The Rural Renewable Energy Program provides rebates for grid-connect renewable energy power systems in specific 'fringe of grid' areas of the South West electricity grid.

Rebates for Small Projects (500W to 30kW)

The Rural Renewable Energy Program - Small Projects (grid connected systems) has now closed and applications to this program will no longer be accepted by the Sustainable Energy Development Office.  (Please note that this change does not affect applications for off-grid renewable energy systems that are eligible for funding under the Remote Area Power Supply (RAPS) program.)

Consumers in areas previously covered by the Rural Renewable Energy Program may be eligible for a renewable energy power system rebate under the Commonwealth’s Solar Homes and Communities Plan (SHCP).

Enquiries about the Commonwealth Government’s Solar Homes and Communities Plan can be obtained from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEHWA) hotline on telephone 1800 808 571 or by visiting: www.environment.gov.au

Rebates for Medium Projects (30kW to 2 MW)

The objectives of the program are to:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Help provide more effective electricity supplies for people in rural areas
• Assist in developing the Australian renewable energy industry
• Assist development in regional areas
• Raise awareness of renewable energy and the value of distributed generation.

The program is supported by the Australian Government through the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program, which is administered in Western Australia by the State Government's Sustainable Energy Development Office.

For renewable energy power systems with a rated capacity of 30kW to 2MW, the program provides rebates of typically up to 50% of the capital cost of eligible systems.

Applications for medium projects can be made through competitive funding rounds. In each funding round rebates may be approved for projects that:

• Meet all requirements of the program, as set out in the program guidelines
• Best meet the objectives of the program, and have the lowest risks, per funding dollar requested.

General eligibility criteria

• Funding is available for grid-connect renewable energy systems located within one of the specified local government shires
• Renewable energy systems must be new, complete systems and must be purchased after an application has been approved by the Sustainable Energy Development Office
• Expenditure on renewable energy generating equipment (such as photovoltaic arrays or wind turbines) must be at least 50% of the total cost of equipment and services on which a rebate is sought
• Sufficient resources must be available for the implementation of projects and renewable energy system suppliers, designers and installers must be capable and sufficiently qualified
• Renewable energy equipment and systems must be reliable, capable of operating successfully in rural areas of Western Australia, use proven technologies and must meet relevant standards and regulations.

Full details of eligibility requirements and rebates available are provided in the guidelines.

Guidelines for Medium Projects (PDF 91 KB)

All applications for medium projects have to be assessed and approved by both the Sustainable Energy Development Office and the Australian Greenhouse Office. Major projects also require approval by the Australian Government Minister for Environment and Heritage. The Minister has indicated that funding may not be approved where a project is against the clearly expressed wishes of the local community.

Applications for the first funding round for medium projects closed 22 September 2006. Any future funding rounds are dependent on the outcomes of the first funding round.

Further information

Sustainable Energy Development Office
Level 9 / 197 St Georges Terrace
Phone: +61 8 9420 5694 (medium projects) or +61 8 9420 5662 (small projects)
Fax: +61 8 9420 5699
Email: sedo@energy.wa.gov.au


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