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Solar power incentives and rebates for Australian business

As a environmentally conscious business owner, there's all sorts of strategies you can implement to reduce the greenhouse gas impact of your business and one of the ways you can do so is to install a solar power system!

Solar power your business!

Aside from the lure of creating clean, renewable energy to run your own business and slashing your power bills, the Australian government offers additional incentives and rebates to encourage uptake of solar power by businesses - and is likely to implement more soon! Contact our team for expert, no-obligation advice about how these incentives may apply to your business!

Solar credits program - save $7000!

The solar credits program will provide savings for businesses of up to $7000 on grid connect solar power systems. Learn more about the solar credits program here .

Renewable Energy Certificates - RECs

Renewable Energy Certificates, also known as RECs, accompany approved solar power equipment. RECs are tradable and Energy Matters can arrange to provide a point of sale discount on our already low prices if you choose to assign the RECs to us; saving you the hassle of selling the certificates yourself and potentially saving you thousands of dollars on a system!

Feed in tariffs

A feed in tariff is where your business will be paid a premium rate over and above the current market rate for the electricity your grid connected solar power system produces. While a national, uniform program is still under consideration; each state currently has their own program or will be implementing one soon. Rates and program conditions vary from state to state. You can learn more about feed in tariffs applicable in your state here.

New: For small businesses in New South Wales, there's never been a better time to install solar power. The recently announced New South Wales Solar Bonus Scheme pays you 60 cents per kilowatt hour for all electricity produced!

Tax incentives!

Claim a tax deduction on a solar power system installed on your business premises!

Small business entities (turnover of less than $2 million a year):

You will most likely be able to claim depreciation on your solar power system; but please clarify with the Australian Tax Office or your accountant regarding eligibility and depreciation levels.

Other business entities (turnover of $2 million or more a year):

An additional tax deduction of 10 per cent of the cost of a solar power system purchased and installed on or before 30 June 2010. Medium and large businesses will be also able to depreciate 100% of the cost of the system over the life of the system.

Important: Please contact the ATO or your accountant to confirm your eligibility before making a purchase decisions

Solar hot water

Hot water can be one of the most energy intensive applications in a business. By installing a solar hot water system or heat pump, you'll not only slash your electricity bills and greenhouse gas emissions, Energy Matters can also provide a further point of sale discount if you assign to us any Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that accompany the equipment. You can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on our already heavily discounted prices!

Solar farms

Run a farming business or have land to spare at your place of business? If you're located in the ACT, Queensland or South Australia, consider diversifying your activities and invest in a solar farm - there's very little maintenance involved and you'll have guaranteed income for 20 years!

Climate Change Action Fund

The Government will also soon establish a $2.15 billion Climate Change Action Fund help businesses in the transition to a carbon-costed environment. The funding will assist investment in energy efficiency enhancing equipment (e.g. solar hot water, insulation and lighting) that meets established energy saving criteria. This page will be updated with related information as details become available.

Green Building Fund

The Australian Federal Government's Green Building Fund program provides grants through two streams of activity.

Stream A supports owners of existing commercial buildings to reduce their energy consumption. Grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 are available, for up to 50% of project costs, including eligible solar power projects. Round 5 is open until 12 January 2010 and Round 6 open until 27 April 2010.

Stream B: targets relevant industry associations. It will provide a limited number of grants to develop the knowledge, skills or capability of those involved in the operation of commercial office buildings, to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Grants of up to $200,000 are available, for up to 50% of project costs. Round 2 open until 12 January 2010.

The Green Building Fund supports renewable energy technology where the project results in significant reductions in energy consumed from external energy suppliers. For example, where the installation of solar panels on a commercial office building significantly reduces the electricity and/or gas purchased and used by the building for base building services.

Thinking of switching your business on to solar power? Contact our team for friendly, free, no-obligation advice!