Under the Carbon Farming Initiative Act the Clean Energy Regulator has 90 days to process project registrations, variations and crediting applications.
However, under normal business as usual conditions, the Clean Energy Regulator is usually able to process project registrations, variations and crediting applications within about six weeks or 30 business days.
| Application | Legislative timeframe | Average processing timeframe |
|---|
| Project registration | 90 days | Six weeks/30 business days |
| Project variation | 90 days | Six weeks/30 business days |
| Project crediting | 90 days | Six weeks/30 business days |
These processing times are indicative only. Individual processing times will vary depending on a range of factors including the complexity of the application and whether or not it is complete.
What you can do to help
To assist us to process your application in the shortest possible timeframe there are certain steps an applicant can take:
- Get your application in early, we process applications on first-come-first-served basis.
- This is particularly important where projects are being submitted prior to an auction or where participants have a contract delivery milestone.
- Submit a complete application, ensure that you have understood all the requirements of participating in the Emissions Reduction Fund and provided all the relevant information.
- Where possible, avoid peak processing periods – for example avoid submitting crediting applications in the lead up to an auction.
Factors that will delay our processing timeframes
- The quality and detail of information provided in connection with an application.
- The complexity and newness of the method.
- Current assessment workloads.
- Avoid calling Clean Energy Regulator assessment staff directly to follow-up on the progress of an application – this can slow down all assessments.
Note: If you haven’t heard from us regarding the status of your application, this generally means the project is still under assessment. Requests for further information are typically sent early in the assessment process, generally within 2 weeks of receiving an application. If assessment of a project application might lead to refusal, we aim to contact applicants early in the assessment process.
If you do have questions regarding the status of your application you can contact the agency by phone on 1300 553 542 Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm (AEDST) or you can email our enquiries service at
enquiries@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au