In South Australia (SA) many households are planning to invest in a solar power system. Thanks to the government solar rebates in SA and the sunny climate, you can expect to produce a great amount of electrical energy by doing this.
Although the initial cost is rather high, to make the installation more affordable, the Australian government supports households and small-sized businesses with a financial rebate.
The rebate differs from state to state, because the number of sunshine hours may vary significantly from location to location. In addition to this, the size and effectiveness of your solar system will affect the rebate.
We will now look into the government solar rebates in SA. How much of your costs will be covered?
First of all – do I need solar power in SA?
To make a long answer short – yes. South Australia is known for its high power costs. In the 2019–2020 period, the average power price was nearly 38 cents per kWh. Luckily, SA homeowners can still save a lot of money by investing in solar panels.
You can expect to reduce your energy bill dramatically because you are producing your own electricity. With a grid-tie solar system, your home will be connected to the grid, which makes it possible to get power from the grid in case of darkness or bad weather.
In sunny periods you might even produce more power than needed. This excess power can be sent through the grid and sold to your power company. That way you can make money from the energy your solar panel produces.
How to get a solar panel rebate in South Australia?
If you are planning to install a solar panel system in South Australia, it is important to make sure that both the inverter and the panels are approved by the CEC (Clean Energy Council). In addition to this, the installation process has to be done by a certified CEC installer.
So, if you are planning to install the solar panel system yourself, you should definitely reconsider. It is important to let professionals handle the installation, not only because of the government solar rebates in SA but also for safety reasons.
An example of Government solar rebates in SA
If you are investing in a 6.6kW solar panel system in SA, the gross system cost will probably be around $10,500. However, if we apply the federal government solar rebate, the cost drops significantly.
The rebate will most likely end up at around $3,700. When you apply for the government solar rebate in SA, your total costs will probably be around $6,800.
The Home Battery Scheme in SA
Many South Australians would like to install solar panels with a battery system. The batteries make it possible to store excess energy. Storing energy is far more profitable than selling the excess to your energy provider. This is because of the difference between the buying and selling prices.
Luckily, in South Australia, you may also receive a battery rebate from the government (this is on top of the solar panel rebate), however, the lithium battery must be listed as approved by the Clean Energy Council.
The so-called Home Battery Scheme will cut some of your costs up to a maximum limit of $2,000.
In general, you can expect to receive a subsidy of $150 per kWh of your system’s battery storage capacity. For instance, if your system’s battery capacity is 10kWh, you can get a $1,500 rebate.
If you have a system that lets you function as an energy concession holder, the financial rebate is usually around $250 per kWh.
Feed-in tariffs for solar panel systems in SA
Besides the government solar rebate in SA and Home Battery Scheme, South Australians may also receive another incentive when installing a solar panel system. This incentive is known as a solar feed-in tariff.
The feed-in tariff counts for every single kWh of electrical power your system exports to the grid. Of course, the exact feed-in tariff is decided by your electricity company. In most cases, the feed-in tariffs range somewhere between 5 to 12 c.
Be aware though, that some electricity retailers may offer a great feed-in tariff the first year, only to drop the tariff to a smaller rate at a later point.
The federal government solar rebate in SA will drop over the next few years
Remember that the federal government solar rebate in SA and other Australian areas will decrease every year until the scheme ends in 2030. In other words, it might be a good idea to install the solar system as soon as possible, rather than waiting.
Find a solar panel system that fits your home, and let a professional install it. And remember that also the battery must be installed by a professional if you want to benefit from the Home Battery Scheme.
Conclusion: Installing a solar panel system is a great choice for South Australians
In South Australia, a solar panel system is a great investment in most cases. Not only because of the sunny weather but also the rebates.
Thanks to the government solar rebate in SA, the installation is more affordable for most homeowners! Make sure you use a CEC accredited installer for obtaining quotes.