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November 2025

Update on installation limit investigation

As we have communicated in previous newsletters, SAA has examined whether current installation limits are still appropriate. To get a real-world view, we joined inspectors on several site visits to see what a competent installer can reasonably complete in a day.

At this stage, we don’t think it’s the right time to change the limit. The industry is still settling after the Cheaper Home Battery Program (CHBP) kicked off in July.

We’re seeing more compliance issues and a lot of new installers who are still learning the requirements.

That said, we’re looking at options for experienced installers with strong compliance records to give them more flexibility without lowering standards. We’ll share more if or when these options progress.

New look Certificate of Accreditation available

Accredited individuals now have access to a new-look Certificate of Accreditation, which can be downloaded by logging into the Accreditation Portal on the SAA website.

The new certificates contain a range of updated information, most notably, describing the Class and Type of accreditation held.

Class is the technology that individuals are accredited for and spans Grid Connected Photo Voltaic (GCPV), Grid Connected Battery Storage (GCBS) and Stand Alone Power Systems (SPS). Type is the qualification held - Design Only, Install Only, or Design and Install.

The new certificate also includes the effective dates from which individuals have held each accreditation class and type, along with their Current CPD Cycle Due Date. The Continuing Professional Development Cycle Due Date flags the date by which individuals need to complete 100 CPD points to ensure they are not at risk of their accreditation being suspended.

The term expiry date has been reworded to Next Renewal Date.

Update from the Clean Energy Regulator 

We are 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.

Important update on installer obligations

Here are the latest priorities for solar battery installers.

Look out for an email from the Clean Energy Regulator detailing information about these priorities and your obligations.

Consequences for not meeting installation requirements

As an accredited installer, it’s your responsibility to be aware of all installation requirements. You are legally required to ensure that every installation meets all relevant Australian Standards and state or territory requirements. We verify compliance through audits and on-site inspections.

Failure to meet obligations has serious consequences, including being suspended from participating in the scheme. We share inspection results with SAA and state and territory safety regulators who may take compliance action.

New requirements to claim STCs coming in early 2026

We’re implementing new requirements in early 2026 requiring you to take geotagged and timestamped photographs of critical labelling and signage for each solar battery installation. You’ll need to provide these photographs to us as part of your compliance paperwork.

We’ll aim to publish guidance on these new requirements on our website before the end of 2025.

Reporting of faults and issues with solar batteries

As installers working with solar products, you may come across something that poses a safety risk. It’s critical that you report any significant risks you identify to the:

• relevant manufacturer
• appropriate state and territory electrical safety and consumer protection regulators
• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

These bodies are responsible for assessing product safety and managing recalls. Your cooperation is essential to ensure public safety and maintain trust in renewable energy technologies.

Ensuring battery upgrade compliance - alterations

We are observing an increasing trend in battery compliance inspections by the Clean Energy Regulator, where installers upgrade existing battery systems but fail to meet the current AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 requirements for labelling and RCD protection.

When additional battery capacity is added to an existing system, this is considered an alteration. Under an alteration, all affected parts of the system must be brought into compliance with the current Standard. With the release of the 2024 edition of AS/NZS 4777.1, any battery systems originally installed under previous versions now require additional work to meet the updated requirements.

• The SAA accredited installer completes the installation and re-certifies the entire system, including the connection to the electrical installation, as safe, compliant and meeting all requirements. The installer is expected to identify and upgrade any parts of the existing system as required. There may be other jurisdictional requirements installers need to comply with such as inspections or notifications to Distribution Network Service Providers.
• Any non-compliance of the final system, identified through a CER inspection or other means, will be considered the responsibility of the accredited installer or designer as appropriate. This applies to non-compliance for both added and existing components. 

Free Battery courses support compliance and safety

A series of free battery courses are designed to help accredited individuals stay up to date with important standards and regulatory changes affecting the industry, as well as common compliance issues identified through inspections.

The modules have been developed to address key compliance risks identified through state and territory inspection programs.

Completion of the courses will contribute to your continuing professional development points for the year.

The Parallel and Earth Neutral Connections Course and Fire Barrier Requirements and Habitable Rooms courses are both mandatory training for battery installers and must be completed by July 2026 to remain accredited.

Remember to upload your certificates of completion to the SAA portal.

DER register evidence for NSW battery scheme

Battery installations in the NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme ended on 30 June 2025.

Accredited Certificate Providers (ACPs) in NSW are now undergoing final audits and must provide evidence that each battery installed is listed on Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO’s) Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Register.

In some instances, ACPs were allowed to create certificates by only demonstrating a ‘proper application’ had been made to register the installation. However, it remained a Scheme requirement that they later ‘ensure that the installation … is registered on the DER Register’. This is done by providing the PDF certificate of registration issued by AEMO. This is now being tested in audits.

The Scheme requirement gave effect to the National Electricity Rules’ obligation on network service providers to collect data for AEMO’s DER Register. Among other benefits, it assists NSW Fire and Rescue identify locations with battery installations.

IPART, the NSW Scheme’s Administrator, asks battery installers to ensure they have obtained and provided a copy of the DER Register certificate to the nominated ACP for each implementation. IPART shares information about non-compliance with other regulators including the Clean Energy Regulator and the Building Commission NSW.

Information about the DER Register can be found here.

Recall: Sigenergy single phase 8/10/12 kW inverters

Sigenergy will replace all single-phase 8/10/12kW inverters that use the quick-connect AC plug (requiring ferrules and crimping), with a new OT terminal-style AC connection design.

The Clean Energy Council has approved the component change after reviewing the certification documentation. It follows an electrical safety recall issued in relation to a small proportion of products

Installers have the option of replacing each inverter on the products they have installed themselves and receiving $500 per replacement, or they can be changed out through Sigenergy service partners. Installers will receive a ticket in the mySigen app with detailed instructions regarding replacements. They will have the option of accepting the job or passing it on to a Sigenergy service partner who can carry out the work on their behalf. 

Questions can be directed to the Sigenergy customer care team at sigenservice.au@sigenergy.com.

AS/NZS4509.1 draft released – Public Comment

Standards Australia released a draft of AS/NZS 4509.1 for public comment on 17 October 2025. The public comment period will close on 27 May 2026.

AS/NZS 4509.1 has not been rewritten since 2009 and there are significant updates to the Standard. This is your opportunity to influence the Standards you are required to work to.

You can make comments and download a copy of the draft of AS/NZS 4509.1 from the Standards Australia website here (login required).

Holiday closure and December newsletter

The Solar Accreditation Australia team will be taking a short break from midday on Wednesday, 24 December 2025 through to Monday, 5 January 2026.

We’ll release our final newsletter of the year before the holiday closure.