Under the
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, eligible small-scale renewable energy systems are categorised into small generation units and solar water heater systems.
Small generation units generate electricity from renewable energy sources including:
- solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
- wind turbines, and
- hydro systems.
A solar water heater system is a system which displaces electricity, and as a result reduces consumption of electricity from the main grid. There are two types of eligible solar water heater systems:
- solar hot water systems, and
- air source heat pumps.
Eligible small-scale system capacity
| System type | System capacity | Electricity output |
|---|
| Solar panels | No more than 100 kW | Total annual electricity output less than 250 MWh |
| Wind turbines | No more than 10 kW | Total annual electricity output less than 25 MWh |
| Hydro | No more than 6.4 kW | Total annual electricity output less than 25 MWh |
| Solar water heaters | Up to 700 L. Solar water heater models over 700 L capacity require additional documentation to be eligible for certificates | N/A |
| Air source heat pumps | No more than 425 L | N/A |
Before you purchase and install a system it is important that you do your research to find the system which best suits your needs, and make sure you, or your agent, check your system is eligible under the
Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.
If the small-generation unit is larger than the capacity limits listed above, it will be classified as a power station and must be
accredited as a power station under the
Large-scale Renewable Energy Target. If accreditation is successful, the unit may be eligible for
large-scale generation certificates.
Battery storage systems
The SRES creates a financial incentive for individuals and small businesses to install small generation units, solar water heaters and air source heat pumps.
The SRES does not include incentives for battery storage, and eligibility requirements for creating small-scale technology certificates (STCs) do not extend to any battery components not included within an inverter.