You must meet all key requirements when applying for power station accreditation. This includes preparing documentation to:
- support your application
- prove your power station meets key requirements.
Planning and approval requirements
You must provide evidence of meeting the local, state, territory or Commonwealth requirements your power station operates in with your application. Required approvals and licensing can differ depending on:
- state or territory requirements
- local government areas
- the type of power station.
We've listed standard documentation for approvals you should provide in your application. Terms may differ depending on the state or territory. Ensure you provide the equivalent approval.
You must provide evidence if you're exempt or if a requirement doesn't apply. Evidence could include:
- an extract of the relevant legislation and how the requirement doesn't apply
- written documentation from a local authority stating the particular approval isn't required
- evidence from an authoritative source showing an exemption or substitute requirement.
Include an explanation of how the evidence is relevant to your power station.
If you don't have all documents available when starting your application, provide as much as possible and supply a reason for it not being complete.
Refer to the 'properly made checklist' for ensuring your application is at least a 'genuine application'.
We have listed some of the required approvals. You must check and provide all other relevant state or territory requirements for your power station.
Development consent or planning permit
If you prepared an environmental impact statement, provide a copy with your application.
Construction certificate or building permit or approval
- A building approval confirms the structure complies with relevant building laws
- A construction certificate confirms the construction plans are consistent with the consent given or may form part of the development consent process
- A certificate of electrical safety or compliance confirms the electrical work carried out has been tested and complies with electricity standards, legislation and requirements.
You must provide any certificates needed or listed in the required approvals. These certificates support the work's completion and compliance.
List or highlight the required certificates in the development consent document. You may need a:
- certificate of occupancy and use or occupancy permit
- certificate of final inspection
- certificate of compliance
- building certificate.
Connection agreement
An agreement enabling the generator to export electricity into the network. This may incorporate an agreement to import electricity from the network as well.
Generation licence or electricity licence
A licence to supply or sell electricity generated by the power station. This licence is different to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) generator registration. A generation licence is only needed in certain state or territories, check relevant state and territory requirements.
AEMO registration
If applicable, provide your AEMO registration and confirmation of your Marginal Loss Factor. You can provide this during the accreditation assessment process.
Power purchase agreement signed electricity sale agreement or offtake agreement
An agreement for the sale or supply of electricity generated by your power station to another party.
Electricity bill
An electricity bill associated with your power station's connection point or commercial sub meter.
Solar
Structural engineering certificate or design report.
Wind and large or complex power station
You must show that you're meeting the ongoing requirements to operate. This can be a compliance plan or operation plan. You can also include an operational environment management plan as a supporting document.
Your evidence must show how your plans and procedures follow all relevant:
- laws, regulations and codes specific to electricity generation
- permits, licences and requirements under environment and planning laws.
Other complex fuel sources
We may ask you to provide additional supporting information according to your fuel source. If you have an alternative fuel source, contact us for further requirements.
Components
A 'power station' is the components (or parts) of a system that generates electricity from an eligible renewable energy source.
In your application for accreditation, include:
- a list of all components
- an electrical single line diagram.
Equipment used for production processes are not considered a part of a power station. This refers to power stations located at a facility or site. You don't need to identify this equipment in the list. You can add them on electrical single line diagrams.
Relevant legislation: Schedule 1 of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001.
Application requirements
You must provide the following when applying for accreditation. Provide this information in the energy source details in your REC Registry application.
You must provide detailed information identifying your primary components. This includes:
- type of generating technology
- make and model
- generation voltage
- photos of each component and its serial number.
For minor components, such as cabling, you only need to provide a simple description in the list.
Example: A power station of 0.693 MW capacity with solar as the eligible energy source.
List of components:
- Panels: 2100 x SolarMake-XY 330W modules
- Inverters: 13 x PowerX 50.0-400 and 1 x PowerX 20.0
- Racking: Solar panel mounting system
- Isolators
- Circuit breakers
- Cabling: AC and DC cabling.
Nameplate capacity is the intended full-load output at ideal conditions, over a period of time.
Provide the capacity in megawatts (MW) and to 4 decimal places. The capacity should reflect the capacity of the generating components.
For solar power stations, enter the DC capacity of the total solar array. For example, the number of solar panels x panels power rating.
Your electrical single line diagram must include:
- the physical address of the power station
- the generating components:
- make
- model
- quantity
- power rating.
- the make, model, serial number and location of all meters used in the calculation of LGC entitlements.
- where National Metering Identifiers and grid connection points are as applicable.
You must identify both small-scale and large-scale components on your list. This only applies if you've added more capacity to a pre-existing small generation unit.
In your components list identify:
- which components form the pre-existing small generation unit – include the registration code (the PVD code) for the system (if available)
- the capacity of the pre-existing small generation unit.
Also identify the pre-existing small generation unit components on your electrical single line diagram. This should clearly show the separate metering arrangements for the eligible large-scale components.