Churches, schools, local councils and not-for-profits are among the most common buyers of 30 to 100 kW solar systems, and they are often unsure whether the rules are different for them. They are not. Eligibility is about the installed system and the accredited installer, not the status of the owner.
The same formula
STCs = kW x zone rating x deeming years. For a 2026 install the deeming period is 5 years, with zone ratings of 1.622, 1.536, 1.382 and 1.185. A 40 kW system on a school hall in a zone 3 city like Brisbane creates 40 x 1.382 x 5 = 276 STCs. At roughly $38 to $40 each at the time of writing, that is about $10,500 to $11,000. Use the STC calculator for your postcode.
Where organisations differ
Ownership. The STCs belong to the owner of the system at installation. A church may own its hall outright, while a council might own the building but fund solar through a power purchase agreement, in which case the PPA provider may be the owner. Settle this before the install, because the assignment form has to be signed by the right party. See who owns the STCs.
ABN and GST. Most of these organisations hold an ABN, and some are not registered for GST. That affects how the STC discount appears on an invoice. The RCTI, GST and ABN guide covers the options. Get this wrong and you have a paperwork problem even though the system is fine.
Approvals and procurement. Schools and councils usually have a tender or quote process, and church trusts may need a vote or diocesan approval. Build the STC discount into quotes as a line item so decision makers see it clearly.
Heritage and planning. Older churches and civic buildings often sit under heritage overlays; see solar on a heritage building.
Grants alongside STCs
Grant programs for schools, community groups and councils vary by state and change often, so check the relevant department’s page. STCs are separate from grants and generally stack with them, but read the grant conditions in case they restrict how the system is funded.
What this means for installers
For a community job, collect the legal name of the owner, the ABN, the signatory’s authority and the site address before you start. Include the same photo set you would for any commercial install; the photo requirements do not relax for larger or institutional sites.
Our how it works page explains the claim path, and the STC trading overview covers the market.