When you install an eligible small-scale renewable energy system at your home or business, you may be eligible to earn financial incentives.

Before you install a renewable energy system, make sure you understand:

  • what type of system you should install
  • the installation requirements
  • which systems and components are eligible
  • which installers and designers are approved under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme.

Types of small-scale renewable energy systems

There are 5 types of small-scale renewable energy systems eligible under the scheme:

  • solar photovoltaic (PV)
  • wind turbines
  • hydro systems
  • solar water heaters
  • air source heat pumps.

Classification of a small-scale system is based on the system's capacity or how much energy the system displaces. Systems with higher capacity may be classified as power stations. Power stations can be accredited under the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target and may be eligible for large-scale generation certificates.

New systems

To be eligible for STCs, newly installed small-scale systems must meet certain requirements.

Small generation units

A solar PV, wind or hydro system must:

Solar water heater systems

Solar hot water systems and air source heat pumps must:

Find out more about how to install a solar water heater.

Expanding, upgrading or replacing existing systems 

You should consider your options and compare the benefits and costs of installing a new or expanded system. This includes:

  • electrical wiring upgrades
  • compliance with current standards
  • operating efficiency
  • hidden costs of changes or upgrades
  • impacts on feed-in tariffs.

If you are expanding a system, you may need to replace or upgrade components of your system to participate in the scheme. It's important to note that systems with replaced panels that previously received STCs aren't eligible for additional STCs.

Expanding systems and claiming STCs

If you expand your system before your initial claim for STCs is approved, you risk not being able to claim any STCs for the system. For example, if your initial STC claim for a small-scale system fails, you may not be able to re-create STCs for an expanded system above 100 kW.

Find out more about upgrading a small-scale system.

We have provided some examples to help you determine if your new system, or updates to an existing system, is eligible.

Small-scale technology certificate eligibility for recalled products

For a small-scale renewable energy system to be eligible to claim STCs, the system must meet the requirements under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001. Under the Regulations, a product model is ineligible for STCs if it's subject to a recall under Australian Consumer Law.

We'll communicate with industry following a recall notice publication from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The product recall notice will include instructions for repairing the product.

We may consider a product eligible for STCs if you repair it as outlined in the recall notice.

You should contact the manufacturer to arrange the repair. Once repaired, send evidence of the repair and the product serial number to the manufacturer. The manufacturer will pass these details to us to consider STC processing.

If you have questions about a recalled product, contact the manufacturer or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Current recalled products

For support, email us at deemedunits@cer.gov.au or contact us.