Rebates
Learn About the Government Rebates and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS)
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT REBATES
Solar Homes and Communities Plan (SHCP) formally PVRP
These are residential, community rebates for PV systems that are connected to the main –grid. Schools are no longer eligible under this program.
Residential rebates
are capped at $8000 which is $8 per watt up to 1kW and the minimum system size is 450 watts. In order to be eligible, the household taxable family income must be less than $100000. The system has to be installed at your principal place of residence and the installer must be accredited for design and installation of PV systems. Australia Wide Solar has this accreditation and we help all our customers with the rebate process.
Community Use Buildings rebates
are currently 50% of the system cost, up to 2kW. Rebates are only available where there is significant educational value in the installation of a solar system. Updated guidelines are expected to be available soon. Kindergartens, early childhood centres, preschools, TAFE colleges & Universities apply for this rebate.
National Solar Schools Program ( NSSP)
This program will be launched in July 2008 and will take over from Green Vouchers. It is available to all registered primary/secondary schools. This program will offer grants of up to $50000 to install solar power systems.
Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP)
These rebates are for residential and not-for-profit groups who are not close to the main grid. Rebates of up to 50% of the capital cost are available to eligible applicants with systems less than $200,000. Applicants must be at least 1 kilometre from the grid and provide written evidence that the total cost to connect to the grid will be more than $30,000.
NSW GOVERNMENT REBATES
NSW Dept of Environment & Climate Change
There have been several grants made available by the climate change fund. The NSW Green Business program was released in October 2007 and there is also the Climate Action Grants program. For more details go to www.environment.nsw.gov.au
RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATES (RECS)
When you install a solar system you create RECS which depending on the your zone rating, have a certain value. These RECS can be kept or sold to liable parties to offset their liability and help them to meet renewable energy targets. Many customers use these to offset the cost of their system. Currently BP Solar will pay you .75c for each watt of energy in a solar panel. So for a 1kWatt system you will receive $750.
