“We have everything we need to begin solving the crisis that is climate change, with the possible exception of the will to act however our will to take action is itself a renewable source” Al Gore, US Senator.

Solar Power Rebates & Government Incentives

Domestic Rebates

The Australian Government has increased funding for the Solar Homes and Communities Plan by $25.6 million in 2008-2009, bringing the total fund to $56.6 million – which will allow up to 6000 rebates to be paid.

The Government has also introduced a means test on the SHCP. Under the means test a household with an annual taxable income of $100 000 or more are not eligible to claim the rebate. Household income refers to household family taxable income. It is determined by combining the taxable income of the applicant and any spouse in the most recently completed tax year prior to application for the rebate.

The SHCP will now conclude at the end of the 2009-10 financial year- two years earlier than originally planned. This is due to the Government bringing forward funding from future years to meet higher demand now.

The maximum rebate available remains $8000, or $8 per watt up to a 1000 watt solar power system.

See the PDF file below for more details.

1. Solar school rebates
2. Guidelines schools community
3. Pre-approval rebate
4. Shcp Residential Guidelines 21may2008

Commercial Rebates

Unfortunately there are no government rebates, available for commercial applications of Renewable energy generation systems. However look at our commercial solar power page for a better understanding.

Renewable energy Credits (REC’s)

Renewable Energy Certificates can be created by the installation of solar power systems otherwise known as – Small Generation Units (SGUs).

The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), implemented by the Government, supports the the reduction of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the proportion of Australia's electricity generated from renewable sources. This can be achieved through a market-based scheme that trades in Renewable Energy Certificates

In 2007 the Government committed to ensuring that 20% of Australia's electricity supply comes from renewable energy sources by 2020. To deliver on this commitment the Government is working in cooperation with the States and Territories through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), to implement an expanded national Renewable Energy Target (RET) that will bring the MRET and existing and proposed State and Territory targets into a single national RET scheme.

Every photovoltaic (PV) solar power system installed by R&N Solar has RECs assigned to it. These can be sold by the customer after the completed installation of the system with the help of Sun Empire, or may be signed over and assigned to our Company in exchange for an upfront discount on the price of the system.

The price of each individual REC is subsequent to a change daily as they are variable depending on the market. For example a 1 kilowatt (kW) solar power system is entitled to 18 RECs. If the daily rate was $50 per unit, a one off cash sale of these RECs would net $900.

This financial reimbursement is on top of any other Government rebates, thus reducing a customer's total financial outlay for the cost of installing a photovoltaic solar power system.