For a 5kW system in Brisbane (which would get 103 certificates if installed this year), this translates into an up-front incentive of about $4,100.īut at least one thing will change: the number of years’ worth of STCs a system can create. However, in recent years prices have been stable and predictable at around $40 per certificate. STCs are traded on certificate markets, so their price actually fluctuates. This percentage changes every year, but has in recent years hovered at around 10% – and does not appear likely to be significantly reduced. (Check out the Clean Energy Regulator’s STC calculator to learn more.)Ĭertain ‘ liable entities‘ (mainly electricity retailers) are required to buy up and ‘surrender’ a set number of STCs on an annual basis – the exact number changes every year in accordance with the ‘Renewable Power Percentage’ – of which there is a specified carve-out for small-scale renewables called the ‘Small-scale Technology Percentage’. Depending on the location and size of your system (and when you have it installed) your system will be eligible to create a set number of STCs. In a nutshell, the SRES provides an up-front subsidy for solar systems under 100 kilowatts (kW) through a type of renewable energy currency called Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). ![]() The SRES is the portion of the RET that dictates requirements for uptake of small-scale renewables such as rooftop solar PV systems. The Labour Party has said that if elected it would raise the 2030 target to 50%, but otherwise the current targets are likely to stay unchanged. The target will remain at this level until 2030 unless the government ups the percentage. An assessment of the (somewhat complicated) factsĬurrently, the RET mandates 20% renewables by 2020. With all of this in mind, it’s not surprising that some companies are attempting to use the tried-and-true ‘get in before the rebates expire!’ tactic to drive sales – but the fact is, the incentives for small-scale solar under the RET are not disappearing any time soon. Furthermore, when a deal was finally struck on the future of the RET, the carrying out of regular bi-yearly reviews was removed in order to give the industry (especially the medium & large-scale sectors) a bit more stability. The Turnbull government – while not being as pro-renewables as many Australians would like – takes a much sunnier view of renewables than the Coalition ever did under the previous Prime Minister. Is this really the end?Īny immediate threat to the RET is a very distant possibility at this point in time. Fortunately, this scenario did not eventuate, but the threat of it gave thousands of homes and businesses sufficient motivation to take action. Queensland’s Solar Bonus Scheme’s 44c/kWh feed-in tariff, NSW’s 60c/kWh gross solar feed-in tariff (not to mention the 20c/kWh FiT and a range of similar programs in other states) – drove huge numbers of homes to go solar after their closure dates were announced. On the federal level, we had STC ‘multiplier’ reductions that had the same effect.Īnd of course let’s not forget the protracted Renewable Energy Target review process under the Abbott government, which spooked a significant number of homes and businesses alike into installing panels out of fear that small-scale portion of the RET would be eliminated in its entirety. ‘The Australian solar industry loves a deadline,’ is a statement that’s been muttered more than once. Australia’s long-standing love affair with deadlines This sort of turbulence gave rise to the phrase ‘solar coaster’, referring to the unpredictability of Australia’s various solar support regimes – and the associated market rushes in the run-up to their respective cut-off dates. With absolute-sounding words like ‘end’ and ‘expire’, you might be having flashbacks to a few years ago, when solar incentives – both state and federal – were being slashed seemingly left and right. … lock in your rebate and start reducing your electricity bills.” “This ‘rebate’ is set to expire in May 2017. ![]() “The c ountdown to the END of s olar rebates has begun!!!! With just 12 months left in to grab your s olar rebate.” ![]() Here are just a couple of examples of ‘solar incentive panic’ that we’ve seen: (This article was originally published in May 2016.) What we’ve been hearing: ‘The solar rebate sky is falling!’ In this article we’ve set the record straight. Judging by some of the advertisements we’ve come across, you might be forgiven for thinking that Australia’s federal rooftop solar incentives (under the Renewable Energy Target) were on their way out the door.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |