Solar photovoltaic (PV) installations may be eligible for support under either the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) or the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET).
Eligibility is determined by the capacity of the solar PV installation and whether there are related solar PV systems power stations at the same or nearby sites. This helps determine whether an installation is small-scale, mid-scale or large-scale.
This page explains the key concepts used to assess solar PV installations and provides examples of common scenarios.
Small-scale solar PV systems
A small-scale solar PV system (small-scale solar photovoltaic device) has a total capacity of 100 kW or less.
Eligible small-scale solar PV systems can create small-scale technology certificates (STCs) under the SRES.
Households and small businesses install small-scale solar to reduce electricity costs and meet their own energy needs.
Small-scale solar PV systems follow SRES eligibility requirements. See Create small-scale technology certificates for more information.
Mid-scale solar PV systems
A mid-scale solar PV system (mid-scale solar photovoltaic device) has a total capacity of more than 100 kW up to 1 MW. It must be installed on or after 1 October 2026. Total capacity includes the installation together with any related solar PV systems and related power stations.
An installation doesn’t need to be larger than 100 kW on its own to be considered mid-scale. For example, an installation smaller than 100 kW may be a mid-scale solar PV device if the total capacity exceeds 100 kW when combined with related solar generation.
Mid-scale sized systems often suit commercial, industrial, agricultural and community projects.
If you are considering installing or expanding a solar PV system above 100 kW, you should understand the additional requirements that apply to mid-scale solar PV devices before commencing your project. See our mid-scale solar transitional guidance.
Related solar PV systems
Multiple solar PV installations may be considered related where they operate as part of the same overall solar generation arrangement.
If you are planning staged developments, system upgrades or projects involving multiple solar installations at the same site, you should carefully consider these arrangements when designing your projects.
Whether installations are related depends on factors such as:
- location
- ownership
- electrical configuration
- metering arrangements
- network connections.
Solar PV installations on the same site or adjoining sites may be related even if they were installed at different times.
The existence of a single National Metering Identifier (NMI) does not necessarily determine whether multiple solar installations are regarded as a single system. Commercial sub-metering arrangements may be one of several factors considered when assessing whether installations should be treated as separate systems.
The following terms may help explain different metering arrangements:
- The National Meter Identifier (NMI) is equal to the grid connection point.
- A commercial sub-meter is equivalent to a commercial meter that is subsidiary to the connection point.
- A commercial meter records the consumption of electricity for financial transactions between unrelated parties.
If you are proposing developments involving existing accredited power stations, staged developments or multiple related solar installations, you should ensure metering and system design arrangements clearly identify the generating capacity associated with each scheme.
The combined capacity of related solar PV systems is used to determine whether an installation qualifies as a small-scale or mid-scale solar PV system.
Related power stations
Existing accredited power stations will remain in the LRET and may continue to create large-scale generation certificates (LGCs).
An accredited solar power station under the LRET may be a related power station if it uses solar as an energy source and is located on the same site or adjoining sites as the solar PV installation being assessed.
For mid-scale solar PV systems, the capacity of any related power stations is included when determining whether the total related capacity remains within the 1 MW eligibility limit. For example, a site with a related 200 kW power station may still be able to host a mid-scale solar PV system, provided the total related capacity does not exceed 1 MW and all other eligibility requirements are met.
Large-scale power stations
Solar installations are not eligible to create STCs where the total capacity of related solar PV systems and related power stations exceeds 1 MW.
Where the total combined capacity of related solar PV systems and related power stations exceeds 1 MW, the installation may instead be eligible to participate in the LRET and create LGCs, subject to the requirements for power station accreditation.
Systems at a glance
| Feature | Small-scale solar PV | Mid-scale solar PV | Large-scale power station |
| Total capacity considered for eligibility | Up to 100 kW (including related solar PV systems) | More than 100 kW and up to 1 MW (including related solar PV systems and related power stations) | Over 1 MW |
| Typical users | Households and small businesses | Commercial, industrial, agricultural and community projects | Utility-scale and other large renewable energy projects |
| Certificate type | STCs | STCs | LGCs |
| Certificate creation method | Deemed upfront generation | Deemed upfront generation | Based on actual electricity generation |
| Deeming period | Remaining years to 2030 | Fixed 5 years each year up to 2030 | Not applicable |
| Planning and approval evidence requirements | Existing SRES requirements apply | Additional planning and approval evidence required | Power station accreditation requirements apply |
| Application complexity | Generally lower | Generally higher | Generally highest |
| Installer statement requirement | Required | Required | Not applicable |
| Designer accreditation requirement | Required | Not required | Not applicable |
| Retailer statement requirement | Required | Not required | Not applicable |
| Ongoing scheme | SRES | SRES | LRET |
Assessing eligibility
Eligibility is not based solely on the size of the solar installation.
Whether an installation is small-scale or mid-scale depends on both:
- the combined capacity of related solar PV systems and related power stations
- how those installations are owned, connected and operated.
Additional solar capacity may be eligible for STCs if the total related capacity remains within the relevant SRES limits.
The additional capacity does not need to exceed 100 kW on its own. An extension will be eligible where:
- the extension forms part of the same solar PV system as the existing system
- the existing and new components are electrically connected
- the combined capacity of the existing system and extension is greater than 100 kW and does not exceed 1 MW
- all other eligibility requirements are met.
Where an existing system is expanded, eligibility to create STCs applies only to the additional capacity installed on or after 1 October 2026 and not the original installed capacity. Assessment of an expansion considers any related solar PV devices and power stations already installed at the site.
If the additional capacity causes the total related capacity to exceed 1 MW, the new installation will not be eligible as a mid-scale solar PV device.
Separate meters, separate grid connections or different installation dates do not automatically mean solar PV installations are treated as separate systems.
Eligibility depends on how the criteria in the Regulations apply to the particular installation. This may include ownership, location, electrical configuration, metering arrangements and network connections.
The scenarios below show how these criteria may apply in common scenarios.
A project that exceeds the SRES eligibility limits will not become eligible for STCs even if is installed or claimed in smaller stages. A small generation unit (SGU) must be an SGU on the installation date and the creation date.
Where multiple installations form part of a larger project, eligibility may depend on the total related capacity and the circumstances of the overall development. We will consider information such as planning approvals, project documentation and system design when assessing eligibility.
Larger solar projects over 1 MW are supported through the LRET.
Example solar PV scenarios
The examples below illustrate how the eligibility rules may apply in common situations. They are examples only. Each installation is assessed based on its individual circumstances, including its capacity, ownership, location, metering arrangements, network connections and any related solar PV devices or power stations.
Scenario 1
A household installs a 15 kW solar PV system on 1 February 2027. There are no existing solar systems at the property.
- The system is a small-scale solar PV device because it is under 100 kW.
- The system must comply with the small-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
Scenario 2
A household expands its existing 5 kW solar PV system by installing an additional 15 kW system on 1 February 2027. The systems are electrically connected.
- The expansion is a small-scale solar PV system because the total related capacity remains below 100 kW.
- The expansion must comply with the small-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
Scenario 3
Ten stores in a retail complex each install a 30 kW solar PV system. Each store has its own commercial sub-meter and all connect to the grid through a shared National Meter Identifier (NMI) but are not electrically connected behind the meters.
- The commercial sub-meters define the boundaries of each system.
- Each system is treated as a separate small-scale solar PV system with a capacity under 100 kW.
- Although the combined capacity is 300 kW, the systems are not related.
- Each system must comply with the small-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
Scenario 4
Four stores in a retail complex each install a 60 kW solar PV system. Each store has its own commercial sub-meter and all connect to the grid through a shared NMI. Two of the stores are electrically connected behind their commercial meters.
- The commercial sub-meters define the boundaries of each device.
- The systems that are not electrically connected are separate small-scale solar PV devices with capacities under 100 kW.
- Each of those systems is a separate SGU.
- The two systems that are electrically connected behind the meter are related solar PV devices.
- Their combined capacity is 120 kW.
- Together, they are considered a mid-scale solar PV device and are an SGU.
Scenario 5
An industrial facility installs a 500 kW solar PV array in November 2026. There are no existing solar PV devices or registered power stations at the site.
- The installation is a mid-scale solar PV device because its capacity is more than 100 kW and does not exceed 1,000 kW.
- The installation is an SGU.
- The installation must comply with the mid-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
- Applicants must provide evidence that applicable planning and approval requirements have been met before STCs can be created.
Scenario 6
A dairy processing facility installs a 500 kW solar PV array in December 2026. There is an existing related 100 kW small-scale solar PV device and a related 400 kW power station at the facility.
- The installation is a mid-scale solar PV device because the total related capacity remains below 1,000 kW.
- The installation is an SGU.
- The installation must comply with the mid-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
- Applicants must provide evidence that applicable planning and approval requirements have been met before STCs can be created.
- The power station must remain separately metered to continue creating large-scale generation certificates (LGCs) for its generation.
Scenario 7
An industrial facility installs a 500 kW solar PV array on 1 June 2027. There is already a related 100 kW small-scale solar PV device and a related 600 kW power station.
- The new installation is not eligible as an SGU because the total related capacity exceeds the 1,000 kW limit for mid-scale solar PV devices.
- Depending on how it is metered, it may be possible to include the new capacity within the accredited power station by applying to vary the power station accreditation.
- Generation from the additional capacity may be eligible to create LGCs.
Scenario 8
A manufacturing plant installs a 1,000 kW solar PV array on 1 June 2027 and creates STCs. There are no related solar PV devices or power stations. The facility then installs an additional 500 kW solar PV array on 1 January 2028.
- The original 1,000 kW installation is a related mid-scale solar PV device.
- The additional 500 kW installation is not eligible as an SGU because the total related capacity exceeds the 1,000 kW limit.
- The additional capacity may be eligible for accreditation as a new power station and may be able to create LGCs.
- The additional 500 kW installation must be separately metered to meet the power station requirements.
Scenario 9
A farm installs a 1,000 kW solar PV array on 1 June 2027 to export electricity to the grid. There are no related solar PV devices or power stations at the site.
- The installation is a mid-scale solar PV device because the capacity is between 100 kW and 1,000 kW and the total related capacity does not exceed 1,000 kW.
- The installation is an SGU.
- The installation must comply with the mid-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
- Applicants must provide evidence that applicable planning and approval requirements have been met before STCs can be created.
Scenario 10
A renewable energy developer builds a 10,000 kW solar PV array on 1 June 2027 to export electricity to the grid. There are no related solar PV devices or power stations at the site.
- The project is not an SGU because the total related capacity is 10 MW, which exceeds the 1,000 kW limit.
- Planning and approval documentation indicates the proposal is a single 10 MW project.
- The project would not be eligible as a mid-scale solar PV device and could not be installed in smaller stages to claim STCs for the first 1,000 kW.
- The project may be eligible for accreditation as a power station under the LRET.
Scenario 11
A renewable energy developer has five adjacent sites and installs a 1 MW ground-mounted solar PV array on the first site to export electricity to the grid. There are no related power stations or solar PV devices on the sites.
The developer then seeks to install additional solar PV arrays on the adjacent sites. Each new installation would have its own grid connection, NMI and would not be electrically connected to the first installation.
- The first installation is a mid-scale solar PV device because the total related capacity is within the 1 MW limit.
- The first installation is considered a related solar PV device because the systems satisfy three or more of the relevant criteria used to determine whether devices are related. See 3(3)(d) of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 for the criteria.
- If additional capacity is installed on the adjacent sites, the total related capacity would exceed the 1 MW limit for mid-scale solar PV devices.
- The new installations would not be eligible as small generation units under SRES.
- The additional systems may be eligible for accreditation as power stations and may be able to create LGCs.
Scenario 12
An industrial site contains an embedded network with three businesses. Each business has separate commercial metering and a 100 kW small-scale solar PV device.
Business A also has a separately metered 200 kW power station.
Business B installs a new 800 kW solar PV system in January 2027.
- Business B's new 800 kW system is related to Business B's existing 100 kW solar PV device.
- The solar PV devices and power station belonging to the other businesses are not related.
- The total related capacity is 900 kW.
- The 800 kW installation is a mid-scale solar PV device.
- The installation is an SGU.
- The installation must comply with the mid-scale eligibility requirements to be eligible to create STCs.
- Applicants must provide evidence that applicable planning and approval requirements have been met before STCs can be created.