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Solar rebate in NSW: how STCs work, and what they mean for your price

The solar rebate is not a cheque you chase. It is a discount on your quote, made up of small-scale technology certificates (STCs) that your installer creates and takes off your price. It is federal, so it applies across NSW, and it gets smaller each year.

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Home solar panels on a tin roof in the Northern Rivers NSW, installed by Sun Connect Solar

How it works

The Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) gives eligible rooftop solar systems small-scale technology certificates. According to the Clean Energy Regulator, one STC equals 1 megawatt hour of renewable electricity generated or displaced. When you sign your contract, you sign over the STCs to your installer or agent in exchange for the discount, and it shows on your quote.

What decides how many STCs you get

  • The size of the system (up to 100 kW for this scheme).
  • The climate zone where it is installed.
  • The expected generation until 2030, so the rebate is smaller each year as 2030 gets closer. That is why we say STCs step down every January.

What must be true to qualify

  • The system must be installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer. We are SAA-accredited.
  • The panels and inverter must be on the Clean Energy Council approved lists.
  • The paperwork must be done correctly: we handle it.

Is there anything on top in NSW?

The government notes that some state and local schemes sit on top of STCs and can change over time. For NSW homeowners we also help with the NSW Home Energy Saver 0% loan. See our loan page and loan FAQ.

Adding a battery? The separate federal battery rebate has its own step-down dates: see the battery rebate step-down. All our rebates are on your rebates.

Why locals choose us

  • Our own in-house team designs every system and does every install. 25 years in solar and large commercial electrical work. No subcontractors.
  • A face-to-face site visit before every install: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, no surprises on the day.
  • SAA-accredited installer and Sigenergy-approved, with a 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work.

Questions we get asked

Is the solar rebate a payment to me?

Usually not. Your installer creates the STCs and takes their value off your price, so you see it as a discount on the quote.

Why does the solar rebate get smaller every year?

It is based on the generation expected until 2030, so each year has fewer years left. It steps down every January.

Does the rebate depend on where I live?

The climate zone is part of the calculation, and we work it out in your design.

Does my installer need to be accredited?

Yes. The government says the system must be installed by an SAA-accredited installer.

Sources

Last checked 7 October 2026. Only the manufacturer’s, the network’s or the government’s own documents are used; app menus and defaults change between models and versions, so if your screen looks different, call us rather than guess.

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