As the Acting Chair of the Clean Energy Regulator (CER), it is my privilege to present our 2026-30 Corporate Plan. The plan sets out how we will deliver our purpose over the next 4 years and build on the strong foundations established under the fine stewardship of David Parker AM, who retired from the Australian Public Service on 2 July 2026 after 9 years as Chair of the CER.
This organisation is highly capable, respected and already delivering significant carbon abatement outcomes. This plan builds on those strengths—our expertise, our people, digital infrastructure and our track record—while positioning the agency to respond with confidence to new opportunities and challenges.
Our purpose remains unchanged: to accelerate carbon abatement for Australia. Through trusted administration of our schemes and our stewardship of world-leading carbon and emerging nature markets, we support Australia to meet its emissions reduction targets. As our role evolves, this enduring focus continues to guide our work.
The agency continues to support the transition to renewable electricity generation in a more complex operating environment. Supply pressures, geopolitical instability and the increasing influence of climate variability including anticipated extreme El Niño conditions, are contributing to volatility in energy systems. These pressures reinforce the importance of the agency’s work to support resilient, low-emissions pathways for households, businesses and communities.
Our established schemes remain central to Australia’s emissions reduction architecture. Through the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme, Safeguard Mechanism, Renewable Energy Target (RET), Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP) and Nature Repair Market, we administer market-based mechanisms that support creditable abatement, renewable energy investment and emerging nature repair outcomes.
Over the life of this plan, we will continue supporting the increased uptake of solar batteries through the CHBP and maintain focus on the emissions reductions of Australia’s largest industrial facilities through the Safeguard Mechanism. There will also be further development of the Product Guarantee of Origin (PGO) and Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) schemes as their respective markets grow.
We expect ongoing growth in participation in our schemes and interest in carbon and related markets is expected to continue to increase which is reflected in growing activity across certificate markets. Government policy settings designed to expand access to the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) will support commercial, industrial and agricultural facilities to install mid-scale solar photovoltaic systems. At the same time, Australia’s high uptake of rooftop solar, home batteries and electric vehicle chargers has created new opportunities to better coordinate consumer energy resources as we transition to net zero. This evolving energy landscape is broadening with the CER being nominated to take on the role of the Consumer Energy National Technical Regulator (CENTR). We have begun preparatory work and once legislated we will help support the technical integrity and coordination of these consumer energy resources as they become a more important part of Australia’s energy system.
In response to this evolving environment, we are strengthening our position as a digitally driven services agency. Secure, reliable and efficient digital service delivery is central to how we administer schemes, support participants and provide trusted market information. We are continuing to invest in modern, secure systems and enhanced data capabilities, including the expansion of the Unit and Certificate Registry and careful, accountable and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).
As an economic regulator, our stewardship extends beyond scheme administration to the ongoing development and oversight of trusted, efficient, transparent and well-functioning markets. This includes progressing work to improve market connectivity, including enabling secure integration with third-party platforms through application programming interfaces, helping to support deeper, more liquid and better-informed markets. These capabilities will underpin both our established functions and our expanding responsibilities as the CENTR.
Integrity remains fundamental to everything we do and is essential for carbon and biodiversity markets to work effectively. Market confidence depends on high-quality available data, robust assurance, transparent information and clear regulatory expectations. We will continue to work closely with participants, industry, communities, First Nations peoples and all levels of government so that obligations are understood, opportunities are clear and participation in established and emerging markets is supported.
Australia has mature carbon markets that are recognised as globally leading. The role of government in underpinning market formation and the integrity of regulated carbon accounting, certificate generation and trading has been central. The agency will continue to develop and champion leading market infrastructure and institutions.
Delivering on our purpose relies on the capability and professionalism of our people. We will continue to invest in workforce capability and foster a strong, inclusive and pro-integrity culture that supports collaboration, innovation and accountability. In the face of global uncertainty and environmental pressures, we also recognise the importance of remaining a compassionate and supportive agency—both for our people and the communities we serve.
This Corporate Plan outlines how we will focus our efforts over the next 4 years to remain a trusted, expert and contemporary regulator. We will administer our schemes efficiently and effectively, support participants to engage with confidence and play a central role in Australia’s transition to a low emissions and increasingly decentralised energy system.
Mr Carl Binning
Acting Chair
Clean Energy Regulator