Product listing body nomination consultation
We’re seeking submissions on our proposal to nominate the Clean Energy Council as the solar panel and inverter product listing body under the regulation 20AE of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001. Read about the proposed listing service and find out how to make a submission on our consultation page.
With the support of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, we conducted an integrity review of the Australian rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) sector in 2020.
The review looked at the sector's unprecedented growth and evaluated past consumer complaints. These included:
- defective installations
- misuse of installer accreditation details
- safety and quality concerns.
The review found the current scheme was largely effective with scope for improvement. The Australian Government accepted 12 out of 13 recommendations we made. Our recommendations covered:
- tightening Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme eligibility requirements for installers, solar panels and inverters
- promoting better consumer outcomes, including new legal obligations for solar retailers.
The government committed $19.2 million to carry out our recommendations.
Find out more about the government's response to the review.
Changes to the scheme
Phase one
The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and Other Measures) Regulations 2021 became law on 17 December 2021. The amendments:
- streamline reporting requirements for installers, solar retailers and manufacturers
- give us a more direct role in setting requirements for approved solar PV components
- improve other aspects of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.
We started putting in place the amendments during 2022 and will complete them in 2024.
We changed the solar PV requirements in April 2022 for each participant under the scheme. This included:
- new and updated installer and designer written statements
- new requirements for solar retailer written statements
- changes to the eligibility of components.
Read about the current requirements for each participant:
We can now declare non-compliant industry participants ineligible to take part in the scheme. This helps:
- ensure the integrity of the scheme
- maintain the integrity of the rooftop solar PV sector
- provide benefits to participants doing the right thing.
Phase 2
Under regulation 20AE of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001, we proposed to nominate the Clean Energy Council as the solar panel and inverter product listing body for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. We are seeking your feedback on how this decision may impact you.
After the 28-day submission process, we will provide further information on the transition arrangements for the new product listing scheme.
Product listing body applications were evaluated against the 4 criteria set out in the regulations. Read about the proposed listing services and how to make a submission on our consultation page.
After an application round, we announced Solar Accreditation Australia as the new accreditation scheme operator in February 2024.
Accredited designers and installers had 3 months to transfer to the new operator which ended on 29 May 2024.
To ensure solar panels meet Australian standards, we introduced a solar panel testing program in 2022. The program aims to improve the quality of solar panels by checking:
- for any visual indications of fault or damage
- their power output performance in a ‘standard’ test environment
- for microcracks, finger interruptions, non-uniform cells and shunts using infrared photography
- for any moisture penetration when panels are submerged in water
- their performance in high temperatures and humidity.
We publish the results of each testing round we undertake.