The federal and state governments currently offer a number of different grants to help you make the switch to solar power.  Whether you want to go solar at your home, school, business, community organisation or in a regional area, we can help you maximise all of the government assistance you may be entitled to.

Check below to see if you qualify for the existing grants:

Solar Credits / REC's (Federal Government May 2009 Budget announcement)

From July 1st 2009, Solar Unlimited can provide customers with a convenient and competitively priced solar PV system installation option under to the Solar Credits scheme.  The proposed Solar Credits scheme has no means test; this means that there will no longer be an annual income limit of $100,000 in order to be eligible for government discounts.

Another aspect of the proposed Solar Credits scheme that differs from the current rebate scheme is the eligibility of consumers and businesses alike. Under the proposed Solar Credits scheme, it is anticipated that businesses as well as residential properties may be eligible for Solar Credits, including residential properties that are not primary residences – For example, vacation homes and rental properties.

In place of the $8,000 grant, the main financial benefit under the proposed Solar Credits scheme is an increase in the number of RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) that a solar PV system will be able to produce. In comparison to the current rebate scheme, a solar system installed under the proposed Solar Credits scheme will receive five times the number of RECs for the first 1.5 kW of the system capacity, or between $5,000-$7,500 for a 1.5kW solar PV system, depending on RECs market value.

* Solar Credits rebate legislation was passed in September 2009 and is available to all NEW installations.

State Government Feed-in Tariff
The state government promised a gross feed in tariff at the 2008 election.  However, on June 2, 2009, the Minister For Energy, Peter Collier announced that the originally promised gross feed in tariff would not be introduced.  Instead, the state government would introduce two assistance schemes for residential solar PV system owners.  The following details are sourced from the ministerial press release and the SEDO website:

http://www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au/pages/re_feed-in_tariff.asp
http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=131978

Interim Household Renewable Energy Scheme (HRES)

Homeowners who have installed small-scale renewable energy systems between 6 September 2008 and 2 June 2009 will receive three annual lump-sum payments to help recover the cost of their system installation.

The payment amount will vary for each household, taking into account the size of the system installed and each recipient’s eligibility for other Government rebates.

Homeowners who had a renewable energy system installed between 6 September 2008 and 2 June 2009, and are a customer of the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (offered through Synergy or Horizon Power) will likely be eligible to receive the HRES payments. System owners with pending applications for the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme, and who have systems installed within the eligibility dates may also apply.

The amount paid to each recipient will depend on the system size and the applicant’s receipt of other Government rebates. However, the value of each annual payment cannot be determined with full accuracy until the application processed has closed.

An indication of the amount that system owners may receive is provided in the table below. Please note that the figures provided are indicative only, and that the actual amount is likely to vary from the figures provided.
Estimates of the total payments over three years

 * Figures provided are indicative only. Payments will be made in three annual instalments.

An online application process will be available on the SEDO website (www.sedo.energy.wa.gov.au)  from early July 2009. The application process will be open for six weeks.

New net feed-in tariff for Western Australia (from 1 July 2010)
A new, net feed-in tariff scheme would be paid on excess energy exported to the electricity grid from household renewable energy systems, and is expected to be implemented from 1 July 2010.

A net feed-in tariff will allow the scheme to better align with feed-in tariff schemes in other jurisdictions across Australia and provide a more nationally consistent incentive to the industry.

The net feed-in tariff will also overcome technical metering issues associated with a gross feed-in tariff scheme, which would have seen system owners having to change existing meters. Additional metering costs would have eroded some of the benefit delivered by the scheme.

The eligibility criteria for the new feed-in tariff scheme are yet to be determined, however, as the scheme is aimed at encouraging on-going installations, owners of systems installed from 3 June 2009 will be eligible to apply for the new feed-in tariff scheme when it commences next year.
 
Home Owners - $8,000 grant (expiry June 2009)
Please refer the above information on the new Solar Credits rebate scheme for all new enquiries.

Schools
Every private school can currently access $50,000+ under the federal government's National Solar Schools Program.  If your school has up to 1000 students, you can access $50,000 of NSSP funding.  If your school over 1000 students or has more than one campus, you may be able to access $100,000 of NSSP funding.  

WA public schools will also be eligible for this NSSP funding, however this will be administered via a contract tendered by the State Government's Dept. of Treasury and Finance in mid 2009. 

All our school packages provide assistance for your school to apply and qualify for the NSSP grants. 

Some schools may also qualify for up to $13,000 in state government funding under the state government's Sustainable Energy Development Office (SEDO) grant program.  Click here  to enquire now. 

Community Organisations
As a community not for profit organisation, you may be able to access funding up to 50% of the total cost of a new solar system (up to 2kW in size) under the Federal Government's Community Buildings PVRP program. 

Grants applications are currently open, and subject to competitive analysis.  We have helped numerous organisations receive the Community Buildings 50% grant. 

To make your application a success, contact us today on 1300 765 292 or click here  to enquire now. 

Remote & Regional
If you live in a remote area and have no or limited access to mains grid power, you may qualify for a grant up to 50% of the total cost of a new solar system, under the federal government's Remote Area Power System (RAPS) scheme.  Click here  to enquire now.

Businesses
Do you want to switch to solar power at work?  We can help you make it easy with a fully funded business model, enabling you to take advantage of all the tax benefits, depreciation, grants and rebates you may be entitled to. 

Making the switch to green power in your business is not only cheaper than you think, but you will be a winner from the proposed carbon taxes and feed-in tariffs, while helping the battle against climate change and providing your business with a compelling competitive advantage.  Click here  to enquire now.