There is always a cost/benefit to installing solar panels at both residential and commercial properties.

There are two ways you can recoup some of the costs of setting up and maintaining your rooftop solar panel and solar battery system. The first way is through government rebates, which can contribute to the cost of purchasing and setting up your system, depending on where you live and what programs are available. Once you have your system installed and it’s generating solar powered electricity, the second way is by selling some of the electricity you generate back into the grid, which is called a feed-in tariff.

The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) provides a financial incentive for individuals and businesses to install small-scale renewable energy systems such as rooftop solar panels, solar water heaters and heat pumps. This occurs in the form of small-scale technology certificates (STCs), which are issued up front for a solar system’s expected power generation (based on its installation date and geographical location) until the SRES expires in 2030.

The price of STCs constantly changes according to market conditions. The total level of subsidy you receive will depend on several factors, such as the upfront installation costs, local electricity rates and the price of STCs at the time the system was installed.The amount of electricity your solar panels generate will also vary but physical & geographical factors such as location, roof pitch, the amount of sunlight your location receives and other similar factors.

More comprehensive information about how STCs are calculated and what you can expect in return can is available via the Clean Energy Regulator.