About us
The aims of the solar PV accreditation scheme are:
- to increase the uptake of renewable energy systems for the provision of energy services by giving customers increased confidence in the design and installation work
- to improve the safety, performance and reliability of renewable energy systems installed in the field
- to encourage industry best practice for all design and installation work involving renewable energy systems
- to provide a network of competent systems designers and installers
The CEC accreditation department takes advice from its renewable energy Standards, Training and Accreditation (STA) committee.This committee is formed from industry members with wide experience with renewable energy, plus additional representation that CEC deems appropriate e.g. CEC director, specialist advisors.
All CEC actions concerning renewable energy standards, training and accreditation are guided by this committee. The accreditation scheme covers stand-alone and grid-connected photovoltaic power
supply systems, with endorsements for micro-hydro, small wind and hybrid systems.
To be eligible for government initiatives such as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) under the Renewable Energy Target installers and designers of small scale renewable energy power systems must be accredited with the Clean Energy Council.
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) assists households, small business and community groups with the upfront cost of installing small scale renewable energy systems, such as solar PV systems. Under the Scheme, small scale renewable energy systems are issued with small scale technology certificates (STCs) which have a monetary value of $40 less brokerage fees.
For a small scale solar PV, wind or hydro system to be eligible for small scale technology certificates (STCs), it must be designed and installed by someone who is accredited by the Clean Energy Council. This is because the government wants to be sure that the small scale renewable energy systems it is issuing small scale technology certificates (STCs) for are correctly designed and installed, and CEC accredited designer and installers have received proper training to ensure this. Systems that are designed and installed by someone who is not accredited will not be eligible to receive small scale technology certificates (STCs).
Under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), the Clean Energy Council is responsible for managing the accreditation of designers and installers of small scale renewable energy systems. It is separate from the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator which is the government body responsible for administering the registration of small scale technology certificates (STCs).