SRES expansion to support mid-scale solar

SRES expansion to support mid-scale solar

The Australian Government has announced it will expand eligibility under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to support mid-scale solar PV systems. This change will help a broad range of commercial and industrial businesses and community organisations, including agricultural businesses and First Nations communities to install solar and lower their energy costs. The Government intends for the SRES changes to apply to mid-scale solar installed from 1 October 2026, subject to regulations being in place.

Changes to the SRES

The following changes will expand the SRES to include mid-scale solar PV systems:

• The current threshold of 100 kilowatts (kW) will increase to 1 megawatt (MW).
  

• This will shift support for new installations of mid-scale solar from their current eligibility under the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) to the SRES and these systems will thus be eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs).

• The calculation of STCs for mid-scale solar PV systems will be based on the current 5 year deeming period each year until the end of the SRES in 2030, rather than declining on an annual basis.
  

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the SRES, mid-scale solar PV installations will need to meet criteria, including:

• for new installations, a maximum system size of 1 MW

• for expansions to existing systems, a maximum combined capacity of 1 MW

• installer and product accreditation requirements under the SRES

• a written installer statement as currently required under the SRES (designer and retailer

statements will not be required for mid-scale solar)

• compliance with state and territory electrical safety regulations

• compliance with relevant planning approvals and network connection agreements

• documentation such as engineer reports and evidence of the connection approval will apply to

mid-scale solar as it currently does under LRET.