Featured image: An accredited installer instructs an apprentice during an inverter installation.
One year of solar batteries under the SRES
July marked one year of solar battery eligibility under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
During that time, more than 450,000 batteries were installed, adding 12.85 GWh of storage capacity. It's been a huge 12 months for the industry and the renewables sector.
The first year of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a milestone worth celebrating. Industry has helped thousands of Australians embrace battery storage and strengthen our clean energy future.
As the program continues to grow, a shared focus on quality, consumer confidence and compliance will ensure households have strong trust in the systems being installed and the industry delivering them.
CER compliance crackdown:
2 installers and 21 companies banned
The Clean Energy Regulator has declared two accredited installers ineligible to install solar and battery systems under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
The declarations mean the individuals are ineligible to participate in the SRES and any small-scale technology certificate (STC) claims for the periods in question are invalid.
SAA has also suspended the individuals’ accreditation following formal notifications from the regulator.
One individual was declared ineligible for 3 years following an investigation into 24 solar PV system installations between February 2023 and July 2025. The CER found the installer did not meet onsite attendance requirements of the accreditation scheme on 7 occasions, did not provide required electrical safety certificates on 17 occasions, and gave false or misleading written statements on 24 occasions.
A second individual was declared ineligible for 12 months after an investigation into 10 solar PV systems installed between September 2024 and July 2025. The CER found the individual failed to hold the required Distributed Energy Resourceendorsement on his electrical licence when conducting the installations, did not comply with mandatory standards for electrical installations on 4 occasions, failed to provide required certificates of electrical safety for the installations, and provided false or misleading written statements on 10 occasions.
SAA also acts on referrals from federal, state and territory regulators, imposing demerit points, suspending accreditation or requiring rectification where formal notifications are provided.
Earlier this year, the CER suspended the registration of Asun Solar Pty Ltd and Phenix Trading Pty Ltd on the basis that these companies no longer met fit and proper person requirements.
Between April and June, the regulator used its powers to suspend 21 companies from the SRES for failing to meet fit and proper person requirements. This was after the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) identified they were all deregistered companies.
CER Acting Chair Carl Binning said the CER is sending a clear message to solar retailers and installers. ‘False statements and incomplete work will not be tolerated,’ Mr Binning said.
Have your say in annual accreditee survey
Solar Accreditation Australia would like to hear about your experiences of the accreditation scheme through its first annual survey of accredited individuals.
The survey is being conducted by the independent third-party research provider, Intuitive Solutions. In early August, all accredited persons will be sent a unique survey invitation from the email account, noreply@intuitivesolutions.com.au.
Accreditees will be asked for their feedback about applying for or renewing accreditation, meeting continuing professional development obligations, compliance with scheme and regulatory requirements, and interactions with the SAA team.
The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential. SAA will receive only aggregated, de-identified results.
We encourage you to share your open and honest feedback about the accreditation scheme.
Your feedback is important to us and will have a direct impact on initiatives designed to improve the services, support and communications provided by SAA.
Update from the Clean Energy Regulator
We're responsible for administering the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). This includes reviewing small-scale technology certificates (STC) applications and supporting compliance with scheme requirements.
Wiring and cable management
The latest solar battery inspection results show that wiring and cable management continue to be one of the most common reasons installations are found to be substandard or unsafe. Inspection findings under this category often relate to:
inadequate mechanical protections or cabling
insufficient earthing and bonding arrangements
insufficient wiring support
unsuitable weather, ingress, insulation and conductor protection.
To comply with installation requirements, you must make sure cables are correctly selected, installed, supported and protected for the environment in which they are installed.
Electrical wiring should remain safe for the expected life of the system, not just at the time of installation.
Residual Current Device (RCD) protection
While we’ve seen some improvement, theinspection checklist item ‘RCD Protection available – SB & Labelling 13’ continues to be one of the most common checklist items failing to meet requirements. This relates to ensuring alternative supply circuits are provided with appropriate RCD protection.
A lack of RCD protection potentially exposes yourself and homeowners to electrical shock, and electrical fire.
To ensure compliance under this checklist item, installers should:
make sure the RCD installed on the system is appropriate to the size and function of the battery system
test the RCD and make sure it is working effectively.
We’ve seen an increasing number of applications fail due to solar batteries being commissioned before solar PV.
If you're installing a solar battery with a new solar PV system and bad weather delays the solar PV installation, do not commission the battery on its own. To be eligible for STCs, the solar PV system must be commissioned on or before the date the battery is commissioned.
Working with industry
We are committed to working with industry to support safe, high-quality battery installations under the SRES.
Solar Accreditation Australia is adjusting its fees and charges for FY27.
SAA Chief Executive Officer Roslyn Baker said the decision was not made lightly but was necessary to ensure the accreditation scheme remains financially sustainable as the small-scale renewable energy sector evolves.
The new fee framework includes:
A return to an annual renewal fee (transitioning over several years as 3-year accreditations fall due for renewal)
Increases to a range of existing fees in line with inflation
Some new activity-based fees under a user-pays model, including a fee to apply for exemptions from the 2 per day installation limit
Uplift in fees for CPD providers
A different renewal fee depending on whether you hold more than one accreditation class.
Ms Baker said the framework provides a fairer, clearer and more sustainable fee structure for the future.
“We’ve now been operating the accreditation scheme for two years and have sufficient operating experience to understand the actual cost of administering the national scheme. FY27 fees are based on a bottom-up assessment of costs, rather than historical assumptions.
“Since SAA took on the role as accreditation scheme operator, fees have remained fixed during several years of inflation. Battery accreditation is also now part of the scheme, increasing the scope and complexity of accreditation and the costs of operating the scheme.”
SAA is an independent not-for-profit organisation and receives no direct funding from government or other bodies. All proceeds are invested back into the accreditation scheme.
SAA is strengthening the quality of training modules, delivering resources and guides and has grown its team to support compliance activities under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
A focus on improved compliance enhances the reputation of the industry, ensuring accredited professionals can continue to work as trusted operators in the renewables sector.
An information sheet explaining the new fee framework and detailing the FY27 fees is available on the SAA website.
Visitor registration is now open for All Energy Australia, billed as the largest clean energy event in the Asia Pacific region.
All Energy is being held from 28 - 29 October 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The event brings together the full spectrum of renewable energy across dedicated zones, including EV technology and infrastructure, energy management and efficiency, and grid and network solutions.
Attendees can explore advancements in solar, wind, bioenergy, energy storage, hydrogen, electric transportation, while also participating in a two-day conference program.
Standards Australia recently published a new, free practical guide to help organisations safely package and transport used lithium batteries for recycling, reuse, repair or disposal.
Used Lithium Batteries: Guidance on Safe Packaging and Transport by Road and Rail was developed in partnership with the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI) and Powering Australia, with input from an expert advisory group including battery recyclers, dangerous goods and environmental regulators, and fire and emergency services.
The guide explains how to assess and classify a battery's condition, package it correctly, and meet marking, labelling, and documentation requirements. It also outlines how to navigate chain of responsibility, work health and safety, and waste tracking obligations.
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