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From today, Friday 1 April 2022, a range of new legal requirements apply to all solar PV installers and designers, agents, retailers and manufacturers and importers who participate in the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
To assist solar businesses to comply with the new obligations, we have updated the information on our website and created new sample forms and guidelines. Our short videos, webinar recordings with downloadable presentation slides, and questions and answers document are available to support your compliance with the new requirements.
It is your responsibility to understand and comply with the changes. We encourage you to contact us as early as possible if you have any questions about your new obligations under the SRES.
Changes for agents
Agents are now required to obtain an updated version of the written statement from installers and new written statements from designers and retailers to claim small-scale technology certificates (STCs). There are also new requirements to collect inverter serial number data. We have updated our website with new sample forms and guidance documents to provide you with the details of the new requirements:
- Information on new document requirements
- Sample STC Assignment form and compulsory written statements
- REC Registry bulk upload specifications
- Small generation units – collecting mandatory information to create small-scale technology certificates
Changes for solar retailers
Solar retailers are now required to complete a written statement relating to any solar PV system they procure, sell and install which will be used to claim STCs. Solar retailers will need to provide this statement to their agent. To assist solar retailers with the new requirements, we have developed web pages specifically for retailers as well as a sample statement:
- Information on new requirements for solar retailers
- Sample solar retailer compulsory written statement
Changes for installers and designers
There are now new and updated obligations for accredited installers and designers. The installer written statement has been updated and a new statement is now required from system designers. To assist installer and designers we have updated the information on our website and developed sample forms:
- Information on new requirements for installers and designers
- Sample installer and designer written statement
Changes for solar PV component manufacturers and importers
Australian manufacturers and importers of solar panels and inverters with products on the Clean Energy Council's (CEC) approved PV module and approved inverter lists have new obligations under the SRES.
Inverter serial numbers
Inverter manufacturers or importers now need to provide inverter serial numbers to the Clean Energy Regulator’s inverter serial number ledger for all inverters eligible for STCs (and listed on the CEC’s approved inverter list).
We have updated our website information for manufacturers and installers and created guidance documents to provide you with the details on how to register and upload serial number data to the inverter serial number ledger:
- Inverter serial number ledger guidance
- Ledger template - adding new serial numbers
- Ledger template – updating serial number status
Solar panel serial numbers
Solar panel manufacturers or importers must continue to provide solar panel serial numbers to the Clean Energy Regulator's solar panel serial number ledger for all solar panels eligible for STCs (and listed on the CEC’s approved inverter list).
For solar panel manufacturers or importers that work with a verification service provider in the Solar Panel Validation (SPV) Initiative, they will continue to upload your solar panel serial number data on your behalf.
Solar panel manufacturers or importers who are not part of the SPV Initiative will still need to upload serial numbers to the Clean Energy Regulator’s solar panel ledger for all solar panels you have listed as eligible for STCs. However, there will now no longer be any notices from the CEC to provide data.
New enforcement powers for Clean Energy Regulator from 1 April 2022
The Clean Energy Regulator is now able to declare non-compliant industry participants ineligible to participate in the SRES. Most in the solar industry do the right thing, but for those who don’t, we now have additional powers to address their non-compliant behaviour. This will level the playing field and ensure continued integrity in the scheme, maintain the integrity of the rooftop solar PV sector, and benefit participants who do the right thing.
For more information
Please contact us if you have any questions about what you need to do to meet your new obligations.