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Australian solar panel credits program

You can get a huge discount on a solar energy and wind power systems thanks to the Australian government's new solar panel credits program subsidy!

Solar credits in Australia - Q&A

The Solar Credits scheme was scheduled to commence on July 1, 2009, but was unexpectedly brought forward and commenced on June 10, 2009; pending relevant legislation being passed.

The new solar credits program applies to off grid and grid connect wind and solar power installations only - solar hot water rebates rebates operate under completely different schemes.

If you didn't qualify for the $8,000 SHCP rebate scheme or missed the deadline for SHCP or RRPGP; you will most likely qualify for the Solar Credits Program! Check out our new Solar Credits Maximiser deals! Contact us today toll free on 1300 727 151 or email our friendly team for expert, obligation-free advice.

Solar Credits Scheme FAQ

The following are some commonly asked questions and answers regarding the new solar credit program.

What is the status of the Solar Credits scheme?

The Solar Credits scheme is part of the Renewable Energy Target bill, legislation that has been deferred until August 2009 at this point. This means that if you were to install a system now, while you will still be eligible for the Solar Credits program; you would have to pay the full price for a system and wouldn't be able to claim the credits until the legislation has passed. This could mean a wait of a several months before you would receive your rebate.

However, there's good news!...

August isn't far away and the lead-up time to having a solar power system installed does take some weeks, particularly given the backlog of system orders generated by the final days of the old rebate.

By starting the process now and locking in a great price on a solar power system from Energy Matters with view to an August or later installation (depending on when the legislation is passed), you'll immediately receive the solar credits value as a point of sale discount from Energy Matters. You'll also skip the solar credits paperwork headaches and additional waiting time involved with trying to claim the credits rebate yourself!

By acting right now instead of waiting for the legislation to pass, you'll also avoid:

The inevitable new rush on systems
Potential prices rises
Possible further delays on having your home solar power system installed

Questions? Call our friendly team on 1300 727 151 for free, expert no-obligation advice.

Is the new Solar Credits program better than the old SHCP rebate?

In relation to grid connected systems and in financial terms, for families with annual incomes over $100k and for businesses, it certainly is as the solar credits scheme will not be means tested. Under the SHCP rebate program, these people and businesses were not eligible.

Beat the rush and take advantage of our special grid connect solar package deals! Contact us today toll free on 1300 727 151 or email our friendly team for expert, obligation-free advice.

Who is the solar panel credits program open to?

Home owners, small businesses and community groups are all eligible for the Australian solar credits program! No-one will be means tested under the new solar scheme. The scheme also covers off grid installations.

How big/small a system must I buy to get the full $9000?

A solar power system with 1.5 kilowatts solar panel capacity installed in Zone 1 (explained below) will get you the full $9000 in solar credits. You can of course install a larger system, but the extra credits will only apply to the first 1.5 kilowatts. Any additional credits that would normally accompany a system above 1.5 kW will still apply.

What is "zoning" and how does it affect the rebate?

Australia is divided up into various zones based on how much renewable energy can be generated by a solar panel in a given area. You can determine your zone using this table (PDF)

As an example, under the the solar credits scheme if you buy a 1.5kW system in Victoria (Zone 4), you'll receive:

26 x 5 = 130 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
130 RECs x $50*/REC = $6500 rebate

A breakdown on different zones (1.5kW systems):

Zone 3 new subsidy = $7,750 (@ $50*/REC)
Zone 2 new subsidy = $8,500 (@ $50*/REC)
Zone 1 new subsidy = $9,000 (@ $50*/REC)

*Please note: $50 is an assumption as the value of RECs does vary according to market conditions

Need help calculating solar credits applicable to installations in your area? Contact us today toll free on 1300 727 151 or email our friendly team for expert, obligation-free advice.

Can I install the panels myself to get the full solar credits value?

No. The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator have made it a requirement that only BCSE accredited installers can sign-off on Solar Credits

Does the solar credit program also apply to wind power?

Yes it does - the same guidelines will apply for wind turbine installations - even for micro-hydro systems!

How does the solar panel credits scheme work?

A Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) credit multiplier system will be the basis of the solar credits program.

A single REC is equivalent to one megawatt hour of electricity generation. Renewable Energy Certificates are currently issued with qualifying solar hot water, solar energy, wind power systems or solar panels and can be traded for cash. The value of a REC is dependent on market conditions.

Under the new solar credits system, one REC will be initially multiplied by 5, therefore offering five times the dollar value. The 5x multiplier will be in place between the start of the program to the end of the financial year in 2012. After that, the credit multiplier rate will gradually drop according to the following timelines:

2012-13 - 4x
2013-14 - 3x
2014-15 - 2x
2015-16 onwards, no multiplier

How do I cash the REC credits?

Relax :) While the program may seem a little confusing, Energy Matters is here to make things super-easy for you!

While you can claim the cash value of the RECs yourself, that means you'll need to pay the full price of the solar power system up front and then have the paperwork hassles, followed by the wait.

However, we can offer you a point of sale discount if you assign the credits to Energy Matters as we're a registered REC agent ! We then take care of the rest, saving you a substantial amount in financial outlay and the bother of red tape!

Learn more about the solar credits REC system - Contact us today toll free on 1300 727 151 or email our friendly team for expert, obligation-free advice.

Will I be able to "double dip" by buying now and upgrading later?

The legislation is yet to be completed, however the current view of the department is that the credit multiplier Renewable Energy Certificates will only be allowed ONCE per installation and will not be able to be claimed in the event that that address has received other prior grants, including additional renewable energy certificates under the Solar Credits program.

For example, if you received the $8k rebate on a 1kW installation, you won't get the multiplier RECs on the upgrade to 1.5kW under the Solar Credits program; but you will still receive the standard number of Renewable Energy Certificates.

Need more info or ready to order a system?

Our new specials are sure to be popular, so get in quick!

To ensure you can have your system installed sooner rather than later, here's what you need to do:

Check out the Solar Credits Maximiser specials
Call our friendly team on 1300 727 151 as soon as possible to beat the rush with any questions you might have or to arrange a no-obligation site inspection.

or
Complete a solar power site assessment form (PDF) and email/fax/mail it into us. All the instructions are on the form and our team are standing by on 1300 727 151 to assist you in completing the form if you need help.