Solar Rebates & STCs in Perth: What You Actually Pay

By the WTD team · Updated June 2026

The Perth solar rebate almost everyone means is the federal STC scheme - and you rarely see it as a payment, because it is already subtracted from the installed prices solar companies advertise. What you actually pay is the net figure after that discount, which shifts a little with the STC market and the calendar.

Quick answer — solar rebates and STCs in Perth

Almost everyone in Perth who talks about the "solar rebate" means one thing: the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, paid out as Small-scale Technology Certificates, or STCs. The single most important fact about it is that you almost never see it as a payment — it is already subtracted from the installed prices solar companies advertise. So when you see a 6.6 kW system quoted at $4,200 to $8,900, or a 10 kW at $6,300 to $12,600, that price is already after the STC discount, not before it — you never add the rebate value back on top. The figures above are indicative and move with two things: the STC spot price, and the calendar (the scheme winds down to 2030, so the certificate count falls a little every year). Treat them as a guide to what is baked into your quote, not a separate cheque coming your way.

How STCs actually work

The number of certificates

A system earns a number of STCs based on three things: its size in kilowatts, a location rating, and how many years are left in the scheme. Perth sits in Zone 3, one of the higher-rated solar zones in the country, which works in your favour. The "deeming" period — the number of forward years of generation the scheme credits up front — shrinks by one each year as the scheme phases out by 2030, so a system installed in 2026 earns fewer certificates than the same system would have a few years ago, and a little more than it will next year. Multiply size by the zone rating by the remaining years and you get the certificate count; multiply that by the spot price and you get the dollar value.

The spot price moves

STCs trade on a market. There is a clearing-house ceiling, but in practice certificates usually change hands a little below it, so the per-certificate value floats — typically in the high-thirties of dollars each. That is why two identical 6.6 kW Perth systems can show slightly different "rebate" amounts depending on when they were sold and what price the installer assumed. When you compare quotes, look at the net installed price, not the size of the rebate each company claims to give you — a bigger advertised rebate on a higher sticker price can be the worse deal.

Upfront vs claimed yourself

You have a choice, but one option is far easier. Almost all Perth installers apply the STC value as a point-of-sale discount: they take ownership of your certificates and knock the value straight off the price, so the number you pay is already net of the rebate. The alternative is to pay full price, register and sell the certificates yourself, and pocket the proceeds — more paperwork, market-price risk, and rarely worth it for a household. Either way the underlying eligibility is the same: a CEC-accredited installer, compliant gear from the approved list, and a grid-connected system under 100 kW.

Batteries, WA support and what is changing

The policy direction in WA has shifted from panels to storage. Panels are now inexpensive enough that the federal STC discount does the heavy lifting on its own, while the newer money is aimed at batteries. From 2025 a federal program extended STC-style upfront discounts to eligible home batteries, and Western Australia has added its own residential battery support alongside it. Both are designed to come off the price through your installer rather than as a separate payment, and both have eligibility rules and amounts that are still settling — so confirm the current terms with an accredited installer at the time you buy rather than relying on a figure you read months earlier. STCs themselves apply to the solar panels, not to the battery; the battery has its own, separate support.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the WA solar rebate?

There is no separate WA cash rebate for panels - the main support is the federal STC discount, already built into advertised prices. It is worth roughly $1,300 to $2,100 on a 6.6kW Perth system in 2026, varying with the STC spot price and falling slightly each year as the scheme winds down to 2030.

What are STCs?

Small-scale Technology Certificates. A system earns a number of them based on its size, a location rating (Perth is the favourable Zone 3), and the years left in the federal scheme. Installers almost always take the certificates and apply their value as an upfront discount on your price.

Do STCs apply to batteries?

No - STCs cover the solar panels, not storage. Batteries have their own separate support: a federal program from 2025 extends STC-style upfront discounts to eligible home batteries, and WA has added its own residential battery support alongside it. Both reach you through the installer.

Should I claim the STCs myself or let the installer take them?

Let the installer take them in almost every case. They apply the value as a point-of-sale discount so you pay the net price. Claiming them yourself means registering and selling certificates on a fluctuating market - more paperwork and price risk for little gain.