As a Western Australian, you probably want to take advantage of the abundance of sunshine and reduce your electricity bills with solar energy. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be a costly endeavour. The Australian government provides several solar rebates and incentives in WA, giving you more power over your power bills. Let’s take a closer look at the solar rebates available in WA, what they cover, eligibility criteria, and more.
What Solar Rebates or Incentives Are Available in WA?
Western Australians currently have access to two government solar incentives: the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) and the Federal Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The DEBS is a rebate program for exporting energy to the grid, while the SRES typically helps reduce the upfront cost of installing a solar PV system.
Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)
The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) is an incentive that rewards you for exporting renewable energy to the grid from solar panels, electric vehicles, home batteries, and the like. To be eligible for the DEBS incentive, your renewable energy system must have a capacity of 5 kW or less – or a capacity of up to 6.6 kW with an inverter capacity of 5 kW or lower and your property shouldn’t consume more than 50 MWh of electricity annually.
The DEBS solar feed-in tariffs for 2022 in Western Australia are 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) off-peak (9 PM until 3 PM) and 10 cents per kWh peak (3 PM until 9 PM).
Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)
The SRES scheme was created to encourage households and small businesses to install eco-friendly energy sources like solar panels, solar water heaters, small-scale wind systems, small-scale hydro systems, and air-source heat pumps. Eligible small-scale renewable energy systems can receive small-scale technology certificates, which are typically assigned to your solar installer, so the upfront cost of your solar PV system will be lower.
How Much Is the Solar Incentive in WA?
The current DEBS buyback rate for eligible solar power exported to the grid is 2.5 cents per kWh off-peak (9 PM until 3 PM) and 10 cents per kWh peak (3 PM until 9 PM). The estimated solar-rebate average of north-facing solar panels is around 3.8 cents per kWh, while west-facing panels tilted at 22.5 degrees would be approximately 4.4 cents.
Who Is Eligible for the Solar Incentive in WA?
Generally, eligible customers must be planning to install (or upgrade) a new or existing renewable energy system such as solar panels, home batteries, electric vehicles, etc. However, there are some additional eligibility criteria which include a capacity limit, consuming no more than 50 MWh of electricity annually and technical requirements for grid connection.
How Do I Claim the Solar Incentive in WA?
To receive the DEBS rebate, you or your solar installer must complete an application form. The form can be found on the Synergy or Horizon Power websites.
When Does the Solar Incentive End in WA?
The solar incentive in WA is projected to end sometime in 2030 and will gradually be phased out – so the best time to get rebates is now.
Is There a Solar Hot Water Rebate in WA?
Western Australia no longer offers a specific solar hot water system rebate or subsidy. However, the Federal government’s SRES incentive may cover such systems.
Is There a Solar Battery Rebate in WA?
There is no government solar battery rebate in WA at the moment, but you may be eligible for a Virtual Power Plant subsidy when installing solar battery storage.
Solar incentives are an effective way to encourage the use of renewable energy and help Western Australians better manage their electricity bills. At Regen Power, we offer a range of solar solutions to meet your home’s energy needs. Contact us today to learn more about solar options in Western Australia!
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