​Before designing or installing a small-scale system you must be aware of a number of requirements which will determine if the system is eligible for small-scale technology certificates (STCs) after it is installed.

STCs can only be created once a system is fully installed and is capable of producing electricity or delivering hot water, see the complete installation page for further information.

From 1 April 2022, eligibility requirements for small-scale technology certificates will change.

• Solar PV installations on or before 31 March 2022
  
• Solar PV installations on or after 1 April 2022

Solar PV installations on or before 31 March 2022

Before designing or installing a small generation unit you must:

• hold AUD$5 million in public liability insurance
  
• be accredited by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to design and install small generation units eligible under the scheme
• hold an unrestricted electrical licence issued by the state or territory authority for the place where the unit was installed, and
  
• ensure the components to be installed as part of the system are listed on the CEC list of approved products, including:
• Approved PV modules
  
• Approved inverters (which includes off grid inverters)
  

During the installation you must:

• ensure you comply with the CEC code of conduct for installations
• ensure the installation complies with the CEC design and install guidelines
  
• ensure the installation complies with the following standards, where applicable:
• AS/NZS 5033, Installation and safety requirements for photovoltaic (PV) arrays
  
• AS/NZS 1170.2, Structural design actions, Part 2: Wind actions
• AS/NZS 4509.1, Stand-alone power systems, Part 1: Safety and installation
• AS 4086.2, Secondary batteries for use with stand-alone power systems, Part 2: Installation and maintenance
• AS/NZS 3000, Wiring Rules
• AS/NZS 1768, Lightning protection
  
• AS 4777, Grid connection of energy systems via inverters.
  

Solar PV installations on or after 1 April 2022

Before designing or installing a small generation unit you must:

• be accredited by the CEC to design and install small generation units eligible under the scheme
• hold an unrestricted electrical licence issued by the state or territory authority for the place where the unit was installed, and
• ensure the components to be installed as part of the system are listed on the CEC list of approved products, including:
  • Approved PV modules
  • Approved inverters

During the design and installation, you must:

• design the unit in accordance with all relevant requirements of the accreditation scheme under which you are accredited. This includes all relevant Australian Standards and local grid connection requirements
• comply with the installation requirements of the accreditation scheme under which you are accredited
• comply with all local, State and Territory government requirements for the installation of the unit
• use an approved eligible model of inverter
• use an approved eligible PV module
• comply with the on-site attendance requirements for the installation or supervision of the installation, and
• install the system to perform consistently with the design of the unit

After the installation the accredited designer and installer must provide the creator of the STCs with a signed written statement which certifies your compliance with the above requirements.

These documents must be completed and obtained prior to the creation of certificates.

The Clean Energy Regulator reserves the right to impose penalties on individuals who provide false or misleading information which results in the improper creation of small-scale technology certificates. See scheme compliance for more information.

Electrical work

To be eligible to create STCs, the system must be installed by a licensed electrician. If the electrical wiring does not involve alternating current of 50 or more volts and direct current of 120 or more volts, then the system must be installed by a person that has relevant training, experience and qualifications to perform the work.

Installation attendance requirements pre-1 April 2022

Installer attendance must be in accordance with the CEC install and supervise guidelines for accredited installers (in particular, section 6). The same CEC accredited installer must either undertake the installation or supervise the installation by others and physically attend the site at job set-up, mid-installation check-up and testing and commissioning.

As the accredited installer of a small-scale solar PV system, you must be able to demonstrate that you have met the on-site attendance requirements for the installation at the address listed on the documentasset:STC assignment form and the compulsory written statements.

Proof of your attendance at the installation must include a written statement by the system owner or their appointed representative that the accredited installer either physically installed the system or supervised the installation. In the event a representative is nominated by the owner of the system, the written statement should explain the relationship between the owner and their representative e.g. tenant, relative, neighbour. A builder or property developer may also provide the written statement, as long as they are not also acting as the CEC accredited installer.

The agency may request additional information to demonstrate you were on site in accordance, with section 6 of the CEC install and supervise guidelines for accredited installers. Failure to provide requested additional information confirming the system meets scheme eligibility criteria may result in claims for STCs being failed.

Installation attendance requirements from 1 April 2022

From 1 April 2022, a written statement from the owner of the system (the on-site verification statement) will no longer be required as on-site attendance requirements have been incorporated into the installer’s written statement as outlined in the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment (Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and Other Measures) Regulations 2021.

For an installation to be eligible for STCs accredited installers attendance must be in accordance with the CEC install and supervise guidelines for accredited installers (in particular, section 6). The same CEC accredited installer must either undertake the installation or supervise the installation by others and physically attend the site at job set-up, mid-installation check-up and testing and commissioning.

Accredited installers must be able to demonstrate that they have met on-site attendance requirements, this could include photographic identification of the accredited installer (with time and date metadata or geo-location data) during installation job set up, mid-installation check-up and testing and commissioning.

Accredited installers will need to provide a written statement to the creator of the STCs stating that:

• as the accredited installer of the system, they were on-site to install the system or supervise the installation of the system by others in accordance with the relevant accreditation scheme’s requirements, and
• as the accredited installer of the system, they have evidence that demonstrates that on-site attendance requirements have been met.