Small Scale Technology Certificates (STC) Explained

Every country wants to invest in solar energy in the future. It has the potential to make countries more self-sufficient and autonomous. These days, the majority of the countries’ governments encourage their citizens to adopt solar. Incentives from the government are a part of this engagement. The Australian government also offers a small-scale technology certificate (STC) as one such incentive. All business and residential property owners with systems up to 100kW are eligible for STCs.

STCs are an electronic form of currency. Government allocates them when a person installs a solar PV system. The calculation of the STCs depends on the future generation of energy from a solar system. One STC equals one megawatt-hour of power produced by a solar PV system. STCs can benefit an owner in lowering the initial costs by allowing the client to reap monetary benefits from the government.

Things You Should Know About STC

As explained earlier, one thing to keep in mind with the STC is that it relies on future solar system generation. Furthermore, since its inception in 2011, the scheme has been losing money, and it is expected to get exhausted around 2030. The STC was created when the cost of solar was also exuberant, and it was launched to make solar more accessible to the general public. But a crucial thing to remember is that with the diminishing cost of solar systems, the price of STCs is also decreasing.

How are STCs calculated?

The following factors are taken into account when calculating the STC:

1: Size of the Solar System

When calculating STCs, the size of the solar panels is critical. STCs are computed by multiplying the number of solar panels by the number of watts each panel produces.

2: Location

The geographic location of the solar system’s installation is also vital. Every region has its own ratings, which determine the value of the STCs.

Australia is divided into four zones whose details are as follows:

Zone 1:

Townville
Rockhampton
Darwin
The Gardens
Parap
Stuart Park

Zone 2:

Alice Springs
Daly Waters

Zone 3:

Brisbane
Sydney
Adelaide
Canberra
Perth

Zone 4:

Melbourne
Hobart

Hence to calculate the rebates, it is imperative to know in which region you’re residing and what the government’s decided rate for that region is.

3: Year in which you’re claiming

It’s also critical to identify the year in which the customer submits its STC claim. As previously stated, the rate is directly proportional to the year, as it has been dropping since its commencement.
If you like to read more about the STC or the rate at which it has been calculated now, you can check the Clean Energy Regulator website.

Mondiaux is always striving to deliver the best services to its consumers, and we have benefited our customers in claiming their STCs. Each year, Mondiaux tries to serve its customers in the New Year by giving them the STCs at a previous year’s rate. It is a fantastic opportunity for people who have got their solar through Mondiaux but did not claim their STCs the previous year for whatever reason. Mondiaux has compensated the STC deficit for many of its clients in the new year. Like this year, we covered the STC gap for our customers by providing them the same rate as the previous year. If you have any questions or want to ask for a quote after STC, you may reach out to us by calling 1300 911 110 or visiting our website.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Share Post

An aerial view of a house with solar panels on the roof

What is Solar Inverter Oversizing?

By Lisha Ouyang • 01 Aug, 2023

Normally the number of solar panels installed on the roof is matched to the solar inverter size. The total number of panels is calculated by dividing the inverter power rating by the chosen solar panel power. This was often the practice carried out by some solar designers in the past. If you have been in the solar industry, you probably heard of the idea of “inverter oversizing“.

A man is standing on top of a roof holding a solar panel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using Solar Power for Winter Energy Needs

By Lisha Ouyang • 19 Apr, 2023

1. Do solar panels work in the winter? Yes, solar panels do work in the winter. It doesn’t matter how hot or cold it is. In fact, they can be more efficient in colder temperatures as long as they receive adequate sunlight. 2. Will snow cover affect my solar panels’ performance? Snow can affect solar panel performance if it covers the panels completely, but most modern solar panels are designed to be self-cleaning and will shed snow and ice on their own. Even a small amount of sunlight can generate enough heat to warm up a solar panel and help it in melting the snow. This is because solar panels are designed to absorb sunlight and convert it into energy. As they absorb sunlight, they also absorb heat, which can help raise their temperature and melt any snow or ice that may have accumulated on them. Additionally, snow can reflect sunlight back onto the panels, which can increase their output. 3. How much energy can I expect my solar panels to produce in the winter? The amount of energy your solar panels produce in the winter will depend on factors such as location, weather conditions, and the angle and orientation of your panels. However, in general, you can expect your panels to produce less energy in the winter than they would during the summer months. 4. Do I need to make any adjustments to my solar panel system for winter? In most cases, you do not need to make any major adjustments to your solar panel system for winter. However, you may want to clear any snow or debris from around your panels to maximize their exposure to sunlight. 5. Can I still use solar power during a winter power outage? Yes, if you have a solar power system with a battery backup, you can still use solar power during a winter power outage. However, if your solar panels are grid-tied and do not have a battery backup, they will not provide power during a blackout. 6. Will my energy bills be lower if I use solar power in the winter? Your energy bills may be lower if you use solar power in the winter as long as your solar panels are generating enough energy to meet your household’s needs. To get free and accurate in-home solar assessment, call us on 1300 911 110 or email us at info@mondiaux.com.au and we will make sure to provide our best service to our clients.

There are two solar panels on the roof of a house.

Part 2: Going Solar! Stay Aware of These Traps!

By Lisha Ouyang • 04 Apr, 2023

Going Solar is the most beautiful gift you can give to mother Earth. But you can fall into many traps if you don’t know how to do it effectively. This Blog is the sequel to the previous blog . We recommend reading it before starting this blog if you have not checked it out yet. 6: Believing! If the location is not optimal, the Solar is not worth it. It is a big one among the many traps! If the location is not optimal, the solar system is not worth it. It has been claimed recently that solar systems are getting better with time. And in today’s time, even if the solar panel is not installed in the north direction, it would still be worth it. As you only lose 10-15% of your solar system production. This depicts that even though the location might not seem right to you going, solar is still a fantastic decision that can help you save a lot in the long run. 7: Settling for DIY solar systems Solar systems can vary in size and the way they operate. Some people can go for off-grid plug-and-play solar systems, which are not very complex in their operations. These DIY solar systems also aid you in going solar, but you cannot completely go off the grid with these systems. Hence, if the person’s goal is to get self-sufficient in electricity, they should think of installing the solar system through a reliable service provider. Otherwise, a person can fall into the trap of wasting money on getting a system that is not fulfilling the energy demands fully. 8: Making the decision solely based on the price Going Solar is a tremendous decision, and it can look like an extravagant purchase. Some people can make the mistake of going for the company that is offering the least money. The money factor can add to the traps section when going solar. You can choose a company offering you the least amount, but the system being delivered is also very substandard. Although it has not been advocated here that the cheapest is the worst. But while deciding to go solar, look for company ratings, reviews, and how they deal with your needs before the purchase. The value for money should be considered before deciding to go solar with any company. The company that provides the best value for money should be chosen. 9: Not Taking Advantage of Incentives Solar can help you make the environment more sustainable and can also assist you in gaining incentives from the government. It is essential to have a hold on the knowledge of incentives that the government is offering to achieve the maximum benefit. A prevalent perk the government provides is lowering taxes for solar energy-dependent individuals. And businesses can benefit by capitalizing on accelerated depreciation. It is vital to keep yourself up to date with what the government is offering in terms of the benefits for the solar community. 10: Lack of knowledge of Warranties It is vital to know warranties before going solar with any installer. There are two types of warranties. One is offered by the manufacturer, and the other by the solar installer. Sometimes the manufacturer only gives a warranty. So if something happens with the system, the customers are satisfied that it is still under warranty. They can get it fixed without any cost. But they are actually falling into one of the traps! When they ask the installer to fix it, the installer doesn’t take charges for the system, but the installer does charge for the labor work. So it is crucial to know what the manufacturer is offering you as a warranty and what is being communicated to you by the installer. It is better to go with an installer that can also cover the labor charges in the warranty.