IMPROVING SAFETY AND STANDARDS FOR SOLAR PANELS IN AUSTRALIA

For a small-scale system to be eligible for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, it must have an accredited designer and installer.

The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia. It provides the Solar Accreditation qualifications for individuals to install systems that are eligible under the Renewable Energy Target. System components, including the inverter and solar panels, must also be on the Clean Energy Council's list of approved products.

To ensure the quality of solar panel installations on homes and businesses, the Clean Energy Council runs training and professional development programs for its accredited installers. It also takes action against installers as necessary. For example, in 2016 the Clean Energy Council took action against 66 installers who were required to prove competency, and suspended accreditation of 14 installers as a result.

During 2016, the Clean Energy Council also made changes to the standards for products on its approved products list to improve consumer and safety standards. This led to removing a significant number of outdated product lines from the list.

In addition, a new inverter standard now requires smarter inverters that enable solar and storage systems to provide services that better assist with management of the grid.

With this tightening of safety standards and product quality, the number of inverters on the Clean Energy Council approved product list is now 532 (reduced from 1526) and there are now 37 approved suppliers (reduced from 95).

The Clean Energy Council has also established an independent committee to review any decisions it makes regarding the approved products list. The Product Listing Review Panel will hear any appeals against these decisions. The panel consists of three members, all of whom are independent from suppliers and the Clean Energy Council.

The Clean Energy Council provided this content.