As solar hot water heaters are a very effective way of reducing household carbon emissions, governments at the Federal and State levels offer incentives and solar hot water rebates to help you make the switch. These measures will help households  save money and help fight global warming. Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home, accounting for around 25% of home energy use (excluding the family car).

The first rebate is the STC/ RECS which comes as a point of sale discount of the purchase price. This amount depends on the size and efficiency of the unit.. The Federal Government also has a $1000 Rebate for Solar Hot water, and the Queensland Government has $1000 rebate (for pensioners and low income earners) or $600 rebate for all other households

STC/RECS This is a point of sale discount off the purchase price of your system

Renewable Energy Certificates or RECs (now known as STCs) were introduced by the Australian Federal Government as an incentive to assist the switch to renewable energy sources as part of its policies to ensure Australia meets its international commitments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

It introduced the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, supported by the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations in 2001, to increase renewable electricity generation from Australia's renewable energy sources by encouraging the generation of an additional 9,500 GWh of renewable energy per year by 2010. This has had a substantial impact on the water heating industry.

Measuring the amount of renewable energy produced, or non-renewable energy displaced, is done via the creation of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) (now known as STCs). A REC / STC for a solar water heater is the equivalent of 1 MWh of renewable energy produced, or non-renewable energy displaced, over a ten-year period.

The installation of a solar water heater may be eligible for the creation of RECs / STCs if it is accredited by the Office of Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) and results in a positive greenhouse gas benefit. Once created RECs / STCs can be traded, purchased or sold, thereby making a solar water heater installation cheaper for the owner.

The Owner of the solar water heater can assign the right to create RECs to Soalris Solar Energy and we will reimburse the Owner for the value of the RECs / STCs as a point of sale discount.

The Queensland Government is offering a rebate to eligible households that replace their electric storage hot water system with a solar hot water system or heat pump.

You could be eligible for a:

·        $1000 rebate (for pensioners and low income earners) or,

·        $600 rebate.

Applicants must:

·        have replaced an existing electric storage hot water system installed at a principal place of residence in Queensland.

·        have installed a solar hot water system or heat pump that is eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), or equivalent certificates. Our systems are far and beyond 20 RECS.

·        have had their solar water heater installed by suitably licensed parties (current BSA and occupational licences).

·        have paid for their solar water heater on or after 13 April 2010, or entered into a payment plan on or after 13 April 2010, and paid at least the rebate amount they are applying for.

·        be the owner or tenant where the system was installed, at the time the system was installed.

·        have installed a system that meets the minimum warranty periods.

·        lodge their rebate applications within 6 months of installation.

If applying for the $1000 pensioner or low income earner rebate, applicants must meet the general critieria above, and also hold a current and valid:

·        Centrelink Pension Concession card

·        Centrelink Low-Income Health Care card

·        Commonwealth Seniors Health card, or

·        Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Concession card (Blue only. Orange, white and gold cardholders are not eligible).

Federal Hot Water Rebate

 The Australian Federal Government is helping Australian households install climate friendly water heaters. A non-means tested rebate of $1000 is available in eligible circumstances to install a solar hot water system to replace an electric storage hot water system in an existing privately owned home. A $600 rebate is available to install a heat pump water heater in the same circumstances.

The rebate is offered for systems installed until June 2012, subject to the availability of funds.

The Owner or tenant will need to apply directly to the Federal Government to receive this rebate.

Eligible systems

To be eligible for the rebate, a hot water system must:

·        replace an electric storage hot water system

·        be purchased and installed on, or after 20th February 2010

·        be a solar or heat pump hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at the time and place of installation

·        be installed by a suitably qualified person (for example a plumber and/or electrician).

Eligible households

·        The dwelling where the hot water system is installed must be a principal place of residence.

·        The household must not have already accessed the rebate for the insulation offer under the Homeowner Insulation Program for the same home.