This consultation is now closed. We have published the outcomes on this page.
We want feedback on whether we should nominate a person or organisation to publish solar product lists under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.
Background
We're consulting on whether we should nominate an organisation to publish solar product lists.
Timeline
- Consultation: 7 November to 6 December 2022
- Decision released: March 2023 (previously 10 February 2023)
Consultation stages
Find out more about each stage of the consultation process.
Between 7 November and 6 December 2022, you can have your say on whether we should nominate any person or organisation to publish lists of approved solar products under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.
Under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001, we must undertake public consultation on whether we should nominate any organisation to publish inverter and solar panel module product lists under the scheme.
Solar panel modules and inverters must be listed as approved eligible products that meet Australian standards. Products that do not meet Australian standards are not eligible for small-scale technology certificates under the scheme.
The Clean Energy Council currently approves and maintains a list of approved eligible products. If we don't nominate an organisation, the council will continue to publish the lists of approved products.
We received submissions from:
- solar industry participants (registered agents, manufacturers or importers of solar products, installers and designers, and retailers)
- industry bodies
- owners of solar systems
- interested members of the public
- consumer advocacy groups.
We received 175 submissions during the consultation. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents supported us using our powers to nominate a product listing body in accordance with the Regulations. Eleven per cent of respondents did not support us exercising our power to nominate a product listing body.
When evaluating the future of the product listing process, we considered:
- the reasons for supporting or opposing us exercising our power to nominate a product listing body
- the percentage of supporting and opposing submissions
- the recommendations from the Integrity Review of the Rooftop Solar PV Sector.
We will design an application process to nominate a body to publish approved solar panel and inverter lists. This application round opens in May or June 2023. Subscribe to our email updates to receive information about the application process.
Until the application process is finalised, the Clean Energy Council will continue to publish the lists of approved products.
Outcomes
We have summarised the 93 non-confidential submissions received during the consultation process. Respondents are identified by their supply chain role and whether they supported us in exercising our power to nominate a product listing body.
| Non-confidential submission summary – Should the Clean Energy Regulator use its power to nominate a body to list products? | Number of Yes responses | Percentage of Yes responses | Number of No responses | Percentage of No responses | Total responses |
| Solar manufacturer/importer | 14 | 74% | 5 | 26% | 19 |
| Consumer | 17 | 94% | 1 | 6% | 18 |
| Undertakes multiple roles in the industry* | 16 | 89% | 2 | 11% | 18 |
| CEC accredited designer or installer | 10 | 77% | 3 | 23% | 13 |
| Other | 6 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 6 |
| Industry advocate/body | 5 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 5 |
| Unaccredited designer or installer | 4 | 80% | 1 | 20% | 5 |
| Researcher/consultant | 3 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 3 |
| Investor | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 2 |
| Solar retailer | 1 | 50% | 1 | 50% | 2 |
| Registered agent | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| Trainer | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% | 1 |
| Total | 80 | 86% | 13 | 14% | 93 |
* Roles may include installer, designer, solar retailer, manufacturer and importer, and registered agent.