Solar rebate eligibility in Perth: STCs, WA Battery Scheme, and DEBS explained

Perth homeowners considering solar and battery storage can access three distinct financial incentives — a federal rebate (STCs), a WA state battery rebate, and an ongoing export payment (DEBS). Understanding each one, who qualifies, and when the benefit applies helps you plan the financial case for installation.

1. Federal solar rebate: Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

The most significant upfront incentive is the federal STC scheme. STCs are government-created certificates that solar installers create and trade on your behalf, then pass the value back to you as a direct discount on the system price.

How it works:

• When your CEC-accredited installer registers your system, they calculate the number of STCs the system is eligible for
• STCs are based on system size (kW) × years of deemed generation (currently 5 years deeming for solar, from the install date to 2030) × STC zone rating (Perth = Zone 3, rated 1.382)
• The installer typically assigns the STCs to a registered STC trader and receives payment, which is passed back to you as a discount on the quoted price

For a 10kW system in Perth (Zone 3): Approximately 70–85 STCs, each worth approximately $38–$42 (market price fluctuates). Total rebate: approximately $2,660–$3,570 off the system cost.

Who qualifies:

• Owner of the property (homeowner or long-term leaseholder)
• System installed by a CEC-accredited installer
• System ≤ 100kW capacity
• No prior STC claim on the same installation address for the same system

When you receive it: The STC discount is applied upfront in your installer quote — you don't wait for a government payment. The quoted price already reflects the STC value.

Important: STCs will cease in 2030 when the scheme expires. Each year until 2030, the deeming period shortens, which reduces the STC count — installations in 2026 receive slightly more than installations in 2028.

2. WA Battery Incentive: state rebate for battery storage

The WA Government offers a rebate for battery storage under the WA Battery Incentive (previously called the WA Battery Scheme). This is a direct subsidy on the cost of purchasing and installing a home battery.

Current rebate amount: $1,300 maximum (calculated as $130/kWh of usable battery capacity, capped at 10kWh of capacity)

Who qualifies:

• WA residential property owner
• Property connected to the Synergy grid (SWIS network — the South West Interconnected System)
• Battery capacity between 1kWh and 10kWh
• Battery installed by a CEC-accredited installer
• Battery on the Synergy-approved Storable Solar List (SSL) of eligible products

The SSL requirement: The WA Battery Incentive only applies to batteries on the Synergy SSL. Not all batteries on the market are on the SSL — ask your installer to confirm that their proposed battery is SSL-listed before signing.

How to claim: Your installer lodges the rebate application on your behalf as part of the installation paperwork. You don't need to submit a separate application.

Battery sizing note: The $130/kWh rate applies up to 10kWh. A 10kWh battery receives the maximum $1,300. A 13.5kWh battery still only receives $1,300 (the cap). A 5kWh battery receives $650. Right-sizing to at least 10kWh maximises the rebate.

3. DEBS: ongoing export payment from Synergy

The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) isn't a one-time rebate — it's an ongoing payment from Synergy for electricity your solar system exports to the grid.

Current DEBS rates:

• Super Off-Peak (9am–3pm): 10c per kWh exported
• Off-Peak (all other hours): 2c per kWh exported

Who qualifies:

• System installed by a CEC-accredited installer
• Western Power NCN (Network Connection Notice) approved
• Synergy meter configured for solar (smart meter with export register)
• Property on the Synergy grid

How you receive it: DEBS credits appear on every Synergy bill as a deduction. The credit is applied automatically once your system is registered with Synergy.

How much is it worth? For a 10kW system in Perth generating approximately 14,000 kWh/year with good self-consumption, exports might total 4,000–6,000 kWh/year. At a blended DEBS rate (most exports during the 9am–3pm window): approximately $400–$600/year in credits.

How the three incentives stack together

| Incentive | When received | Typical value (10kW + 10kWh battery) | |---|---|---| | STCs (federal) | Upfront (discount off quoted price) | ~$2,660–$3,570 | | WA Battery Incentive | After installation (applied by installer) | $1,300 | | DEBS credits (annual) | Ongoing (each Synergy bill) | $400–$600/year |

For a household installing a 10kW solar system and a 10kWh battery:

• Upfront cost reduction: ~$4,000–$5,000 (STCs + battery rebate)
• Ongoing income: ~$400–$600/year in DEBS credits
• Grid consumption reduction: ~$1,500–$2,500/year saved (not a rebate, but a direct bill reduction)

What's NOT available in Perth

Feed-in Tariff (FiT): The legacy WA Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS) was replaced by DEBS in 2020. There is no separate FiT for Perth residential customers — DEBS is the current export arrangement.

Off-SWIS rebates: The WA Battery Incentive is for Synergy/SWIS customers only. Separate rebate arrangements apply in non-SWIS regional areas and are not available to Perth (SWIS) customers.

Commercial STCs: The calculations above are for residential systems. Commercial systems over 100kW use a different scheme (Large-scale Generation Certificates, LGCs) with different economics.

Perth homeowners can access three stacked incentives: federal STCs (upfront discount), WA Battery Incentive ($1,300 rebate), and DEBS (ongoing export income). Together these reduce the effective cost of a 10kW solar + 10kWh battery system by $4,000–$5,000 upfront plus $400–$600/year in export credits.