Solar batteries are now eligible
The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 have been amended to expand eligibility of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to include solar batteries.
We expect demand for batteries to be high during the roll-out of the program. Consumers can expect that there may be longer than usual wait times for both ordering a new solar battery, or having a new solar battery installed.
Solar battery retailers and registered agents can expect delays in processing STCs while we establish our systems.
We have planned a measured and phased roll-out to make sure only certified products and accredited installers are involved.
Solar battery installers, designers and retailers must meet certain requirements for their systems to be eligible for small-scale technology certificates (STC) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
Safety and accreditation
Only trained, accredited and licensed designers and installers can install solar batteries. The installations must comply with:
- relevant state and territory laws
- Commonwealth regulations
- electrical safety standards.
Designers and installers must be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). Accreditation requirements cover design, installation, supervision and system safety for the relevant system type (off-grid, on-grid, solar batteries).
Installations must use products listed by the Clean Energy Council (CEC). If a product does not meet program standards, it may be removed from the approved list.
Supervision of installations
The solar battery must be installed by, or under the supervision of, an accredited battery installer. Supervision must be on site and in accordance with SAA rules.
Each installation must comply with:
- jurisdictional electrical safety regulations
- SAA’s installation and supervision rules.
Installer on-site verification photos
As an installer you must take:
- geotagged and time-stamped photos (‘selfies’) at each phase of installation, including:
- job setup
- mid-installation
- testing and commissioning
- a final ‘completion’ photo that matches the test date on the electrical certificate of compliance (or equivalent).
The evidence metadata needs to match the installation time from start to finish. You need to explain if your installation took more or less time than expected under normal conditions.
You are not allowed to return to the site after installation to take photos or falsify documents to match photos taken after installation.
If installing a solar battery and solar PV at the same time, you must take separate on-site verification photos for each system.
We may fail an STC claim if your evidence doesn't show the 3 stages of installation.
The installer must also take geotagged and time-stamped photos showing that the serial numbers on each solar battery and inverter (if new) match the listed numbers in the REC Registry. Where the battery contains individual battery modules within a CEC listed model, please provide photos of the main battery unit as well as the individual modules that make up the unit.
Solar batteries partially installed before 1 July 2025
Solar batteries roughed-in before 1 July must be tested as capable of storing or discharging energy on or after 1 July 2025, as shown on the certificate of electrical compliance.
Solar batteries tested before 1 July 2025 won’t be eligible for STCs.
If installation work (e.g. rough-in) started before 1 July 2025, the installer must:
- provide time-stamped attendance photos to confirm work began before 1 July 2025
- make sure photos align with the final testing date on the state or territory certificate of electrical compliance for eligibility verification.
Maximum daily installations
SAA transitional arrangements extended
SAA has extended transitional arrangements for systems roughed-in between 6 April to 30 June and considered ‘ready to commission’.
These arrangements will be in place until 31 August 2025.
A ready to commission system includes either:
- a solar battery roughed-in between 6 April to 30 June
- a solar PV system and a solar battery both roughed-in at one address between 6 April to 30 June (counted as one ready to commission system).
Until 31 August 2025, installers can sign off one of the following combinations in a day:
- 2 solar battery installations
- 2 solar PV system installations
- 1 solar PV system installation and 1 solar battery installation
- 1 solar PV system installation and 2 ready to commission systems
- 1 solar battery system installation and 2 ready to commission systems
- 4 ready to commission systems.
Installers must comply with daily installation limits set by SAA to claim STCs.
No more than 2 installations can be claimed in a single day per installer. An installation may include:
- 2 solar batteries
- 2 solar PV systems
- 1 solar PV system and 1 solar battery.
Written statement and documentation
The installer and designer must provide a written compliance statement confirming they have:
- met all accreditation design and installation requirements
- met all local, state and territory requirements
- a copy of the design, and the system installed met or modified the design to meet the accreditation requirements
- had a licensed electrician complete the work and provide their accreditation details
- met on-site attendance requirements and provided evidence
- used approved solar batteries and inverters in the installation.
We encourage you to refer to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Cheaper Home Batteries Program) Regulations 2025 – Federal Register of Legislation to ensure the written compliance statements meet all of the requirements.
You can use our example designer and installer written statement as a guide.
Installers and retailers must also follow:
- consumer law
- program conduct guidelines
- warranty standards
Written statements must be true and correct and not contain false or misleading information. Non-compliance may result in the removal of a product or installer from the program, loss of electrical licence, and civil or criminal prosecution.
Information we collect
We collect information about storage systems installed with small generation units. We share this information with state and territory electrical safety regulators, DNSPs and other electrical and consumer affairs bodies. This allows us to monitor for compliance, including through data matching.
If scheme requirements are not met and false or misleading information has been provided, we can take compliance action. Read more about our compliance approach.
Distributed Energy Resources register
We also share information with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which manages the national Distributed Energy Resources (DER) register.
The DER register includes information about energy storage systems installed at homes or businesses. It helps improve:
- safety and security of the electricity grid
- grid operation and planning by AEMO
- safety for consumers, line workers and installers
- the quality of battery data published or shared.