Complete Guide to Solar Rebates in Tasmania 2025: Save Thousands on Your Sorell Installation

Last month, my neighbour Dave mentioned something that stopped me in my tracks: “Mate, I just got my solar installed, and the Tasmania solar rebates government programs knocked nearly $4,000 off the price. Wish I’d known about all this stuff earlier.”

That conversation got me thinking about how many Hobart families are missing out on legitimate government money that’s sitting there waiting to be claimed. The Tasmanian government and federal programs currently have multiple rebate schemes in place, but these are decreasing each year, which means waiting could cost you thousands.

This guide breaks down exactly what you can claim, how much money you can save, and the step-by-step process to get every dollar you’re entitled to.

Current Federal Solar Incentives Available to Sorell Residents

The federal government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) is your biggest ticket to solar savings. When Dave told me about his $4,000 savings, this federal program accounted for about $3,200 of that discount.

Here’s how it works: every solar panel system generates Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Think of these certificates as government vouchers that solar installers can cash in. The more certificates your system generates, the bigger your upfront discount.

For a typical 6.6kW system in Sorell (the most popular size for Tasmanian homes), you’re looking at around 77 STCs. At current market rates of roughly $38-42 per certificate, that’s about $2,900-3,200 in upfront savings.

The Phasedown Reality

The federal government will reduce STC values by roughly 7% each year until the scheme ends in 2030. What that means for your wallet:

2025 Installation: 77 STCs worth ~$3,100 2026 Installation: 71 STCs worth ~$2,850

2027 Installation: 64 STCs worth ~$2,570

Waiting just two years could cost you over $500 in lost rebates.

Who’s Eligible

Almost everyone qualifies:

• You own the property where solar gets installed

• The system is under 100kW capacity

• You use a Clean Energy Council-approved installer

• Equipment meets Australian standards

There’s no income testing or means testing. Your installer handles the paperwork and applies the discount directly to your quote.

Tasmania-Specific Solar Rebates and Incentives

While other states have slashed their solar rebates, Tasmania still offers some unique incentives that can stack on top of your federal savings.

Aurora Energy Solar Buy-Back Scheme

Aurora Energy pays you around 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour for the excess solar power you feed back into the grid. A typical 6.6kW system in Sorell exports roughly 12-15kWh per day during summer, earning about $40-50 per month in feed-in credits.

Don’t count on feed-in credits to make your solar investment worthwhile – think of them as a nice bonus, not the main event.

TasNetworks Connection Incentives

TasNetworks occasionally offers connection fee waivers for new solar installations. These fees typically range from $200 to $400, depending on your location. The program isn’t always active, so ask your installer to check current availability.

Why Tasmania Differs From Other States

Tasmania doesn’t offer the generous state-level rebates you hear about in Victoria or South Australia because our energy challenges are different – we export power to the mainland most of the time. But the federal STC program provides the bulk of your savings anyway.

Step-by-Step: How to Claim Your Solar Rebates in Tasmania

Step 1: Get Multiple Quotes

Every legitimate solar installer should show you two numbers:

• Gross system cost (before rebates)

• Net cost to you (after STC discount applied)

If a quote only shows one price, ask them to break it down.

Step 2: Verify Your Installer’s Credentials

Your installer must be a Clean Energy Council-accredited electrician and licensed in Tasmania. The Clean Energy Council website features a search function to verify the accreditation status of any installer.

Step 3: Contract Signing and STC Assignment

When you sign your solar contract, you’re assigning your STC certificates to the installer. They cash them in and pass the savings to you as an upfront discount. If an installer wants you to manage STC certificates yourself, find someone else.

Step 4: Installation and Grid Connection

Your installer handles grid connection paperwork with TasNetworks. This typically takes 5-10 business days. You can’t legally turn on your solar system until TasNetworks approves your connection.

Step 5: Feed-in Credit Setup

Aurora Energy automatically sets up feed-in credits on your account within 1-2 billing cycles after TasNetworks approval.

STC Certificates Explained: What Sorell Homeowners Need to Know

Think of STCs like airline frequent flyer points, except your solar panels earn them by generating clean energy. Every system gets allocated certificates based on expected clean energy production over 15 years.

For Sorell specifically, different system sizes generate: 3kW System: ~35 STCs = $1,400-1,500 rebate 5kW System: ~58 STCs = $2,300-2,500 rebate

6.6kW System: ~77 STCs = $3,100-3,200 rebate 10kW System: ~116 STCs = $4,600-4,900 rebate

STCs trade on an open market, with prices fluctuating between $35 and $42 per unit. The government sets a ceiling of $40 per STC.

Red Flags to Watch For

Watch out for installers who:

• Quote prices that seem too good to be true

• Won’t show STC calculations

• Pressure you to sign immediately

• Offer to split STC proceeds (this violates scheme rules)

Income Tax Deductions for Sorell Businesses Installing Commercial Solar

If you run a business, solar installations open up additional tax benefits. The federal instant asset write-off scheme lets eligible small businesses immediately deduct the full cost of solar installations up to $20,000.

Real Example

You install a $15,000 solar system on your Sorell workshop. Instead of claiming depreciation over many years, you deduct the entire $15,000 from your taxable income. At a 30% tax rate, that’s $4,500 back at tax time.

How This Stacks With STCs

You can claim both STC rebates AND tax deductions, but you only deduct what you paid after rebates are applied.

Home-Based Business Complications

You can only claim the business portion of your solar installation as a tax deduction. If your home office represents 20% of your house, you can claim 20% of your solar system cost.

Combining Multiple Rebates: Maximising Your Government Benefits

Smart homeowners can stack different types of incentives:

• Federal STCs (upfront discount)

• Feed-in tariffs (ongoing payments)

• Connection fee waivers (one-time savings)

• Business tax deductions (for commercial installations)

Real-World Example

A Sorell business owner with a 10kW system achieved:

Gross Cost: $18,000 STCs Applied: -$4,600 Connection Fee Waiver: -$350 Net Cost: $13,050 Tax Deduction Benefit: $3,915 GST Refund: $1,305 Total First-Year Benefit: $10,170 Effective Cost: $7,830

That’s a 56% reduction through smart rebate stacking.

Your Next Steps

The Tasmania solar rebates government programs are there for the taking, but they’re shrinking every year. The federal rebate schedule is fixed through 2030; every month you delay, you incur costs.

If you’re ready to explore solar for your Sorell property, start with quotes from multiple Clean Energy Council accredited installers. Make sure they break down rebate calculations clearly and explain how different incentives apply to your situation.

The solar rebates are available now. The only question is whether you’ll claim them before they disappear.