Under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, the Clean Energy Regulator is responsible for managing the register of solar water heaters, which lists all solar water heaters and air source heat pumps eligible under the scheme, and the assessment of applications for new systems to be added to the register.

Before applying to the Clean Energy Regulator to have a solar water heater assessed, manufacturers should check the system is eligible and meets the requirements outlined below.

The Clean Energy Council is responsible for maintaining registers for components of solar panels systems that are eligible under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. Visit the Clean Energy Council website if you are interested in submitting an inverter or PV module, for approval.

Eligibility requirements for solar water heaters

To be eligible for the register of solar water heaters, all systems must meet the following requirements set by the Clean Energy Regulator and Standards Australia.

Solar water heater models with storage capacity of 700 litres or less

Solar water heater models with a capacity of 700 litres or less must be given a model product certification to Australian and New Zealand Standard 2712:2007 by a conformity assessment body. Note: only air source heat pump water heaters with storage capacity of 425 litres or less are eligible under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

Solar water heater models with storage capacity of more than 700 litres

Solar water heater models with a storage capacity of more than 700 litres must have components that are certified to the Australian standard(s) relevant to that part of the solar water heater, by a conformity assessment body. The list of relevant standards can be found in clause 1.3 of Australian and New Zealand Standard 2712:2007.

Models with storage capacity of more than 700 litres must also meet the storage tank requirements set out in Australian Standard 4692.1:2005, or the requirements set out in the documentasset:Heat loss test procedure for solar water heaters with a capacity more than 630L.