The Clean Energy Regulator audits certificates created under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, and during the audit process, small-scale technology certificates may be failed.

There are many reasons why small-scale technology certificates may be failed by the Clean Energy Regulator. Certificates may be failed if the person creating them:

• provides incorrect, invalid or duplicate information (such as duplicate serial numbers or a system installed at the same address)
• supplies incorrect or incomplete documents 
• has a system which is not eligible or classified as a completed installation by the Clean Energy Regulator, or
• has installed a system which does not meet the Clean Energy Council design and install guidelines.

What you can do about failed certificates

When certificates are failed by the Clean Energy Regulator, you will be notified through the REC Registry​. If you have been notified of failed certificates, or have requested to fail them, you may recreate them if the failure notification advises you to do so, all errors have been rectified, the system is eligible and the system was installed less than 12 months ago.

For eligible systems, you can re-create small-scale technology certificates by:

• following the small-scale technology certificate creation process and re-entering the corrected information into the REC Registry
• selecting 'Yes' to 'Are you creating certificates for a system that has previously been failed by the Clean Energy Regulator' and entering the failed accreditation code. Also insert an  explanatory note in the free text field, detailing why the small-scale technology certificates were originally failed, and
• if required, providing the Clean Energy Regulator with additional information in the 'additional address information' or 'additional system information' field to prove the system is eligible, including:
• location details and site maps
• photographs
• Australian Business Number (ABN)
• ownership
• occupancy and rates notices, or
• statutory declarations.

The Clean Energy Regulator aims to validate re-created small-scale technology certificates within 4 weeks. If additional information is required, this process may take longer.

The deliberate improper creation of one or more certificates is considered a criminal offence under Section 24 of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. Any instance of small-scale technology certificates found to be improperly created may result in referral for prosecution, regardless of the reason of improper creation.