Renewable power incentives

Renewable Energy Certificates and Solar Credits

Overview

If you are planning to install a small scale solar, wind or hydro renewable energy system, your system may be eligible for a benefit to help with the purchase cost.

Financial assistance with RECs

You can gain financial benefits from the Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that can be created when you buy an eligible system.

You can sell or trade your RECs to help with the cost of purchasing the system. Most people find it easier to assign their RECs to the installer of the system in return for a discount.

The value of a REC is not fixed so make sure you shop around to get a good price.

Financial assistance with Solar Credits

Solar Credits are part of the expanded national Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme which provides extra Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to households, businesses and community groups that install eligible small scale solar, wind or hydro electricity systems.

Small-scale solar (photovoltaic - PV), wind and hydro electricity systems (collectively known as Small Generation Units (SGUs) are already eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates. Under the Solar Credits scheme, new systems will be eligible to have multiple RECs created for the first 1.5 kilowatts (kW) of capacity. For systems over 1.5kW, you will receive single RECs (not multiple RECs) for the additional power your system will generate.

For small scale solar systems, the number of Solar Credits your system will be eligible for depends on your location as different regions around Australia receive different amounts of sunlight (which affects the amount of renewable power your system can generate). You can create RECs and the additional Solar Credits for eligible systems installed on or after 9 June 2009.

Full program information

To take the next step, check that you understand how to gain a financial benefit from your RECs. Full details are on the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website.

Financial benefits from RECs