What's the STC price today?
Small-scale technology certificates (STCs) were trading at about $39.85 in late September 2026 (Ecovantage market update), just under the Clean Energy Regulator's fixed clearing house price of $40 excluding GST (Clean Energy Regulator).
Installers sell the certificates on your behalf and usually pass on a few dollars less after trader fees, so this site uses $37 a certificate. Checked 1 October 2026.
What a certificate price change does to your discount.
The certificate count is fixed by size, zone and install date. Only the price per certificate moves.
| System | Certificates | At $35 | At $37 | At $39.85 | At $40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW solar, Melbourne (Zone 4) | 39 | $1,365 | $1,443 | $1,554 | $1,560 |
| 6.6 kW solar, Sydney or Brisbane (Zone 3) | 45 | $1,575 | $1,665 | $1,793 | $1,800 |
| 10 kW solar, Zone 3 | 69 | $2,415 | $2,553 | $2,750 | $2,760 |
| 10 kWh battery | 68 | $2,380 | $2,516 | $2,710 | $2,720 |
| 13.5 kWh battery | 91 | $3,185 | $3,367 | $3,626 | $3,640 |
The gap between $35 and $40 on a 13.5 kWh battery is $455. That's why it's worth asking the installer which price they used.
What is an STC?
An STC is a certificate created for every megawatt-hour a small solar system, battery or heat pump is deemed to save or produce under the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. Electricity retailers have to buy them, which gives them a market price. Your installer creates them, sells them and takes the value off your invoice: that's the "solar rebate" on a quote.
Why isn't the installer giving me $40?
The $40 clearing house is a fixed-price fallback with a queue; most certificates sell on the spot market through agents who take a fee. A price of $36 to $38 on the quote is normal. Below about $35, ask why.
How many STCs per kWh?
For batteries it's 6.8 certificates per usable kWh on the first 14 kWh until 31 December 2026 (Clean Energy Regulator). For solar it's kW × your zone rating × the years left in the scheme, rounded down: 5 years for 2026 installs, 4 from 1 January 2027. The STC calculator does both for your postcode.
Want the figures for your address?
Five taps, no email or phone number. The next page shows the published figures for your postcode and the checks to run on any quote. If you'd like a quote, Tidy Energy, our partner installer, answers the phone.
Your postcode
The zone, the state programs and the install counts all hang off it. Nothing else about your address is asked or kept.
No email, no phone number. The figures appear on the next page, and the only thing we ask after that is whether you'd like to call.
Questions people ask.
What is the current STC price in Australia?
About $39.85 in late September 2026 on the spot market, just under the $40 clearing house price. Installers usually pass on $36 to $38 after fees.
How much is an STC worth?
Between about $35 and $40 at the point of sale. This site uses $37. The Clean Energy Regulator's clearing house pays a fixed $40 excluding GST.
How many STCs per kWh for a battery?
6.8 per usable kWh on the first 14 kWh for installs by 31 December 2026, 60% of that from 14 to 28 kWh and 15% from 28 to 50 kWh. It drops to 5.7 on 1 January 2027.
Will the STC price go up or down?
It's held close to $40 for most of 2026. The bigger change for your discount is the certificate count, which falls on 1 January 2027 for both solar and batteries.
Do I sell the STCs myself?
You can, but almost everyone assigns them to the installer, who takes the value off the invoice. Selling them yourself means paying full price upfront and waiting for the money.
Sources.
- Ecovantage energy certificate market update (STC spot price) late September 2026
- Clean Energy Regulator: buying and selling STCs (clearing house price) page updated 14 September 2026
- Clean Energy Regulator: solar batteries (STC factors by period, taper bands) page updated 31 July 2026
- REC Registry: STC calculator (official) live calculator
Related: STC calculator · battery rebate calculator · STC value by zone