Rebates & Feed-in Tariffs

Federal Rebates

Since 1st January 2011 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are called Small-scale Technology Certificates or STCs.

Your solar, wind or hydro system is entitled to a number of STCs. Rainbow Power will offer you an up-front discount when you assign your STCs to us. Most people take this option.

Alternatively, you could create the STCs yourself once your system is installed and sell and transfer them via the REC Registry or through the STC Clearing House. In this case you will not receive a financial benefit for STCs from us.

The value of STCs fluctuate. Please visit the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator for more information.

Solar Credits

Solar Credits is a mechanism which increases the number of STCs able to be created for eligible small-scale electricity systems (solar PV, wind and hydro) through the use of a multiplier.

Solar Credits apply to the first 1.5 kilowatts (kW) of capacity of grid-tie systems. If you install a stand alone system and are more than 1 km away from the grid OR connection to the grid would cost more than $30,000, you can claim Solar Credits for the first 20 kW.

Since 1 July 2011, the Solar Credits multiplier is '3' for small-scale systems. The multiplier will then phase down by one each year until the multiplier is phased out by 1 July 2013.

Feed-in Tariff

Unfortunately, Australia does not have a national Feed-in Tariff (FiT).

NSW Rebates & Feed-in Tariffs

The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme (SBS) was discontinued by the O'Farrell Government in April 2011. Since then, new grid-feed systems do not receive any feed-in tariff at all.

In other words, NSW does not offer any incentives at the moment. We encourage you to write to your local member of parliament and point out the policy void.

Check out the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme website for updates and to find out what went on at the Solar Summit. You can have your say here too and lend your support to the solar industry. NSW wants a fair feed-in tariff for all!

At present, some energy retailers offer voluntary feed-in tariffs using net-metering.

Ask our staff for the latest update.

QLD Rebates & Feed-in Tariffs

Queensland currently has a NET feed-in tariff of $0.44 per kW/h. To be eligible, your system must not exceed 5kW.

NET feed-in tariff means you are paid for any excess energy you produce.