Rebates for installing solar panels in Geraldton
The Federal and State Government has various incentives and rebates for solar energy system installations. Households and businesses in Geraldton and the Mid-West region of WA are entitled to benefits such as upfront discounts and energy buyback schemes.
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)
Western Australian homeowners can receive the Federal Government’s solar rebate when installing solar panels. Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are an upfront discount on the price of your solar energy system. The amount of STCs you receive depends on the location and size of your installation. The value of the STCs is also subject to market conditions.
The application for your rebate will be handled by your solar company. Geraldton Solar Force will sort out your STCs for you and apply the rebate value as a discount from your system’s upfront price.
Large-scale Generation Certificates
Only solar systems under 100kW are eligible for STCs. Commercial solar systems larger than 100kW qualify for Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) instead. Unlike STCs, LGCs are not an upfront cashback. They are instead handed out each year as an asset. Small businesses can also claim a $30k Small Business Asset write-off through the ATO to recover expenses for their solar power system.
Solar Feed-in Tariffs in Western Australia
Solar feed-in tariffs are payments from your energy provider for surplus energy your solar system exports to the grid. Most residential customers in WA are eligible to apply for these tariffs under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme.
It’s common for your solar panels to generate more energy than your home uses. Energy retailers will pay a fixed rate for any excess energy sent back to the grid from your solar system.
The new Synergy DEBS rates for as of 1 July 2024:
- Electricity exported between 3pm and 9pm will earn 10 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh)
- Electricity exported at all other times will earn 2 cents per kWh.
Horizon Power is the electricity provider for households in some regional areas of WA. A new buyback rate came into effect in 2022. Under the new scheme, electricity exported will receive:
- 10 cents per kWh between peak times of 3pm and 9pm
- 3 cents per kWh before 3pm or after 9pm
This is applicable for residential customers with systems 5kW or under. For more information, visit the state government’s Energy Buyback Schemes page.
