Are you a QLD homeowner looking for solar?
With an abundance of sunshine, Queensland is a solar powerhouse offering some of the highest solar energy yields in the country. With QLD’s high retail electricity prices, solar is a particularly great investment.
The cost of solar panels Brisbane has fallen dramatically over the last decade – in fact, solar is considerably cheaper in QLD than in most other states and territories. But what about government rebates and incentives? After all, any extra money in your pocket can only be a good thing.
In this article, we’ve compiled and explained the current QLD rebates and incentives available on Federal and state levels for solar products and battery storage systems.
Federal incentives: residential and small businesses
Households and small businesses across Australia that install a small-scale renewable energy system (solar PV, wind, or hydro) or eligible hot water system may be able to receive a benefit under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to help with the upfront purchase cost.
Installation of an eligible system allows for the creation of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) with a value that may be traded or assigned away. The number of STCs created is determined by the following factors:
- the amount of renewable electricity the system produces or the amount of electricity consumption it reduces
- the climate region where it’s installed.
Sunnier conditions, such as those found in Queensland, allow for more productive solar panels in Brisbane. This implies you’ll receive more STCs for kilowatt capacity.
Eligibility
Small-scale renewable systems that may be eligible for certificates include:
- solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
- wind turbines
- hydro systems
- solar water heaters, and
- air source heat pumps.
Energy Matters can make this easy, with a trusted network of accredited solar installers that only use approved solar components. Receive up to 3, obligation-free solar quotes. It’s fast, free, and takes the hassle out of shopping around.
How do STCs work?
While it may seem complicated, the process of receiving a financial benefit from your STCs is typically straightforward.
House solar panel owners have two options for their STCs:
- Assigning them to an agent, usually the system installer, in exchange for a discount or delayed cash payment.
- Selling the certificates themselves.
Most businesses and homeowners will assign the certificates over to their solar installer in exchange for a discount (often incorrectly referred to as a “rebate”).
While the STCs Clearing House will usually offer a better price than the open market, It is important to note that the certificates are placed in a queue, and sold on a first in – first out basis, which means there is no guarantee on how long the small-scale technology certificates will take to sell.
QLD state rebates and incentives: solar
There are no QLD state government level rebates for solar systems at the time of writing.
There is, however, a Feed-in Tariff (FiT) that you may receive from your energy retailer. The FiT is the retail rate that you will receive for the electricity generated by your system that is fed back into the grid.
In QLD, the rules for FiTs vary depending on where you live:
- According to the Queensland Competition Authority for regional QLD, it’s 13.441 cents per kWh for the 2023-24 financial year, an increase of 44.5% from the previous year.
- There is no minimum FiT for South East QLD (on the Energex network in the Brisbane area), but most electricity providers offer between 10-18 cents/kWh
To ensure you are receiving the best FiT possible, it’s important to shop around and switch energy retailers if necessary at least every 6 months. Energy Matters’ fast and free energy comparison tool targets competitive deals in your postcode area, and compares against your current energy bill.
Keep in mind that the highest feed-in tariff rate is not necessarily the best. In many cases, energy retailers give with one hand and take with another; so they pay a lot more for your fed-in electricity, but they’ll also charge you a lot more if you want to buy electricity.
QLD state rebates and incentives: solar battery storage
Unfortunately, there are no QLD state government-level (or Federal) rebates for battery storage systems at the time of writing.
While solar batteries are still quite expensive, they offer many benefits beyond a financial return, including:
- Backup power
- Increased solar self-consumption and less dependency on the grid
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Time-of-use bill management
As FiTs continue to fall, more Australians are turning to batteries.
Unleash the potential of solar battery storage! Are you ready to transform the way you power your business or household? Say goodbye to rising electricity costs and unpredictable energy grids. The state-of-the-art solar battery systems empower you to maximise energy efficiency, save money, and reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying an uninterrupted power supply.
Let us discuss and choose the best quote that suits your needs and budget, and we can connect you with our trusted local installers, who will provide up to 3 FREE quotes for your business solar and home battery system.
Batteries will also become increasingly attractive as many Australians invest in an Electric Vehicle (EV) in the next couple of years.
A rebate of $3,000 or $6,000 is offered by the Queensland Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme to qualified individuals and businesses upon purchasing a new Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV). Light passenger and light commercial ZEV models up to $58,000 in dutiable value (including GST but excluding statutory fees and duty) are eligible for the rebate.
Keep up-to-date on QLD solar rebates and incentives
Both Federal and state governments are subject to reviewing and introducing new rebates and incentives for solar systems and battery storage.
Our dedicated QLD State Information Page will keep you informed of the latest news on everything from rebates and incentives to exclusive special offers and deals through our network of solar partners.
Energy Matters has been a leader in the renewable energy industry since 2005 and has helped over 40,000 Australian households in their journey to energy independence. With Energy Matters, you can be sure you’re getting the best possible deal on solar energy. We only work with reputable solar firms with a proven track record of delivering high-quality solar systems.
Updated January 2024
Sources: Australian Government – Clean Energy Regulator and Queensland Government
