On Thursday 19 December 2024, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) issued a Notice of Intent to suspend the registration of NetZero Environmental Group Pty Ltd (NetZero) from the Renewable Energy Target scheme under section 30A of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. 

A Notice of Intent (NOI) is a document that outlines a proposed decision to be made by the CER. NOIs are based on the information available to the us at the time of issuing the NOI. 

On Thursday 5 December 2024, the Clean Energy Regulator executed a monitoring warrant on the Melbourne offices of a business involved in solar panel retail, installation, and renewable energy certificate creation.

The purpose of the warrant was to assess the company’s compliance with the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000.

An investigation by the Clean Energy Regulator has led to a total of 330 charges being laid against a solar retailer and 2 individuals in Western Australia. The offences relate to the provision of:

• false and misleading information contrary to section 145.5(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
• false statutory declarations contrary to section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth). 

These offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment and 4 years’ imprisonment respectively.

Australia has reached a major milestone of 4 million small-scale renewable energy systems which have been validated with small-scale technology certificates (STCs).

This major milestone makes the Clean Energy Regulator’s (CER) Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) the Australian Government’s most successful renewable energy scheme.

Rooftop solar is playing a significant role in the Australian Government’s target to achieve 82% renewable energy by 2030, while at the same time, reducing the cost of living for energy consumers.

On 7 November 2024, the Clean Energy Regulator permanently suspended the registration of Universal Exim Pty Ltd under section 30A of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. Universal Exim can no longer create renewable energy certificates.

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has been nominated as the product listing body (PLB) for solar panels and inverters eligible under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). 

The product listing body plays a critical role in ensuring Australians maintain confidence in the quality standards of renewable energy products for households and small businesses. Solar panels and inverters must be approved by the product listing body to be eligible for small-scale technology certificates (STCs) under the SRES. 

The compliance update for July to September 2024 is now available.

We take compliance action to ensure the integrity of our schemes. The update sets out our expectations of compliance by scheme participants and highlights the areas of focus for compliance action.

It features updates on our key compliance activities for the quarter:

On 18 October 2024, the Federal Court removed a stay on compliance action we took against Greenbot Pty Ltd (Greenbot).
This means that Greenbot cannot create renewable energy certificates under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

The Court has continued the stay on our decision to terminate the deed allowing Greenbot to be an app provider under the Solar Panel Validation (SPV) Initiative. The Court’s order means that Greenbot will be allowed to participate in the SPV Initiative while the Court is reviewing the matter.  

On Friday 20 September 2024, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) permanently suspended the registration of Emerging Energy Solutions Group Pty Ltd (Emerging Energy) under section 30A of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. Emerging Energy can no longer create renewable energy certificates.

The decision follows liquidators being appointed to Emerging Energy on 24 July 2024. Since 1 August 2024 Emerging Energy’s REC Registry account has been under control of the liquidators.