Learn about the benefits of installing renewable energy and how to receive payments for energy exports to the grid from eligible solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles.
Benefits of installing a renewable energy system
1. Upfront incentives
The Commonwealth Government provides a financial incentive for the installation of renewable energy systems through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. Involvement in this scheme is generally arranged by solar installers, so the customer receives an upfront discount on the system purchase price. Your installer will be able to tell you more about this scheme.
2. Electricity savings
The savings from generating and consuming your own energy are generally the biggest benefit of installing a renewable energy system.
When your system is generating electricity, the system output is first used to meet your individual energy needs, with any additional electricity being exported to the grid. When your system is not generating, or is generating less electricity than you consume, you will purchase electricity from your retailer.
Any energy from your system that you use is electricity that you do not have to buy from your retailer, which saves money on your bill.
3. Energy Buyback Schemes
The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) offers eligible customers payments for electricity exported to the grid, including from solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles.
The scheme was introduced as part of the Energy Transformation strategy.
The pricing structure encourages customers to use more of their own solar energy generation in the middle of the day when it is plentiful. The pricing structure also encourages the installation of west facing panels that will produce more electricity later in the day, when it is in high demand.
To learn more DEBS and eligibility criteria, visit the page Energy Buyback Schemes.
