The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme creates a financial incentive for individuals and small businesses to install small generation units, solar water heaters and air source heat pumps.
Battery storage systems and components are not eligible to participate in the scheme, however, approved systems with an integrated battery may be eligible.
Information for installers, retailers and agents
Distributed energy resources (DER) register
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) operates the national distributed energy resources (DER) register.
The DER register is a database which stores information about a DER device installed onsite at a residential or business location.
Having access to a database of installed DER will help AEMO manage the electricity system by improving the information about how many batteries and small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) are being installed and where they are.
The DER register is currently designed for Australia’s east coast electricity market and does not include Western Australia.
DER register information for installers
Installers provide information to network service providers (NSPs) about solar PV and battery storage systems they install. The information required varies from state to state. Installers should contact the NSP in each relevant state to confirm information requirements.
For more information, see
AEMO’s website.
Battery storage data disclosure to the Clean Energy Regulator
The Clean Energy Regulator collects some information about battery storage systems included in the installation of small-scale generation units. We share this information with AEMO for their DER register The benefits of this data include:
- improved safety and security of power systems in the National Electricity Market
- improved operation of the electricity grid by AEMO
- improving the safety of consumers, line workers and installers, and
- the ability to publish data on battery storage systems reported to the agency.
To make disclosure of a battery systems easy, when submitting a ‘register small generation unit’ form in the REC Registry, registered agents can select the ‘Connected to an electricity grid with battery storage’ option and provide 'additional details'. Providing this information is voluntary and does not affect eligibility for small-scale technology certificates.
Every month we publish small-scale renewable energy installation and battery data on the
postcode data for small-scale installations page.
Battery storage installations and inspections
Although battery storage systems and their installation are not subject to specific Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme eligibility requirements, installations must meet all local, state, territory and federal requirements, including electrical safety. Batteries should only ever be installed by suitably qualified persons, with appropriate training, accreditation and/or licensing.
The Clean Energy Regulator inspects a statistically significant sample of small generation units, which may have an integrated battery, installed under the scheme.
The Clean Energy Regulator is not a safety regulator, and as such, any substandard or unsafe issues associated with small generation units will be referred to the relevant state and territory electrical safety regulator and the CEC.
Do CEC-accredited designers or installers require battery storage endorsement to be eligible for STCs when installing small generation units with concurrent battery storage?
Battery storage endorsement is not a Clean Energy Regulator requirement to claim STCs, however, designers and installers should consider whether or not this may breach their CEC accreditation code of conduct, or any other requirements imposed by electrical licensing authorities, electricity distribution networks or state and territory safety regulators. We encourage anyone designing a system with battery storage, or is considering transporting, installing or disposing of battery storage components to undertake relevant, specialised training.
Information for consumers
Just like solar panels, batteries should be installed by a qualified person.
The following organisations provide useful information about battery storage and installation: