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Solar hot water in Australia
Main article: Solar hot water 

Solar hot water is heated using natural energy from the sun. Solar energy heats up large panels called thermal collectors. The energy is transferred over a fluid system to a reservoir tank for storage and subsequent use. It is then used to heat water for commercial or domestic use and also as an energy input for heating and cooling devices and industrial applications.

Depending on certain climatic considerations, Solar hot water systems can be divided into Passive systems (relying on natural circulation of hot water around the tank and heated panel) and Active systems. An Active system is mechanically pumped and is suitable for colder climates where there is a risk of the water freezing in low temperatures.

The Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Program
The Government is running a Solar hot water rebate program between July 18 2007 and March 2012, where a $1000 discount is offered on the installation of solar hot water systems.

The rebate can be collected once the installation has been finished, if the household meets the necessary requirements stated below.


 * The Solar hot water system is a substitute for a previous electric heating system
 * The application and the installation process has taken place within the dates the rebate is offered
 * The household is a place of residence
 * The Solar or heat pump hot water system is be eligible for minimum 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
 * A licensed plumber/electrician is consulted for the installation
 * The taxable income of the applicant's family was less than $100,000 the year prior to the installation

Once the system is installed, the applicant has up to six months to summit the application form with the purchase receipt attached to it.

The Mandatory renewable energy target scheme was created by the Australian Government to encourage energy retailers to the usage of renewables. Each solar heating system is accredited a certain number of RECs depending on how effective it is and in which of the four climate zones you reside in. Each zone is associated with a number of post codes ranging across the whole continent.

When the system is in use, you will receive your REC's that you are then able to sell to energy retailers. The market value of RECs is subject to variation, but is usually around $30. Potentially, if you system is entitled to 40 RECs, selling them will generate a discount of the total cost of installation with $1200.

It is important that you determine how many RECs the solar water heater is entitled to before installing, so that you know you are actually eligible of the rebate

ACT
The ACT Energy Wise program, run by the ACT Government, offers rebates to houseowners or tenants that do energy saving improvements for at least $2000 to their residence. This includes everything from insulation, inserting double glazed windows to the installation of solar, gas or electric heat pump water heating systems.

Only the first $1000 of the cost of the installation of the water heating system (which replaces the existing electric heating system) can be used to calculate the $2000 to be used on improvements. This means that to receive the rebate, the householder needs to spend another $1000 on additional energy savings. Read the terms and conditions very carefully, making sure that the system you are installing is eligible for the rebate. Please see Home Energy Audit Terms and Conditions.

In addition, to be eligible the rebate of $500 the householder/tenant must:
 * Have an energy audit by HEAT ($30) (Ph 02 6260 6165 or email: info@heat.net.au).
 * Be able to give detailed information about the residence's energy usage during the past year.
 * Be able to show receipts from the renovations and improvements made.
 * Lodge the application with attached receipts within six months after the energy audit.
 * Not have received any other rebate under another program.

New South Wales
The NSW Residential rebate program, running from 01/10 2007 to 30/06 2009, offers all house owners in NSW a rebate on systems that are replacing existing electric hot water system.

The more efficient the system is (emitting less Greenhouse gas), the more RECs is the system eligible, which generates a bigger rebate.

Northern Territory
Power and Water Corporation, the main water and electricity supplier in the Northern Territory, offers rebates on installations of solar water heaters. The rebate amount is varying depending on different factors, e.g. the type of system installed, the tank size and its efficiency on saving Greenhouse gas.

To get the rebate you have to contact a Solar hot water system supplier, who will have a look at your system and let you know how many RECs it is entitled to. The application for the rebate has to be done at the latest one year after the installation was finalised.

Queensland
The Queensland Government's Solar hot water rebate scheme finished on 30 June 2005.

No rebates other than the Federal Government's are offered at the present.

South Australia
In accordance with the South Australian Government rebate scheme, starting 2008-07-01, anyone who is installing or replacing a water heater must install a low-greenhouse one. The rebate scheme is aiming towards giving less fortunate people a financial incentive to the use of gas, heat pump or solar energy to heat water.

To be eligible of the $500 rebate, the householder has to hold at least one of the following concession cards:

* Centrelink Health Care Card * Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card * DVA Gold Card – Totally and Permanently Incapacitated * DVA Gold Card - War Widow * DVA - Extreme Disablement Adjustment

Following to the installation, the householder has up to three months to send in the application to receive the rebate if the below criteria is met.

The water heating system does not replace existing one:

The water heating system does replace existing one:

Tasmania
No Rebates other than the Federal Government's are offered by the Tasmanian Government at the moment.

Victoria
Sustainability Victoria

Residential and community buildings

Commercial buildings

Western Australia
By installing a environmentally friendly, gas-boosted solar water heater that replaces a previous water electric heating system, you are eligible of the Government of Western Australia’s rebate .