Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

RECs are available when complete solar hot water and heaters are installed or when renewable energy is produced by a photovoltaic system, micro-hydro or wind system. To receive RECs there are certain conditions that need to be fulfilled. The prices of these certificates vary. RECs are traded in for money and can be used as a point of sale discount on equipment you buy through Energy Matters.

The RECs are released by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator which initially was created to ensure that Australian Government meets its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET).
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Feed-in tariff for grid-connected solar systems

What are feed-in tariffs?

A feed-in tariff is a premium rate paid for electricity fed back into the electricity grid from a designated renewable electricity generation source like a rooftop solar PV system or wind turbine. At present, feed-in tariff regulations for renewable energyexist in over 40 countries around the world.

Australia currently has no nationalised program, only state run schemes. Here's an at-a-glance look at state arrangements.

State	Current status	Max Size	Rate Paid	Program Duration	Model
VIC	Commenced November 2009	5 kW	60c (credit/cash)	15 years	Net
SA	Commenced July 2008	10 kW	44c+	20 years	Net
ACT	Commenced March 2009	under 10 kW - premium rate; over 10kW - 80% of premium rate; over 30 kW - tbc	50.05c/kWh up to 10kw capacity and 40.04c/kWh up to 30kW capacity	20 years	Gross
TAS	Commenced	tbc	20c	tbc	Net
NT	Incentive is available for 225 rooftop PV systems in Alice Springs.	tbc	45.76 c/kWh. Capped at $5 per day, then reverts to 23.11c per kWh.	tbc	Net
WA	To commence July 1 2010	tbc	tbc	tbc	Net
QLD	Commenced July 2008	10 kW	44c+	20 years	Net
NSW	To commence January 2010	10 kW	60c/kWh	7 years	Gross