WA Solar Panel Rebates: Maximise Your Savings in 2024

Just recently, Western Australia has achieved the remarkable feat of supplying 72% of its power demands using rooftop solar.

This can be credited largely to the generous solar rebates in WA that make installation more affordable.

Solar rebates, otherwise known as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs), significantly reduce the upfront cost of solar panel installations.

Additionally, eligible homeowners can also benefit from the government’s Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS).

All of these incentives incentivize Western Australians to make the switch to renewable energy, not just to lower the electricity bill but also to promote sustainable practices.

So, in today’s blog, I’m going to walk you through them. Here’s a list of the topics I’m covering:

• What are Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs)?
• Ways you can get more STCs.
• STC eligibility and rebate scheme.
• Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)

WA Solar rebates Depend on STCs. What are they?

STC stands for Small-scale Technology Certificates. They are a form of financial incentive in Australia for small-scale renewable energy systems, including solar panels.

The number of STCs generated by a solar panel system is influenced by different factors (more on this later). More STCs result in higher solar rebates.

Okay, so how do I get more STCs?

As I mentioned, the number of STCs generated by your solar panel system depends on various factors. These are:

• Your solar system size
• Your deeming period (i.e., how many years until 2030 are left from the date of installation)
• The postcode zone of the installation.

Here’s how you can take advantage of each factor to get more STCs:

Install a bigger system.

Installing a larger system gets you rewarded with more STCs. In turn, this gets you more solar rebates.

That being said, the maximum solar system that’s considered “small scale” is 100 kW. It’s unlikely that you exceed that, though, considering most Western Australian homes only need 6 kW. Still, it’s something you should keep in mind.

Recommended: How many solar panels do you need to power your home?

Install your solar panels ASAP.

The Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme assigns different deeming periods based on what year you install your solar panels.

From 2017, the deeming period was set to 14. It gets lower year after year until the scheme ends in 2030.

This affects the number of STCs you get because the higher the deeming period, the more STCs you’re also going to get. Hence, why it’s highly recommended that you install renewable energy systems as soon as you’re able.

As of today (2024), the deeming period is 7 years.

Check your postal code zone.

Solar panel installations in regions with higher solar radiation levels are expected to produce renewable energy. Hence installing a solar power system in these areas will also generate more STCs.

These regions are categorized into 4 zones. Zone 1 has the highest rating and therefore the most STCs, and Zone 4 has the least. For your reference, Perth (postal code: 6000) is in Zone 3.

If you want to find out which zone your property is in, just find your postal code on the Federal Register of Legislation’s website.

How many STCs can I get? What rebate am I getting?

To find out how many STCs you’re eligible for, you can use the free STC calculator from the Australian government.

When you already have the number of STCs your system is eligible for, you can then check the current value of STCs on the Green Energy Markets. Multiply that with the number of STCs you can get to calculate your solar government rebates.

Currently, one Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) is worth around $39.90. However, just like stocks, the value of STCs can change anytime. For your reference, though, here’s how many STCs and how much rebate you can get if you installed a solar system in Perth today:

Sample Savings Profiles for Solar Systems in WA

The values above are calculated assuming that the solar system was installed in 2024 with a deeming period of 7 years, and the STC value is $39.90

Before the installation, make sure your solar PV system is eligible for STCs.

Before the installation of your solar PV system, it’s important to verify if your planned solar energy system qualifies for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Otherwise, you’ll be left paying full price.

Below are the requirements for eligibility:

• Panels and inverters must be CEC-approved.
• The system must meet Australian and New Zealand standards.
• Must be installed by a CEC-accredited installer.
• Must comply with all local, state, territory, and federal requirements.
• The system size must not be more than 100 kW.

Of all these criteria, hiring a Clean Energy Council (CEC)-accredited solar installer is the most critical step.

For one, doing so ensures that your installation adheres to the standards set by the Australian and New Zealand governments. Secondly, they also know all about CEC-approved components and will only recommend them.

Now, if you need help finding a trustworthy CEC installer, we have a pre-vetted network of them that you can use. We can get you 3 FREE quotes right now.

Another incentive you should be aware of is DEBS

DEBS, or the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme, is another one of the Australian government’s incentives to encourage renewable energy. More specifically, it pays eligible homeowners exporting excess solar energy to the grid.

Your DEBS rates are subject to the time your solar energy is exported and the power company that you’re associated with.

For Synergy customers:

• Peak rates: Power exported between 3 pm and 9 pm earns 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
• Off-peak rates: Power exported between 9 pm and 3 pm earns 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

For Horizon Power customers:

• Peak rates: Electricity exported between 3 pm and 9 pm earns 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
• Off-peak rates: Electricity exported between 9 pm and 3 pm earns 3 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

You may be eligible for DEBS if your annual electricity consumption does not exceed 50 MWh. You will find all DEBS-related information here.

Conclusion

Through solar panel rebates, you can save money on your solar system installation while also ensuring that it’s up-to-par, if not higher than Australia’s standards.

To recap, these rebates come in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). The more STCs you’re eligible for, the higher your rebate. There are also a few easy eligibility requirements, and the most important of them all is hiring a CEC-accredited installer.

Western Australia also has another form of incentive known as DEBS. This incentive pays you for exporting your surplus solar energy to the electricity grid.

So, if you’re ready to make the switch, our pre-vetted network of installers is ready to give you 3 FREE quotes, too.