Battery serial number ledger

1. Log in to Online Services.
2. Click the ‘Manage’ menu.
3. Select ‘SRES serial number ledgers’.
4. Select ‘Add or update serial numbers’ on the SRES serial number ledgers page.
5. Answer required questions, upload your file(s), complete the declaration and submit.

Upload your completed files by pressing the ‘Select files’ button.

An uploaded file will only be accepted for processing if it:

• is a CSV file
• is less than 10 Mb in size
• has the same column headings as the template relevant to the type of change being made.

When you submit your files, you will receive confirmation of the processing status of your files. You can monitor the status of accepted files via the SRES serial number ledgers upload history.

1. Log in to Online Services.
2. Click the ‘Manage’ menu.
3. Select ‘SRES serial number ledgers’.
4. Select the serial numbers to be updated.
5. Click the ‘Update status or models’ button.
6. Select the type of update required.  This can be either:
   • Update the battery serial number status
   • Remove models from serial numbers.
7. Answer the required questions, complete the declaration and submit.

Register as an API user

1. Log in to Online Services.
2. Enter the URL https://onlineservices.cer.gov.au/apikey (you can’t navigate here; you must enter the URL or click the hyperlink).
3. Click ‘Register’ button (only needed once).
4. Click ‘Generate New Client Secret’ button.
5. Make sure you save the Client Secret as it will be hidden after the page is refreshed. You can generate a new one if lost.
6. Use the API details and client secret in your API tool.  This will return a response including a bearer token needed to upload data. This token expires after an hour.
7. Email SolarPanelValidation@cer.gov.au for API instructions and finalisation of your battery serial number ledger API registration.
8. Sign the declaration (only required every 90 days) and upload serial numbers following the instructions provided.

To upload serial numbers using an API, your declaration must be current and updated every 90 days.

Check your declaration

If the declaration is no longer current, you will receive an error message with the terms that require signing. For instructions on how to check your declaration or other questions related to API, contact us. 

Some battery serial numbers contain more than 15 digits. Spreadsheet applications may automatically convert long numeric values to scientific notation (for example, 6.51232E+17) or change digits when the file is saved.

To avoid this issue:

• Format the ‘Serial Number’ column as text.
• Enter or paste your serial numbers after the ‘Serial Number’ column has been formatted.
• Save the file as a CSV file.
• If reopening your saved file, do not apply conversions to CSV data.

If your spreadsheet application automatically applies conversions to the CSV data when reopening the CSV file, you may need to re-enable the option that notifies you when the application is about to apply automatic conversions. To do this when using Microsoft Excel, follow the steps below once you have opened a spreadsheet: 

1. Select the ‘File’ menu item.
2. Select ‘Options’ on the bottom of the left-hand menu.
3. Select ‘Data’.
4. Tick the 'When loading a .csv file or similar file, notify me of any automatic data conversions check' box.
5. Click OK.

You should also refer to your spreadsheet application's guidance documentation for instructions on:

• formatting cells as text
• disabling automatic conversion of values
• enabling conversion warnings or notifications
• saving and exporting CSV files.

New battery serial numbers can be added to the ledger and can be linked to models by uploading a file that contains one or more records. When preparing your data download the Add battery serial numbers and/or link to models CSV template. You can also create a CSV file using a row for each serial number-model combination and the following column headings:

• Supplier ABN
• Manufacturer
• Brand
• Model
• Serial number

Validation rules

• All details must be provided in the uploaded file
• The model and the model’s brand and manufacturer must match those registered with the Clean Energy Council (CEC)
• The legal entity who provides the ABN must be an authorised supplier of the model and match what is registered with the CEC

Serial numbers for solar battery modules should be marked ineligible in the ledger if they are not eligible to be registered for STCs. This may be due to data entry errors, the module not meeting eligibility requirements (for example, not meeting Australian Standards) or if the product is subject to a recall.

Existing battery serial numbers can have their status updated by editing the serial number in Online Services or by uploading a file. When preparing your data to upload, download the Update battery serial numbers status CSV template. You can alternatively create a csv file with the following column headings:

• Supplier ABN
• Manufacturer
• Serial number
• Status
• Change reason

Validation rules

• You must always provide the following details:
  • Supplier ABN
  • Manufacturer
  • Serial Number
  • Status
• The status provided must be either ‘Eligible’ or ‘Ineligible’
• If the status is ineligible, a reason for changing must be provided from the following options:
  • Ineligible product - Not for the Australian market
  • Product recalled - Defective battery
  • Product recalled - Damaged battery
  • Data error - Invalid serial number
  • Other (only to be used when none of the other change reasons apply)
• To update a serial number, it must already exist in the ledger and match the supplier’s ABN

Models that have been incorrectly linked to a serial number can be unlinked by editing the serial number in Online Services, or by uploading a file. When preparing your data to upload, download the Remove battery models related to battery serial numbers CSV template, or create a csv file. Create a row for each serial number-model combination and use the following column headings:

• Supplier ABN
• Serial number
• Manufacturer
• Brand
• Model

Module serial numbers must be linked to at least one Clean Energy Council approved model. Remove any models that can't be formed when the module is stacked with other solar battery modules. 

Validation rules

• All details must be provided in the uploaded file
• The serial number and model must already exist in the ledger and match with the supplier who provided the ABN
• The model and the model’s brand and manufacturer must match the details as registered with the CEC
• There must be at least one model that remains linked to the serial number. If there are no models linked to the serial number, set the status of the serial number to ineligible, or link it to another model prior to removing this serial number-model link

Before a new user can be added, they will need to have an Online Services account. Read more about creating an Online Services account. A new user can be added by an organisation’s admin.

1. Click ‘Manage organisation’ in the top right-hand corner.
2. Click ‘Manage users’ in the left-hand menu.
3. Click ‘Add user’.
4. Enter the new user’s email address.
5. Select ‘Add user’ to finalise.

Once the user has been added they will display as invited.

The invited user can then log into Online Services to open and accept the invitation that appears in their inbox.

Permissions and the user’s association with the organisation can be managed through ‘Manage users’.

Assigning general permissions

General permissions allow a user to view and manage the account details and other users linked to the organisation.

Permissions can be set to:

• Admin: allows a user to edit account details and manage other user’s permissions/access.
• Basic: allows a user to view other users and their permissions. You can also update a user’s relationship to the organisation here.

To add general permissions for a selected user:

1. Select the ‘General’ tab.
2. Select the required permissions.
3. Click ‘Update’ to save any changes.