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All PV modules must now meet 2021 standards

Since August 2023, the Clean Energy Council has been notifying the industry of the standards change to approved PV modules.

From 1 April 2025, all new solar installations must use modules that meet 2021 standards (IEC 61215:2021) to be eligible for small-scale technology certificates (STCs).

New products standards like these involve a big change in the industry, which is why we set a long transition period of 14 months and then offered extensions for a further five months for exceptional cases.

Retailers, installers and those involved in the provision of PV modules in Australia should ensure they only use PV modules on our approved products list, as these have been approved as meeting 2021 standards (IEC 61215:2021). Modules that are not on the list will not be eligible for STCs and some state programs nor compliant with some Distributed Network Service Providers' (DNSPs) requirements.

Understanding the standards change process

  • When AS/NZS 5033:2021 was published and became mandatory in May 2022, it brought changes to the requirements for solar panels (PV modules) used in Australia and New Zealand (Clause 4.3.1.1 General). These changes aimed to align with international standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
  • In most cases, following publication of Australian Standards for installation, the electrical safety regulators across the country adhere to the published six-month transition period, where either the current published version or the version being superseded can be followed (but not combinations of both).
  • When AS/NZS 5033:2021 refers to another Standard, it does not typically give a year for that Standard. However, in these situations legislation considers the most recently published versions to be the ones that are required.
  • After consultation with various regulatory bodies and testing labs, the CEC was of the belief that a six-month transition did not provide industry with suitable time to implement these changes. It was decided that it would be in the best interest of the renewable energy industry in Australia to implement an unofficial transition period whereby the CEC would monitor and communicate with testing labs and help them prepare for change.
  • In August 2023, after CEC confirmed that a significant amount of testing labs had updated their scope of works and were actively testing to the newer standards, it made its first announcement to the industry, giving 14 months’ notice of the standards change.

State electrical safety acts or regulations specify that AS/NZS3000 must be adhered to, and AS/NZS3000 in turn specifies that AS/NZS5033 must be adhered to.

Clause 7.3.2 of AS/NZS 3000 mandates that in scope PV module installations must comply with AS/NZS5033. In turn, section 4.3 of AS/NZS 5033 states that modules used in the installation must be qualified to IEC 61215.

The electrical safety regulators have the power to bar modules that are not compliant with the current standard from being installed in their state or territory, meaning that an extension would have no effect in their jurisdiction. By AS/NZS 5033 not referencing a dated version of the IEC, regulators must interpret that the current version is required for compliance with electrical safety legislation.

  • The CEC notified manufacturers and agents of the change in August 2023, October 2023 and March 2024
  • The CEC website was updated to alert industry of this change since August 2023
  • The CEC Product list was updated in August 2023 where product expiry dates were updated. Stock purchasers are expected to check the expiry of the module prior to purchasing the product.
  • The CEC newsletters actively promoted this upcoming change
  • In late March/early April 2024 the CEC undertook two surveys to gauge industry preparedness.
  • The CEC consulted industry between March and April 2024
  • The CEC confirmed the transition plan on first week of May 2024 with regular communication following this.
  • On 15 July 2024, applications for extension requests were closed for application.
  • On 1 October, retailers, installers and industry were notified that updated PV module standards are now in force, with the exception of those that had sought an extension to 31 March 2025
  • On 1 April 2025, all PV modules granted an extension were removed and industry notified

We are here for you

We are committed to supporting you throughout this transition process as best as we can. For any questions regarding the transition process please contact the CEC Products Team at products@cleanenergycouncil.org.au.

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