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CEC accreditation (now Solar Accreditation Australia)

CEC accreditation lets a solar installer sign off a PV system for STCs. Since May 2024 it is run by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), not the CEC.

By Chalkline. Last updated 25 May 2026. Verified 25 May 2026.

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CEC accreditation is the installer and designer accreditation a solar PV system needs to be eligible for STCs, the upfront discount under the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The name is a leftover: as of May 2024 the scheme is run by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA), not the Clean Energy Council. People still call it “CEC accreditation”, but the body issuing it changed.

The 2024 handover

The CEC managed solar installer accreditation for about 16 years. The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) appointed Solar Accreditation Australia as the new scheme operator in February 2024, and SAA took over by 29 May 2024 (verified 2026-05-25). Accredited installers had to transfer their accreditation across to keep it current. So a current “CEC accredited” sparky is now an SAA-accredited one.

What it covers

SAA accreditation is held by class and type:

  • Classes: grid-connected PV (GCPV), grid-connected battery storage (GCBS), and stand-alone power systems (SPS).
  • Types: Design Only, Install Only, or Design and Install.

A system only earns STCs if an accredited designer and installer sign it off. No accreditation, no STCs, no federal rebate.

Not the same as CEC Approved Products

The CEC still runs the Approved Products lists (panels, inverters, batteries), and the gear must be CEC-listed for STCs. So two separate CEC/SAA things both apply: the installer is accredited by SAA, the products are listed by the CEC.

For a builder

  • Including solar on a build? Use an SAA-accredited installer, or the client loses the STC discount.
  • Accreditation is on top of the electrical licence. SAA accreditation does not replace the state electrical licence; the wiring still sits under AS/NZS 3000 and needs a licensed electrician.
  • Check the products too. Panels, inverter, and any battery must be on the CEC Approved Products list for the rebate to apply.

Also known as: Clean Energy Council accreditation, CEC accredited installer, solar accreditation, SAA accreditation.

See also

Last updated: 2026-05-25. Verified: 2026-05-25. Quarterly review for currency.

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