You can sell your own STCs, provided you still hold the right to create them. If you assigned the right to your installer when you signed your quote, they are the seller and you have nothing left to sell. This page is for owners who deliberately kept their certificates, as set out in can I keep my STCs.
The route to sale
- Get a registry account. You need to register with the Clean Energy Regulator’s REC Registry, which involves identity verification.
- Create the certificates. You lodge a creation claim linked to your system’s details, including serial numbers, photos and the installer’s accreditation. It must be done within the allowed window after installation.
- Wait for registration. The regulator checks the claim and, if it is clean, registers the STCs into your account.
- Sell and transfer. You agree a price with a trader and transfer the certificates, or you submit them to the clearing house.
Where the money comes from
At the time of writing, the spot price has been roughly $38 to $40, and the clearing house pays the $40 ceiling. Traders usually pay slightly under that because they carry the market and settlement risk, though many pay faster than the clearing house. Our what an STC is worth page explains the pricing.
Why most owners do not bother
The saving over a decent installer discount is small, and you take on the risk. A rejected claim, a missing photo or an error on a serial number can leave you with nothing to sell and a system you have already paid for in full. Installers handle this daily and have compliance checks in place. For households, the discount at the point of sale is almost always the practical choice.
From the desk: a trader will want proof of who you are, your bank details, and for GST-registered sellers a valid ABN and tax invoice. Have those ready before you start.
What this means for you
If you are determined, start by asking who buys STCs and at what terms, see who buys STCs, and read the resources hub for the paperwork. Otherwise, assign to your installer and take the discount. STC trading explains how the installer side works.