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Alastair McDowell
Co-Director
Published on:

EnergyAE is your #1 partner when it comes to registering solar & heat pump products for STCs.

About the STC scheme

The Renewable Energy Target (RET) is a nationwide incentive scheme in Australia for solar water heaters (SWHs) and air source heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) administered by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).

As part of the RET, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) incentivises households and small businesses to install SWHs and HPWHs up to 425L.

We work on behalf of manufacturers who want their products listed on CER’s Register of Solar Water Heaters. The more efficient a product is,the more energy certificates it will be entitled to. 1 STC (small-scale technology certificate) is equivalent to 10 MWh of energy saved (relative to an electric storage water heater) over 10 years of operation. 1 STC has a market value of approximately $40 each, providing consumer a discount on the product.

Adding Products to the Register

Three times per year there is a call to submit an application to add products to the Register.

EnergyAE takes care of many of the tasks necessary to get products listed on the register which includes compiling technical information, TRNSYS modelling, writing the report and submission to the CER.

Testing

Manufacturers must liaise with an Accredited Certification Body (ACB) such as SAI Global or IAPMO to determine which tests are required depending on the product.

For solar water heaters, some of the tests required are:

  • Solar collector testing (AS 2535)
  • Tank heat loss testing (AS/NZS 4692.1)
  • System testing (AS/NZS 2712)
  • If applicable: Gas auxiliary booster testing (AS 4552)
  • Electrical safety testing
  • Watermark testing (AS 4020)
  • Energy performance testing (AS/NZS 4234)

For heat pump water heaters, some of the tests required are:

  • Heat pump performance testing (AS/NZS 5125.1)
  • Tank heat loss testing (AS/NZS 4692.1)
  • Electrical safety testing
  • Watermark testing (AS 4020)
  • Energy performance testing (AS/NZS 4234)

We recommend Intertek for all component testing services.

EnergyAE provides the Energy Performance AS/NZS 4234 test report which is based on results from all other test reports.

Certification

Once all testing has been completed these will be submitted to your ACB (SAI Global/IAPMO) for AS/NZS 2712 certification.

Once your products are listed on your AS/NZS 2712 certificate and schedule, you are ready to submit to the schemes.

Submission

EnergyAE can take care of the whole submission process.

Three times per year there is a call to submit an application to add products to the CER SWH & ASHP Register.

We will submit the documentation for each product which includes tank drawings & schematics, test reports, TRNSYS files and application forms.

The regulator will come back to us with any questions relating to the submission.

The product will be added to the register within 3 months of application, and then become eligible to claim certificates.

Other Schemes

As well as STCs, SWH and HPWH are also eligible for VEECs in Victoria and ESCs in NSW.

Got a project in mind?

Get in touch and tell us about your project.

Ask a question
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