Clean Energy Council appointed as Australia’s solar module and inverter product assurance body

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The initiative does not include battery energy storage systems (BESS). Image: Brighte.

Australia’s Clean Energy Council (CEC) has been named the product listing body for solar PV modules and inverters eligible under the Australian government’s small-scale renewable energy scheme (SRES).

The Federal government initiative encourages investment in small-scale renewable energy technologies, including rooftop solar PV, solar water heaters, and air-sourced heat pumps.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The CEC has been reappointed to the role after being nominated by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) in July 2024. This enables the organisation to determine each product’s eligibility to be listed for small-scale technology certificates in the SRES.

The Council plans to implement several reforms to the scheme. Upcoming changes include streamlining processes, allowing applicants to easily track their applications, enhancing customer service and response times, and improving communication regarding programme updates.

Additionally, programme governance will be strengthened through the establishment of a manufacturer working group and regular performance reporting to the industry and the CER.

Under the SRES scheme, consumers are entitled to small-scale technology certificates, which can be sold to recoup a portion of the cost of purchasing and installing the system. This has helped bolster installed rooftop solar PV capacity, which in 2023 surpassed 20GW across Australia. However, this has slowed in recent months, sparking the CEC to call for a national strategy to bolster uptake in early June.

The product listing under the SRES only covers solar modules and inverters, it doesn’t cover batteries.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton said the organisation is proud to continue its stewardship of the products assurance role for small-scale renewable energy and will now focus on enhancing the programme.

“Small-scale renewables are a critical and growing segment of Australia’s clean energy future, driven by millions of households and businesses,” Thornton said.

“Our focus and indeed our application to the Clean Energy Regulator included a detailed plan for program improvement and we have already taken steps to drive enhancements including improving the user experience through our online product listings and we have doubled the capacity of our Products team and are actively working to bring on more staff to meet what are unprecedented levels of demand.”

Read Next

May 20, 2025
Solar PV additions have slowed down in the first quarter of 2025 in India, with 6.7GW, according to a report from Mercom India Research.
May 20, 2025
Changes to tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could “jeopardise” nearly 300 US solar and energy storage manufacturing facilities, according to trade body the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
May 20, 2025
Octopus Australia has received grid connection approval from AEMO for a 300MW solar-plus-storage site in New South Wales.
May 20, 2025
Australia’s Victoria government has proposed seven REZ for the state, emphasising these will help achieve its target of 2.7GW of utility-scale solar PV generation by 2040.
Premium
May 19, 2025
The increasing sophistication of inverters means they have a role in everything from cybersecurity to home energy management.
May 19, 2025
Swedish solar developer OX2 has received development consent from the New South Wales government in Australia for a 90MW solar-plus-storage project.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
May 21, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 8, 2025
Asia