The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has released an update on Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) applications under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), and it contains some important compliance reminders for solar battery installers and inspectors operating in Australia.

What the Update Covers

The CER’s latest solar battery inspection results point to recurring issues in two areas: fire protection and mechanical protection. These aren’t new requirements and they stem from AS/NZS 5139:2019. But the fact that they continue to appear in inspection findings suggests they’re worth revisiting before your next installation.

Fire Protection Requirements

Where a battery is installed matters as much as how it’s installed. Under AS/NZS 5139:2019, batteries must not be located in habitable rooms: bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, studies, and any space used for day-to-day living. Importantly, rooms that could become living areas must be treated as habitable, even if they’re currently used for storage.

Beyond location, installers must:

• Maintain required clearances from doors, windows, exits, and ventilation openings
• Avoid installing batteries directly against combustible materials (such as timber walls) unless compliant fire-resistant protection is in place
• Assess the surrounding construction, compliance depends on what the battery is installed next to, not just where it sits

Solar Victoria’s Technical Guidance Sheet 2.2: Battery System Protection Against the Spread of Fire and Battery System Restricted Locations is a useful reference for navigating these requirements on-site.

Mechanical Protection Requirements

Mechanical protection is about accounting for how a space is actually used, not how it looks at the time of installation. If a battery can be hit, knocked, or driven into under normal use, it isn’t adequately protected.

Key requirements include:

• Securing the battery so it cannot tip, fall, or shift
• Installing barriers, bollards, or equivalent protection for batteries in garages or areas exposed to vehicle movement
• Assessing the space based on its real-world use such as if it’s used for parking, storage, or regular movement, protection is required regardless of current conditions

Solar Battery STC Compliance: Changes From 1 May 2026

Staying on top of solar battery STC compliance also means being aware of upcoming changes to the rebate structure. From 1 May 2026, STCs for solar batteries will be tiered according to system size. Installers should:

• Ensure contracts accurately reflect updated STC amounts based on installation date
• Observe the daily installation limit of two per day
• Capture timestamped, geotagged on-site verification and critical labelling photos for every job

Use the CER’s Solar Battery STC Calculator to estimate the number of STCs a battery may be eligible for based on installation date.

For the full details of the update, refer directly to the CER’s STC applications page.

Need Support With Compliance?

Staying across evolving standards and scheme requirements is part of the job. If you need support with compliance assessments or have questions about how these requirements apply to your projects, the GSES Consultancy team is here to help.

Get in touch at consultancy@gses.com.au or visit gses.com.au/contact.