In line with the recent announcement allowing industry additional time to comply with requirements for solar PV inverters incorporating DC isolators under AS/NZS 4777.2: 2020 by the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council and the Standing Committee of Officials of the Electrical Equipment Safety System, the Clean Energy Regulator would like to remind participants in the Small-scale Renewable Scheme of their ongoing obligations to register and claim small-scale technology certificates (STCs).

To be eligible to claim STCs for a small generation unit, they must:

  • Have its inverter declared compliant to AS/NZS 4777.2.2020 with the Clean Energy Council and listed on the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) list of approved inverters.
  • Have any STCs created within 12 months of the small generation unit installation date.
  • Be installed to Australian and New Zealand Standards.
  • Use a Clean Energy Council accredited designer and installer and meet the Clean Energy Council design and install guidelines.
  • Comply with all local, state/territory and federal requirements.

Registered persons, agents, retailers and installers are encouraged to manage their inverter stock carefully. Agents must ensure they are updating their processes to assure themselves that inverters meet all STC eligibility requirements. You must ensure you are collecting and recording correct information for eligible systems.

Installers and retailers should obtain evidence from their suppliers to confirm their inverters have been declared compliant to AS/NZS 4777.2:2020, are on the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) list of approved inverters. You must ensure the inverter standard is met to avoid the improper creation of STCs.

The Clean Energy Regulator takes compliance seriously and will continue to monitor compliance with obligations closely. Where we detect the use of ineligible inverters under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, we will apply a broad range of compliance and enforcement options including suspension of registration and REC Registry accounts, enforceable undertakings and criminal or civil proceedings.

Further details on all scheme requirements can be found on Small-scale systems eligible for certificates.