The Australian Government currently offers a rebate of $1000 for solar hot water systems and $600 for heat pumps to eligible applicants to offset the up-front costs of installing a solar hot water system in an existing home. To qualify for this rebate, you must satisfy certain criteria such as home ownership and system specifications. The rebate can only be claimed by applying to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources Australian Greenhouse Office in writing within three months of installation.
Full details of eligibility are provided in the program guidelines, however key criteria are listed below.
Eligible systems
To be eligible for the rebate, a hot water system must:
replace an existing electric storage hot water system
be purchased and installed on, or after 3rd February 2009
be a solar or heat pump hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at the time and place of installation
be verified by a Registered Agent
be installed by a suitably qualified person (for example an electrician or plumber)
have a warranty of at least five years.
Eligible households
The dwelling where the hot water system is installed must be a principal place of residence.
