For: Home owners; Renters; Landlords [House; Apartment]
Overview
Households across Australia that install a small scale renewable energy system or eligible hot water system may be able to receive a benefit under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to help with the purchase cost.
Installing an eligible system allows the creation of Small-scale Technology Certificates, an electronic form of currency with a value that can be redeemed by selling or assigning them.
Key eligibility
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are created for eligible systems. The number of certificates created is based on the amount of renewable electricity the system produces or the amount of electricity consumption it reduces, and the climate region where it’s installed.
Renewable energy systems
Renewable energy systems are referred to as Small Generation Units (SGUs). There are three types of eligible systems:
- solar power (photovoltaic - PV)
- wind power (turbine)
- hydro (water) power.
Solar Credits (see below) provide additional support for the installation of SGUs by creating additional STCs.
Hot water systems
Hot water systems which reduce electricity consumption may be eligible for STCs. There are two types of eligible systems:
- solar hot water
- heat pump hot water.
Solar Credits do not apply to hot water systems.
Solar Credits
Solar Credits apply to Small Generation Units and create multiple Small-scale Technology Certificates for the eligible part of their capacity. This applies to the first 1.5 kilowatts (kW) for eligible mains connected systems. Off-grid systems may be eligible for Solar Credits for the first 20 kW if an annual capacity limit is not reached.
From 1 January 2013 Solar Credits no longer apply.
Systems installed between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2013 may still be eligible for the Solar Credit multiplier where legally binding contracts to install eligible systems have been entered into before 16 November 2012. The multiplier applies at the time of installation and is 2 × eligible capacity.
A number of other conditions apply. Check your eligibility on the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator website.
Selling or assigning the Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Owners have two options for selling their STCs:
- Assigning them to an agent, usually the system installer, in exchange for a discount or delayed cash payment; or
- Selling the certificates themselves, either:
- through the open STCs market - pricing subject to market forces; or
- through the STCs Clearing House - price fixed at $40 per STC, excluding GST.
Next steps
Make sure you understand the full program information at the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator website.
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are administered by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). Information about STCs, your options for gaining financial benefit from them and eligible technologies can be found at the following CER website pages:
- Solar Panels
- Small-scale Wind Systems
- Small-scale Hydro Systems
- Small-scale Off-grid Systems
- Solar Hot Water and Heat Pump Systems
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)
