Solar rebate (STC) calculator

    The federal solar rebate is the value of the small-scale technology certificates (STCs) your system creates — usually applied as an upfront discount on the install. Enter your postcode and system size to estimate your entitlement straight from the Clean Energy Regulator’s official zone ratings and deeming schedule.

    Source data last verified 20 June 2026 · 2026 deeming period: 5 years · scheme ends 2030.

    Solar rebate (STC) calculator

    Estimate your small-scale technology certificate entitlement from the Clean Energy Regulator’s official zone ratings.

    Source: Clean Energy Regulator postcode zone ratings & deeming schedule. Last verified 20 June 2026.

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    How the solar rebate is worked out

    The formula

    Your certificate count is system size (kW) × your postcode’s zone rating × the deeming period, rounded down to a whole number. Each certificate is then worth up to the clearing-house ceiling of $40 (ex GST), though on the open market certificates usually trade slightly below that — which is why we show your rebate as a range.

    Your zone (postcode)

    The Clean Energy Regulator splits Australia into four solar zones by irradiance. A sunnier zone earns a higher rating, so the same system creates more certificates in, say, regional Queensland than in Tasmania. The calculator looks your postcode up against the official zone table.

    The deeming period

    The scheme credits several years of expected generation up front. That “deeming period” falls by one year each calendar year until the scheme closes in 2030 — so the same system installed earlier earns more certificates. Installing sooner means a larger rebate.

    Methodology & sources

    Every figure here comes from the Clean Energy Regulator: the postcode zone ratings, the deeming-period schedule and the fixed clearing-house price. We do not invent or round these — the zone and deeming tables are hardcoded from the CER’s published data and re-verified on each update. This estimates your certificate entitlement; the final dollar value depends on the STC price your installer’s agent applies at the time of installation.

    Source data last verified 20 June 2026.

    Common questions

    What is the solar rebate (STC) in Australia?
    The “solar rebate” is the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. When you install an eligible system you create small-scale technology certificates (STCs), which have a market value that your installer usually applies as an upfront discount on the system price. It is not a cash payment from the government — it is a tradeable certificate entitlement.
    How is the number of STCs calculated?
    STCs = system size (kW) × your postcode’s zone rating × the deeming period, rounded down. The zone rating reflects how much sun your location gets, and the deeming period is the number of years of generation the scheme credits up front. The deeming period steps down by one year each year until the scheme ends in 2030.
    How much is each STC worth?
    Each STC has a fixed clearing-house ceiling of $40 (ex GST), but on the open market certificates usually trade a little below that after installer admin costs. That is why we always show your rebate as a range, never a single confident figure.
    Does my postcode change the rebate?
    Yes. The Clean Energy Regulator divides Australia into four zones by solar irradiance. A system in a sunnier zone is credited with more certificates than the same system in a cooler zone, so your postcode directly changes your STC count.
    Is this an exact quote?
    No. The calculator estimates your certificate entitlement from official CER data. The actual dollar value depends on the STC price your installer’s agent applies at the time of installation, so treat it as a well-sourced estimate, not a fixed quote.

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    James Baker, Founder, EnergyPlans.com.au. Source data last verified 20 June 2026.