Electric homes and businesses

Australia's solar boom has been accelerated by rising energy costs and consumers looking for ways to reduce their bills. Supported by government Feed-in-Tariffs (FiT), the Federal Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and state programs like Victoria’s Solar Homes program, Australians have embraced solar PV.

We're petitioning governments to continue to support electrification of Australian homes and businesses, with incentives for battery systems for example, and targeted schemes to help renters, apartment owners and small businesses electrify.

We're also advocating for regulators and operators to create solutions to increase opportunities for Australians to earn money from exporting their energy to the grid. 

With government programs providing assistance, we need to make sure there is a robust consumer protection framework to underpin consumer confidence and trust. The Clean Energy Council administers a number of industry programs to help safeguard government programs and protect consumers and those working in the industry. Our Products Listing Program certifies solar panels, inverters and batteries to ensure they meet Australian Standards, and the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) program establishes a set of consumer protection standards for retailers of solar, battery and new energy technology products and services. We're also advocating for governments and other industry stakeholders to simplify regulatory red tape on installers and retailers to reduce the time they spend on administration so they can spend more time on the tools, saving businesses and consumers money. Our myCEC service helps those working in the industry understand expanding regulations and requirements. 

The rooftop solar and battery sector directly employs thousands of Australians and accounts for over 50% of the renewables workforce. Renewables are growing so fast that we're running out of electricians.In 2022, to ease demands on electricians we helped redesign vocational training in rooftop solar and storage to enable non-electricians to design systems. We're also working with the Energy Efficiency Council on the Careers for Net Zero campaign and job fairs to help recruit more students into renewables careers, and we're encouraging more women into the workplace through our Women in Renewables initiative.

The cumulative volume of end-of-life solar panels in Australia is projected to reach 280,000 tonnes by 2025*. Many of those at the end of their life are currently ending up in landfill. A circular approach in which solar panels, battery systems and EVs are repaired, reused and recycled can help reduce costs, waste and environmental impacts. The CEC has established the Manufacturing and Product Life-Cycle Working Group to consider the development of product stewardship guidance for the industry to advocate for a circular and sustainable approach to the manufacturing, installation and decommissioning of consumer energy resources. In addition to discussing relevant programs and potential policy developments, the Working Group is a great forum for networking with members and expanding connections along the life span of renewable energy equipment.

 *Scoping Study: Solar panel end-of-life management in Australia - APVI