Important
The Clean Energy Regulator recently updated the application form and guidance material to fix a minor formatting issue. Both versions of the application form will be accepted if submitted by 5 pm (AEST) 29 September 2023.
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is seeking applications for one solar panel and inverter product listing body under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The CER's application and nomination process is being conducted in accordance with the
Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 (REE Regulations).
The nominated solar panel and inverter product listing body (PLB) will have an ongoing relationship with the CER in maintaining the integrity in the approval and listing of solar panels and inverters eligible for use in the SRES. The PLB must comply with all relevant regulatory requirements set out in the REE Regulations. Applicants should read the
application form and
guidance document carefully before they apply to be the nominated.
Watch our
PLB application round webinar for more information on the application process.
Application round dates
The application round opened on 29 June 2023 and will run for 3 months.
Applications must be submitted by 5 pm (AEST) 29 September 2023.
Applicants
The CER will accept application from the following types of legal entities:
- Individual/sole trader
- Partnership
- Company
- Body corporate
- Sole director company
- Consortium
- Trustee
- Company Limited.
If a consortium applies, this must be clearly indicated in the application form and the lead member of the consortium must sign the application.
Completing the application form
Applicants must complete the CER
documentasset:CER-RET-048 - Application form to become the nominated solar photovoltaic (PV) and inverter product listing body. A
documentasset:CER-RET-047 - Guidance for prospective product listing body has been developed to assist applicants to complete the form. To satisfy the requirements listed in Regulation 20AE(4) of the REE Regulations, applicants must provide information on each of the following:
- applicant and contact officer details
- the efficiency, integrity and effectiveness of your proposed processes, including testing and verification processes for including solar panels and inverters on an approved list
- your capacity to publish lists of approved solar panels and inverters
- the proposed fees to be charged to approve and list solar panels and inverters
- any other matters specified in the form and guidance material.
Submitting the application form
Applicants must email their completed, scanned application form and any supporting documents to
cer-sresreforms@cer.gov.au by 5 pm (AEST) on 29 September 2023.
The signed application form must be saved as a single scanned file and not split into parts.
Supporting documents can be supplied in the following file formats:
- Microsoft Word (.docx)
- Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)
- PDF (.pdf)
Responses must be completely self-contained. No embedded files can be included, and no hyperlinked or other material should be incorporated.
If the email and its attachments (the application and supporting documents) are larger than 10MB, they must send using multiple emails that are clearly marked by including an identifier in the subject line (for example, '1 of 3', '2 of 3', '3 of 3'). Files may be zipped to reduce their size.
It is recommended that a 'Delivery receipt' and 'Read receipt' is added to the email when sent.
Assessment of applications
Delegate proposed nomination
28 day affected person submissions
Pre-assessment check
The CER will complete a pre-assessment check on applications received by the closing date. If an application is incomplete, the CER may request more information.
The CER will assess applications against the 4 requirements set out in 20AE(4) of the REE Regulations.
Evaluation committee
The evaluation committee will assess applications in accordance with the REE Regulations and develop an evaluation report recommending a solar panel and inverter product listing body be nominated.
Delegate proposed nomination
The CER delegate will review the evaluation report and approve the proposed solar panel and inverter product listing body nomination which will be published on the CER website.
28 day affected person submissions
Affected persons will have 28 days to make written submissions regarding the proposed product listing body nomination. After considering any submissions, the CER will decide whether to nominate the proposed nominee and publish the decision on its website.
Affected persons are those impacted by the nomination such as product manufacturers or importers, state and territory regulators, accredited persons or network providers.
Final nomination
After a solar panel and inverter product listing body is nominated, the CER will communicate with industry stakeholders, including solar panel and inverter manufacturers and importers, regarding transition arrangements.
The nominated product listing body will have an ongoing working relationship with the CER. The CER will monitor the performance of the PLB in accordance with the REE Regulations.
Applicants notified
All applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of their application.
A decision on whether to nominate an applicant is not a reviewable decision under the Regulations.
Unsuccessful applicants will be offered a debrief on request to discuss the outcome of their application.
Questions about the application process
Applicants must email questions to
cer-sresreforms@cer.gov.au. Applicant questions and CER responses will be anonymised and published on this webpage during the application round, where possible.
If other CER officers are contacted regarding the application process, applicants will be asked to email the CER directly to obtain a response.
Frequently asked questions
The solar panel and inverter product listing body application round closes at 5 pm (AEST) 29 September 2023.
Applicants must complete the application form without altering the formatting of the form. Applicants can attach additional information to their application as needed.
The CER will inform unsuccessful applicants of the application round outcome. Unsuccessful applicants can request a debrief from the CER once the outcome of the process has been published on the CER's website.
An applicant can withdraw their application at any time by emailing
cer-sresreforms@cer.gov.au. The CER will confirm receipt of withdrawal.
Applicants can submit an amended application form to the CER prior to the application round closure at 5 pm (AEST) Friday 29 September 2023. The CER will only accept complete amended application forms.
Where an applicant has submitted multiple versions of an application form, the CER will evaluate the last version received. An application cannot be amended after the application round has closed, unless an applicant has applied and been approved for an extension.
Until the CER decides to nominate a solar panel and inverter product listing body, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) will continue to publish approved solar panel and inverter product lists.
The nominated solar panel and inverter product listing body is expected to commence approval and listing services within 3 months of the date of nomination, as outlined in section 13.5 of the solar panel and inverter product listing body application form.
Section 6.1.7 – PLB audit and testing program for solar products – of
documentasset: guidance document outlines the CER’s expectations for the auditing and testing of solar products.
The CER cannot provide prospective applicants with financial data, including budgets and financial forecasts.
The Clean Energy Council (CEC), as the current product listing body, has publicly available information on product listing
application fees and the number of approved
solar panels and
inverters.
The CER does not hold or publish information on the regularity of auditing and product testing that industry bodies conduct as part of the administration of their schemes. Prospective applicants should refer to section 6.1.7 of
documentasset: guidance document for further information.
The CEC, as the current product listing body, provides
publicly available information on product testing completed via their Product Assurance Program that may be of use to applicants.
Recommendation B-2 from the CER’s 2020
Integrity Review of the Rooftop Solar PV Sector recommended that more product testing be completed across industry.
The CER will implement an ongoing monitoring program and the results from each testing round will be published on the CER’s website. Information on the first round of testing will be published on the CER’s website once finalised.
The CER cannot provide applicants with data on the exact number of solar panels and inverters currently under assessment for first time listing or those seeking a renewal listing. The CER can provide prospective applicants, upon request in writing, an estimate of product listing increases over the past 5 years. This data is based on the
approved product lists the CER publishes to assist registered agents to bulk register STCs.
The CEC, as the current product listing body, also has publicly available information on product listing
application fees and the number of approved
solar panels and
inverters that may assist prospective applicants.
The CER will assess all applicant submitted material (application form responses and attachments) that relate to the evaluation criteria set out in the application form.
The CER must receive application round enquiries by 5 pm (AEST) 15 September 2023. All enquiries will be anonymised and published on the CER website, where possible.