Image Credit: Clean Energy Regulator
New photo requirements are now in place for all new solar batteries installed under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) in a bid to support improved safety and labelling.
Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has officially implemented its new photo requirements for solar battery installations that it announced last week.
The CER has recently completed 1,000 inspections of newly installed solar battery installations in an effort to ensure that safety standards are being upheld. According to a report published last month, the most common reason found by CER inspections for installations to have technical non-compliance was due to labelling issues.
This may sound obscure when compared to other potential issues that could arise when installing a home battery, but as can be seen below, many of the more obviously dangerous or risky factors are more likely to comply with inspections.
As the report highlights, however, the most common labelling issues discovered by the CER’s inspection teams included incorrect or missing warning labels, incorrect labelling of backed-up circuits, and incorrect labelling for emergency services.
This last is particularly notable considering that a green reflector sign with the letters “ES” (ie, ‘energy storage’) must be installed on or next to the meter box and switchboard so that emergency services are aware there is a solar battery connected to the solar PV system at the property.
As the CER explained, “This is important for emergency services to be aware of during an emergency response.”
It is because of these labelling issues that the CER announced last week additional photo requirements for solar battery installations, that came into effect on March 1.
Solar battery installers will now be required to take “clear, geotagged and timestamped photos of critical labelling” that will be analysed using so-called “sophisticated artificial intelligence” to make sure that all claims under the SRES meet the new photo requirements.
Failure to provide the required photos will result in a delay in processing or outright rejection of small-scale technology certificate claims.
The new solar battery photo guide can be viewed here.
The introduction of the new photo requirements come as the CER expects the installation of new solar batteries to ramp up ahead of the May 1 deadline when the installation discount is adjusted according to the size of the battery.
“This is a busy period for the industry, and our focus is on making sure standards stay high and consumers stay safe,” said Carl Binning, CER executive general manager.
“I’m putting installers on notice that unsafe and non-compliant work will be identified, and we won’t hesitate to use our compliance powers. This could result in installers being removed from the SRES.
“The message to installers is do it once and do it well. Installers are required to return to site to rectify non-compliant work and failure to provide the required photos will result in claims for small-scale technology certificates being delayed or rejected.”
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