WA solar rebates 2024: Incentives, rebates, and tariffs

With such favourable conditions already in play, the Western Australian state government has stopped offering any rebates or incentives.

However, if you’re yet to convert your home to solar, there are two national solar incentives you can take advantage of: the Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme, and solar feed-in tariffs.

This article will explain how these two rebates work, and how to make your claim. We will also cover the electric vehicle grants available in WA.

Keep reading or skip to the section you’re looking for below.

The solar rebate scheme in WA explained

The federal government solar rebate is available to WA residents who buy new solar panels. The rebate comes in the form of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) that are traded to reduce the upfront cost of household solar systems.

When you buy a solar system, you’ll receive a certain number of STCs based on the size of your system and its expected output at your geographic location. The more renewable energy your system is projected to produce, the more STCs you’ll receive.

The total value of these certificates is the amount you’ll get subtracted from the total cost of your system.

How much will the Scheme save me in WA?

The federal solar rebate in WA can reduce the cost of your solar panels by nearly one-third.

The exact amount you’ll receive depends on three factors:

• Where you live in WA: Different zones receive different solar ratings.
• How soon you install your new system: The STC rebate is based on how much electricity your system will produce until 2030. This means you’ll receive fewer STCs for every year that you wait.
• Your system size: A bigger solar system will produce more energy than a smaller one. So, the larger your system, the more STCs it will receive.

The table below shows that the rebate and net price of a 6.6kW system in southern WA.

WA STC solar rebate value for a 6.6kW system

To get a more accurate rebate estimate for your location, use our free STC Calculator.

How do I claim my rebate?

Anyone who installs new solar panels can claim the rebate. Even system upgrades, panel replacements, and solar hot water pumps can benefit.

Follow the steps below to make sure your solar project will quality:

• Use Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved parts and choose a CEC-accredited installer.

Your solar installer will handle the rebate for you, leaving you to pay them the net cost of the system and installation. Your installer will also ensure your system is installed within 12 months of creating the STCs.

Solar feed-in tariffs in WA: the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme

Across Western Australia, you may be eligible for solar feed-in tariffs through the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS).

A feed-in tariff is a financial credit you receive for every kWh of electricity your system generates and exports back to the grid. The credit is applied to your electricity bill.

In WA, the rates for feed-in tariffs vary based on the time of day you export your surplus energy. Exporting during the late afternoon or evening, when electricity demand and costs are higher, will result in a higher tariff rate.

Solar feed-in rates in WA

For solar households in Perth and the south-west region of the state, the DEBS rates provided by Synergy are as follows:

• Peak export rates (3 pm – 9 pm): 10 cents per kWh
• Off-peak export rates (9 pm – 3 pm): 2.25 cents per kWh

For solar households in regional WA, the DEBS rates provided by Horizon Power vary according to location. But for most customers, the rates are as follows:

• Peak export rates (3 pm – 9 pm): 10 cents per kWh
• Off-peak export rates (9 pm – 3 pm): 3 cents per kWh

To be eligible to receive export payments across WA, your solar system must have a capacity of between 500W and 5kW. 6.6kW systems are accepted if they have a 5kVa inverter.

You can apply to receive feed-in tariffs through the Synergy or Horizon Power websites.

Will feed-in tariffs save me money in the long term?

As the cost of installing solar panels has decreased over time, so too has the feed-in tariff rate.

In Western Australia, DEBS rates are not particularly generous, especially during off-peak hours. Therefore, it’s a wise idea to use the solar energy generated by your system to directly power your appliances. When your system is generating electricity, use it!

This way, you will ensure you maximise savings from your system, rather than exporting surplus energy to the grid.

Our Solar System Size Calculator can help you determine the right system size for your needs so that you can find a good balance between using solar directly and exporting any excess back to the grid.

Electric vehicle rebates in WA

If you’re considering switching to an electric car, using solar energy to charge the battery is a smart way to make the most of your new solar system and increase your household savings.

In Western Australia, the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Scheme offers a $3,500 rebate for the purchase of a new all-electric vehicle. The rebate is available to the first 10,000 eligible applicants or until 10 May 2025, whichever comes first.

For more information and to submit your application, visit the official program website.

Next steps

If you’re keen to access the solar incentives available in WA, here are some next steps you can take:

• Use our STC rebate calculator to estimate your federal government rebate.
• Organise competing quotes from some of WA’s best solar installers.
• Read our guide to getting solar panels in Perth.