State Solar Feed-In Tariffs

Let your solar panels reward you

Various State and Territory governments across Australia have adopted what's usually called a Solar Feed-In Tariff, sometimes known as a Solar Bonus Scheme, which is simply a premium reward rate for the clean energy that your solar panels feed back into the grid. Your energy retailer is obliged to buy your solar energy at a price equal to or above market rates.

It's a great way to encourage property owners to install solar energy systems, monitor their own power consumption and substantially reduce their carbon footprint.

Solar Feed-In Tariffs have been a huge success in countries such as Germany and the UK, with massive uptakes of solar energy systems following their introduction in those countries. Solar Feed-In Tariff Schemes currently operate in over 40 countries around the world.

Remember that in addition to state-by state solar feed-in tariff schemes, solar power systems are also eligible for Federal Solar Credits Rebates in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates/Small-scale Technology Certificates (RECs/STCs).

Available Feed-In Tariff schemes

There are two types of Feed-In Tariffs schemes. One rewards you for all the energy your solar system produces, regardless of how much of that energy you use yourself. This is known as a Gross Feed-In Tariff, which was the scheme that NSW and ACT enacted - both of which concluded in 2011.

The other scheme rewards you for the surplus energy calculated after your usage has been taken into account. This is known as a Net Feed-In Tariff. As at September 2011, the differing net schemes in each of Victoria, SA, WA and Queensland are at varying thresholds in terms of eligibility and duration.

The following table summarises the current status of Solar Feed-In Tariffs across the States and Territories of Australia.

*(FiT rate is equivalent to price of retail electricity)

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