The average temperature of Queensland all year round is 29oC. This means that climate is very sustainable for solar energy. This is why the Australian government created the national rebate program – the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. In Queensland, this is called the Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) Program.
The program was created to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases in the electricity sector and encourage the use of sustainable and renewable energy sources.
The program works by allowing large-scale power stations and owners of small-scale systems to create generation and technology certificates for every megawatt-hour of power they generate. Electricity retailers who supply electricity to residential and commercial users, buy these certificates, who then in turn, pass this on to their customers to be used as an upfront discount off the cost of the system or cash payment.
Small-scale technology certificates are created after the installation of an eligible solar system and are calculated based on the amount of electricity from non-renewable sources the system produces or replaces.
There are two ways a solar system owner can use the small-scale technology certificate:
You can assign the right to create the small-scale technology certificates to a registered agent once your small-scale system has been completely installed. You will receive an upfront incentive based on the market price of the certificates when the system was installed. The price of the small-scale technology certificates varies depending on the supply and demand. A majority of small-scale system owners prefer assigning the right to create the certificates to a registered agent because it is a much simpler and faster process compared to trading certificates themselves in the open market or through STC clearinghouse.
yourself is also an option although this choice involves a much more complicated process. Here is how you do it:
Currently, the Federal Government under the Federal Government Scheme will subsidise approximately $630 for every kW you install. For a standard 5 kW renewable energy solar system, you can get a subsidy of up to $ 3,150.
The financial incentive should encourage everyone to create our own small-scale renewable energy system. Greenhouse gas emissions are getting worse and global warming is getting more advanced each year.
The subsidy amount mentioned above is not a fixed amount. The value fluctuates depending on the supply and demand. Current legislation also states that the rebate is reduced by 1/15 every year until it reaches $0 by the year 2032. One cannot predict how much installation and the small-scale technology certificates will cost each year but we can show you how much it will cost today. Click here for a quotation!
As an additional incentive, the government allows feed-in tariffs to encourage individuals and small businesses to join the program. Feed-on tariffs will pay you for excess electricity your renewable energy system generates and feeds into the main grid.
The feed-in tariff for regional Queensland is set each year by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA). As of July 2020, the feed-in tariff rate is $0.07861 for every kilowatt-hour.
The Queensland Government is dedicated in making electricity affordable for everyone. Most businesses can afford the upfront capital but most households may have a hard time. This is why they provide interest-free loans so everyone can afford to install a small-scale solar energy system. This loan should help every Queensland household take control of their electricity consumption.
Each Queensland household can apply for up to $ 4,500 in solar loans payable for up to seven years in affordable monthly payments, no interest, no fees and no charges for the life of the loan.
There are three solar loan packages available:
In the first quarter of 2020, there was a major rollout of the Federal Labour Home Battery Storage subsidy. The basics are:
In order to qualify for the solar rebates, you have to meet the following criteria:
The Queensland Government offers a host of solar rebates and discounts for eligible customers.
Now that we have covered the legal and financial aspects of having a small-scale solar energy system, let’s focus on the essentials when buying and installing a small-scale solar energy system.
Since Queensland is predominantly sunny all year long, going solar is very sustainable. Queensland has a great solar power production potential. Your current energy usage is an important consideration when choosing the ideal system, setup and equipment.
Knowing your average power usage during daytime is important because it is the same energy that your system can easily offset while the sun is shining. Excess energy harnessed can be stored for night time use.
Ideally, your solar panels should be facing north where they can get more sun and harness the maximum solar energy so they can produce more power for your daily use and for storage.
This is the most common solar power system because it is easy and convenient to use. The solar panel system is connected to the utility grid so that any surplus energy your system generates, goes back to the grid in exchange for a small rebate. Only your daytime power is sustained by the solar power your system produces. Nighttime energy usage will be drawn from the electricity grid.
This option is becoming more and more popular these days. Instead of feeding the surplus energy your solar power system generates, it stores the said energy to the battery system. Once the battery storage is full, the excess power is then fed to the utility grid in exchange for a small rebate. The power stored in the battery system can be used for nighttime consumption. Other energy requirements not fulfilled by the system can be drawn from the utility grid.
This is an option for most remote areas where you can not connect to the grid. You will need a battery storage system and maybe a backup generation system for nighttime consumption.
The government is planning to give a $0 rebate by 2032. Unless there are changes and improvements in the legislative bill, we are looking at 12 more years before the rebates are phased out.
A grid-connected system as mentioned above is one where the system is directly connected to the utility bill so that any surplus power harnessed by the system is fed back to the grid in exchange for a rebate.
30% of households in Queensland are fitted with solar panels. That is approximately 600,000 homes. Being called the sunshine state, ideally, the number should go up in the coming years.
Before you purchase and install a solar power system, consider the following factors:
The surplus solar power goes to your battery storage while the rest goes to the grid in exchange for a rebate.
It depends on your average power consumption, your location and your available unshaded roof area. For an accurate estimate and consultation, click here!
An average-sized solar power system of 6.6 kW will generate about 11,046 kWh of clean energy each year. That is equivalent to a reduction of 9.5 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide emissions each year. That is equivalent to planting 35 trees yearly.
Solar panel systems need very little maintenance. It only needs periodic light cleaning to remove dirt, leaves, and other debris to ensure that nothing is obstructing the panels from harnessing as much sunlight as possible.
On days with no sun, you can draw electricity from the grid or from your battery and generation system. If you are solely connected to the grid with no backup battery, you can just make up for the used non-renewable energy when there is sunlight.
For a 5 kW solar power system (the smallest) you will need 17 x 300W solar panels. Each solar panel is about 1.6m X 1m so you will need at least 17.2㎡.
For more information, call GCR Electrical Systems on 07 4194 2753. Set up an appointment now and get a quotation. We are more than happy to guide and help you get the right solar solutions that will fit your needs and future upgrades. Call now or click here!
