The Solar Credits Fact Sheet on the Department of Climate Change website www.climatechange.gov.au provides more detailed information on Solar Credits.

I’m planning on getting a solar PV system installed on my home. How do I get Solar Credits?

• Solar Credits replace the support previously provided under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan, within the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). For information on the Solar Homes and Communities Plan rebate, contact the DEWHA Community Information Unit: 1800 803 772.
• Systems installed on or after 9 June 2009, where no application has been made up to that date for pre-approval under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan, will be entitled to Solar Credits under the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme rather than the rebate.
• In practice, installers of solar photovoltaics (PV) systems usually offer a discount on the price of installing a solar PV system in return for the Solar Credits. Households considering installing solar PV systems are encouraged to shop around for the best deal on their solar PV system.

How much benefit can I expect to get from Solar Credits for installing a solar PV system?

• Solar Credits will be provided in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates, or ‘RECs’, for people who have installed a new solar PV system from 9 June 2009. Solar Credits will apply to the first 1.5 kilowatts (kW) of capacity of the system installed.
• The level of support provided by Solar Credits will depend on the price of RECs (which may vary over time) and the location and size of the system. For example, based on a $50 REC price in 2009:

a solar PV system in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra will receive: - $5,150 for a 1 kW system; and - $7,750 for a 1.5 kW system.
a solar PV system installed in Melbourne or Hobart will receive fewer RECs as these areas have less sunshine so less renewable energy is produced, but will receive: - $4,400 for a 1 kW system; and - $6,650 for a 1.5 kW system.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
  • Further information on accessing Solar Credits directly is available from ORER www.orer.gov.au
• 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.