People search for an “STC exchange” or “STC marketplace” expecting something like a stock exchange. It does not exist for STCs, and understanding why helps you spot the businesses that borrow the language.
How STCs actually trade
STCs are traded over the counter. A buyer (usually a trader, or a retailer meeting its obligation) and a seller agree a price and the certificates are transferred in the REC Registry. See the REC Registry. There is no central order book, no live public price, and no matching engine. Brokers and traders publish indicative spot prices, and the figure you see on any site is that business’s view.
At the time of writing the spot market has been roughly $38 to $40, with a $40 ceiling because of the clearing house.
The one official channel: the STC Clearing House
The Clean Energy Regulator operates the STC Clearing House, where holders can submit validated certificates and sell them for $40 each, excluding GST. It guarantees a floor-and-ceiling price, but sales are processed in a queue, so payment can take weeks. That is why almost no installer uses it for ordinary cash flow. See trading price vs clearing house.
What “marketplace” and “platform” usually mean
When you see “STC marketplace” it is usually one of three things:
- A trader’s portal. You upload claims, they buy.
- A broker’s listing service. Larger holders list parcels and buyers bid.
- An aggregator’s software platform. It manages claims and sells in bulk.
None is an exchange in the legal sense. What matters is the same list as with any buyer: rate, lock point, deductions and settlement time. For a framework see comparing STC trading platforms.
What this means for installers
You do not need a marketplace, you need a reliable counterparty. For most installers that means a registered agent or trader with a rate published daily and a short, written settlement time. Ours is on pricing, with 24-hour settlement for established partners and zero fees. Start with the STC trading pillar, see how it works, and read who buys STCs for the chain from your roof to the retailer.
Why there is no exchange
The market is small, the certificates are tied to a regulated registry and most volume is traded by a handful of parties for retailers with known obligations. That does not need an exchange. It does mean price discovery is private, so asking two or three providers for a net rate on the same day is the closest thing installers have to a market screen.