Frequently Asked Questions

When you install a solar system, you generate Small Technology Certificates (STCs), which are sometimes referred to as a ‘Government Solar Rebate.’ You’ll receive 1 STC for every Megawatt of energy your system is expected to produce until 2031.

For example, a 6.6KW (approx 18 panels) will produce around 80MWh worth of electricity over the 10 years until 2031, meaning you are entitled to 82 STCs.

Once your solar system has been installed and the STCs have been registered, they can be sold to recover a portion of the cost of purchasing your solar PV system. The certificates represent the positive environmental impact of using solar energy over carbon-emitting fuel sources such as gas and coal. They have a monetary value and are traded on an open market. Companies who are aiming to reduce their environmental impact purchase these certificates from installers therefore partially funding the solar installation.

Given the complexity surrounding creating and selling STCs, it’s common practice to assign the right to trade the STCs to your solar provider, in exchange for an upfront discount off the full, or ‘true,’ system price.

STCs currently trade for around $38 each, which means you’d receive around a $3116 discount off the full, or before ‘rebate’, cost of a 6.6kW system.

Think Renewable will quote a price to you that is inclusive of the STC discount. This is the final price of the system that will be installed.

There is no way to give exact savings figures without conducting an in-home consultation with one of our trained solar experts, who can look at your existing electricity usage, roof layout and more. You can, however, get an estimate by Clicking Here and completing our savings calculator..

To provide an exact quote, we suggest conducting an in-home consultation. However, the governing body and regulator for solar in Australia, the Clean Energy Council (CEC), have a guideline that customers should expect to pay. Think Renewable makes sure to price our systems within the CEC price guideline.

The biggest benefit that your solar system will give you is offsetting your daytime electricity tariff. Every unit of electricity that you consume, produced by your solar system is one less unit you have to pay for from your electricity retailer.

Your electricity retailer will also purchase electricity generated by your solar system that you don’t use yourself. This may include a contribution from the State Government. It varies depending on your retailer and which state you’re in.

Solar power is most definitely a cleaner and more sustainable energy source when compared to the CO2 output of traditional fossil fuels, gas and coal. While there is a ‘carbon cost’ associated with producing the panels themselves, this is paid off within two years on average.

When you have leftover, unused solar power that hasn’t it can go one of two ways. The first is that you can export it over to the electricity grid. Depending on the tariff and the retailer you use you may get some credit toward your bill. The second is within your battery – you can export the power here to save it.

Yes! We have a range of batteries that we offer – see our Battery Storage page here. As they work independently for your solar energy system, you can ask us about adding batteries to your system. If you don’t export a lot of your power and have consumption through the evening that you want to cover with a battery, talk to us and see how we can help.

Many people worry that with the changing seasons, they won’t be able to run their homes. It’s not true! Sure, you have less power with excess cloud coverage, but did you know you can produce three times more power in December compared to June? This is a huge difference and batteries can help here. You should be mindful of all of this when you are reviewing your solar panel performance.

At Think Renewable, we recommend a yearly service for your solar panel system. It’s easy and affordable but it’s also important that you ensure that your solar panel system remains effective and safe. Talk to us about a systems health check today!

Australia is no stranger to shifting climates, but your solar panels won’t be a victim of it! Solar panels are designed to cope with both blistering heat and freezing conditions and most solar products are put through their paces before they come into the market. This includes being put through extreme hail testing for hail travelling at 80km/h! 

If you’re still worried, call our friendly team – we’re more than happy to put your mind at ease.

Solar energy systems can only produce electricity if there is sunlight but that doesn’t have to be a blue sky day. Solar can still work when there is cloud coverage, but it doesn’t work through the night when there is no sunlight at all – and that’s what battery storage is for!