Our Guide to the Government Solar Rebate for WA in 2025

What are the government solar rebates in WA?

The West Australian government offers several financial incentives for households, schools, and not-for-profit organisations that invest in solar power.

By investing in solar in WA, you could save money in three ways:

• Discounts on solar power systems: Provided through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
• Reduced electricity bills: Solar power is free energy from the sun, which can dramatically reduce your electricity costs.
• Sell excess electricity: Through the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS).

What is the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)?

The SRES allows households and small businesses to purchase renewable energy technology at a lower upfront price, including solar PV panels and solar water heaters.

How does the solar rebate work?

• STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) are created when an eligible solar system is installed.
• STCs can be redeemed by selling them or assigning them to a solar provider.
• Each STC has a dollar value that varies with market prices. Larger solar systems and sunnier climates generate more STCs.

Most customers redeem STCs by assigning them to a solar installer such as iBreeze, resulting in an upfront discount.

How much can you save on upfront costs?

For Perth in 2025, the subsidy for a typical 6.6kW solar system is approximately $2,080, but this value depends on market pricing and system specifics. Contact iBreeze for the most accurate rebate savings.

Who is eligible for the government solar rebate in WA?

Most households and small businesses are eligible, provided:

• Installation is by a fully qualified installer.
• The system is connected to the grid (not standalone).
• Approvals from Synergy and Western Power are secured (iBreeze can handle this for you).

What is the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS)?

The DEBS allows you to sell excess electricity generated by your solar PV system back to your electricity provider. It also provides buyback payments for home batteries and electric vehicles.

How does the buyback scheme work?

The DEBS offers time-of-export payments, where electricity exported during peak hours is worth more:

• 10 cents per kWh between 3 pm and 9 pm.
• 2 cents per kWh between 9 pm and 3 pm.

Note: these payback rates are accurate as of July 2024. Rates may change. Check with your energy supplier for up-to-date payback rates.

Who is eligible for the buyback scheme?

The DEBS is available to eligible households, schools, and not-for-profits if:

• You’re installing a new rooftop solar system, battery, or electric vehicle.
• You’re upgrading an existing PV system or moving to a property with a renewable system.

Residential customers must consume less than 50MWh of electricity annually, and the system must have an inverter capacity of up to 5kW.

Is solar power a good investment?

Like most good investments, solar power requires a higher upfront cost but can reap significant long-term savings. Rooftop solar systems typically pay themselves off in 3-5 years. In other words, the savings you make from using solar power will pay off the cost of your system in a matter of years. Any savings on your energy bills after that stay in your bank account.

To maximise your return on investment, read our guide to getting the max out of solar in Mandurah.

How much money can you save with solar?

The amount you can save with a renewable energy system depends on how much electricity you use, how much power your system generates, and what government solar rebates you’re eligible for.

As a rough guide:

Let’s say you purchase a 6.6kW solar panel system:

• You could be saving up to $2,080 in government rebates when you purchase the system, thanks to the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
• If you’re currently spending $3,200 per year on electricity, and your solar system meets 75% of your electricity needs, this would represent a saving of $2,400 per year.

In this scenario, your first-year savings could look like this:

• Upfront rebate savings: $2,080
• Electricity bill savings: $2,400
• Total savings in the first year: $4,480

Don’t forget, that any excess electricity you feed back into the grid through the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) will attract additional savings.

Start saving on your solar with iBreeze

Find out how much you could save with solar! Your savings will depend on your energy usage and system performance, and our expert technicians are here to help. Contact us for a personalised estimate with a clear breakdown of costs and savings tailored to your property. Start your journey to savings today.

Note: This post was originally published on  September 12, 2022 and has been updated on January 23, 2025.