Queensland is blessed with plenty of suns, which makes it the perfect place to invest in solar energy. The main reason that most people choose to go solar is to save money on electricity bills. Of course, the added benefit is to the environment. By choosing solar energy, you’re helping to decrease the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.
So, the big question then is – how much does it cost to have a solar system installed? Each system varies depending on the output, being the amount of solar energy you can effectively produce. Financially funding a solar sunshine coast purchase can be tricky with so many options and different state programs available. However, there are some incentives and rebates available to help you get started. Here’s what you can expect when installing solar energy systems in Queensland.
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme
While the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) is a federal initiative, it’s certainly accessible for Queenslanders. In short, it’s a scheme that provides residential homeowners and small businesses a reduction in the upfront cost of solar installation.
This is achieved through the issuing and trading of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Each solar system has a certain number of STCs created for it, depending on the postcode in which it’s installed and the amount of renewable energy it produces. This applies to solar panels, wind turbines, hydro systems and solar water heaters. It’s worth mentioning that all small-scale renewable energy systems must be installed by an accredited installer.
Claiming STCs
You can actually use your STCs in two different ways. Because STCs have a market value that changes slightly from day to day, you can sell them at any time on the open market. However, the most common way to use them is to trade them in to your solar retailer for an upfront discount on installation.
The number of STCs you can receive for your system decreases each calendar year, so if you want to take advantage, now is the time.
Feed-in tariffs
While there are currently no additional rebates or incentives on offer from the Queensland State Government, you can still get generous feed-in tariffs from your energy retailer. Basically, if you have an on-grid solar installation, you’re still connected to the main grid for evening energy use, but you power your home with free solar energy during the day.
If you produce more solar energy than you need during the day, the excess power is sold back to the main grid. Your energy retailer gives you a credit for each kWh of energy you return to the main grid. Each retailer offers different tariffs, so it’s worth doing your research.
If you want to harness the power of solar and slash your energy costs, contact the team at Accord Electrical today.
Source URL: https://www.accordelectrical.com.au/2022/01/18/queenslands-solar-rebates-and-incentives-for-2022/
