The Clean Energy Regulator has proposed to nominate the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to continue as the solar panel and inverter product listing body under Australia’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
For a solar power system to qualify for Australia’s solar rebate (and some state incentives), the solar panels and inverter/s used must be included on the CEC’s approved product listings at the time of installation. The CEC also maintains a list of approved batteries that meet Australian Standards, but these aren’t covered under the SRES.
The CEC has been fulfilling this role for many years, and it’s a big job. The inverter list currently contains 1,602 products from 105 manufacturers and the panel list has 4,983 products from 111 manufacturers.
The Angus Factor
But back in 2020, then-Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor ordered a review of the SRES by the Clean Energy Regulator. Among the issues to come under scrutiny during the review were the CEC’s solar installer and designer accreditation role, and the approval process for and managing ongoing compliance of panels and solar inverters.
As a result of that review, a new installer and designer accreditation scheme operator was appointed by the Regulator. Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) officially took over those reins this year.
In 2022, the Clean Energy Regulator also undertook a public consultation on whether it should nominate an organisation to publish inverter and solar module product lists under the SRES. If it didn’t nominate an organisation, the CEC would remain the body responsible for publishing lists of approved products. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents supported the Regulator nominating a product listing body.
Maintaining The Solar Status Quo
That brings us to today, and the Clean Energy Regulator has proposed to nominate the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to continue in this role – with a significant change.
“The CEC will be accountable to us under our nomination,” stated the Regulator. “This differs to the previous co-regulatory arrangement where the CEC was legislated under the regulations.”
Describing its evaluation process as “robust, transparent and fair”, the Regulator has initiated a 28-day consultation period on the proposed nomination. It is inviting parties who will be affected to provide feedback – and that includes consumers as well as those in the industry.
Commenting on the situation, CEC CEO Kane Thornton said his organisation is proud of the role it has played to date.
“While the process will now enter a 28-day consultation period, this step is strong recognition of the technical depth, experience and professionalism of the CEC’s team and a positive outcome for industry.”
The Regulator’s proposal isn’t necessarily a slam-dunk as there has been some opposition to the CEC continuing as approved component gatekeeper. These concerns have been mainly around the time it takes the CEC to get products listed.
If the consultation process changes the proposed nomination, the Regulator will announce what its next steps will be and set a transition period for the new product listing body’s scheme.
The consultation closes 5 pm AEST on 11 August 2024 and the final nomination is expected in September 2024. Further information can be found here.
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