificates and a rebate of $474.
For an average 6 kW solar panel system, the number of STCs will be around 74. This will give you a government solar rebate of $2,923. For a big 10kW solar system, you could potentially receive a rebate of $4,898.
These examples are based on an STC value of $39. Remember that the STC value fluctuates based on market demands.
How to get the government solar rebates?
To be able to receive the government solar rebates in QLD, you need to make sure that the system and installer company is approved by the Clean Energy Council (CEC). If not, you will not receive any financial rebate.
The rebate is usually included in the installer’s quote. But sometimes you may also receive STCs that can be sold through the open market or through the STCs Clearing House.
Remember that the rebate is eligible for photovoltaic panels (PV panels) – the most popular form of solar panels. But you may also get a rebate for other renewable energy systems, like solar water heaters, air-based heat pumps, wind turbines or even hydro systems.
Is there a Queensland state rebate for solar panel systems?
The local Queensland government previously had a rebate scheme for QLD residents, but this is currently on hold.
When this rebate scheme existed, you could get a rebate of up to $3,000 for the panels and battery system. The local government also offered interest-free loans to the residents of QLD, of up to $10,000 per household.
QLD feed-in tariffs
Besides the solar government rebate, you might receive feed-in tariffs in Queensland. This means that you sell electrical power through the grid and receive money from your power retailer.
To be able to do this, you need a grid-tie solar panel system (a solar system that is connected to the grid). The solar buyback can be described as the amount of money you will receive per kWh of electrical power that is exported into the grid.
In Queensland, the solar buyback usually is rated somewhere between 8 to 12 cents. But remember, the feed-in tariffs can vary from area to area.
In the south east part of Queensland, the government has no minimum rate. The tariff is set by your power company. However, in the regional parts of Queensland, you can choose a set rate or time-varying tariff rate.
Is solar power a good investment in QLD?
In general, yes! All the different areas in Queensland receive a significant amount of sunlight throughout the year. This makes the investment appealing because you can expect your solar panel system to produce power effectively.
In Queensland, you can also expect a bigger financial rebate than in some other parts of Australia – like Victoria. The payback period of a solar panel system is usually around four or five years in the QLD area, depending on the size of your rebate.
Find a CEC-certified installer and system, and get your government rebate!