Apply for Solar Credits
Why do Solar Credits vary across the country?
The number of Solar Credits created for a system will depend on the amount of renewable energy the system generates.
Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra
A solar PV system in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra will create the same number of RECs and receive the same amount of support.
Melbourne & Hobart
The same sized system installed in Melbourne or Hobart will receive fewer RECs as these areas have less sunshine so less renewable energy is produced.
What if I want to apply for Solar Credits myself?
Generally when installing solar PV systems, owners transfer the right to create RECs to their solar panel installer in return for a discount on the price of the system being installed.
Owners of solar PV systems installed from 9 June 2009 can access Solar Credits themselves, rather than transferring their Solar Credits to their installer in return for a discount off the price of the system. Owners can do this (generally through an agent) by applying to the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) any time within 12 months following the date of installation.
The Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation will ensure that eligible systems installed from 9 June 2009 are entitled to Solar Credits. Once the RET scheme legislation passes through Parliament and required regulations come into force (a few weeks after the passage of the legislation), the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator will be able to provide the Solar Credits to applicants.
Solar Credits can be accessed in two different ways:
- If a household or business installs a solar PV system from 9 June 2009 and prefers to access some Solar Credits now, they may apply to the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator for one of their Solar Credits upfront.- Then, when the Solar Credits regulations come into force, the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator will invite the applicant to apply for the additional four Solar Credits.
- Alternatively, applicants may choose to wait until the Solar Credits regulations come into force and then apply at the one time for all of the Solar Credits the system is eligible for.
Will I be able to get both Solar Credits and the SHCP rebate?
No. Appropriate safeguards will be put in place to prevent double dipping in relation to the multiplier and the SHCP rebate.
For more detailed information on Solar Credits visit the Department of Climate Change website www.climatechange.gov.au.
