Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations

RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) REGULATIONS 2001 - REG 20AC

         (1)   For subregulation 20 (1), this regulation sets out the circumstances in which certificates may be created for a small generation unit.

         (2)   The unit was designed and installed by a person or persons:

                (a)    if the unit is a stand-alone power system -- accredited for stand-alone power systems under the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy accreditation scheme
(the ABCSE accreditation scheme ) or the Clean Energy Council accreditation scheme (the CEC accreditation scheme ); and

               (b)    if the unit is a grid-connected power system -- accredited for grid-connected power systems under the ABCSE accreditation scheme or the CEC accreditation scheme; and

                (c)    if the unit is a wind system -- endorsed for wind systems under the ABCSE accreditation scheme or the CEC accreditation scheme; and

               (d)    if the unit is a hydro system -- endorsed for hydro systems under the ABCSE accreditation scheme or the CEC accreditation  scheme; and

                (e)    who is not, or who are not, the subject of a declaration under regulation 47.

         (3)   The electrical wiring associated with the installation of the unit was undertaken by an electrical worker holding an unrestricted license for electrical work issued by the State or Territory authority for the place where the unit was installed.

         (4)   All local, State or Territory government requirements have been met for:

                (a)    the siting of the unit; and

               (b)    if the unit is attached to a building or structure -- the attachment of the unit to the building or structure; and

                (c)    if the unit is grid-connected -- the grid connection of the system.

         (5)   Before any certificates are created for the unit, the person who is entitled to create the certificates for the unit obtains:

                (a)    a written statement by the installer of the unit stating:

                          (i)    the name of the designer and of the installer of the unit; and

                         (ii)    the ABCSE accreditation scheme or CEC accreditation scheme classification and accreditation number of the installer and designer of the unit; and

                        (iii)    that the installer has public liability insurance of at least $5 million; and

                        (iv)    that the installer:

                                   (A)     is bound by the Clean Energy Council's Code of Conduct; and

                                   (B)     has complied with that code of conduct for the installation of the unit; and

               (b)    a written statement by the owner or installer of the unit that all local, State or Territory government requirements have been met for:

                          (i)    the siting of the unit; and

                         (ii)    if the unit is attached to a building or structure  -- the attachment of the unit to the building or structure; and

                        (iii)    if the unit is grid-connected -- the grid connection of the system; and

                (c)    a copy of any documentation required, by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the unit was installed, to be provided to the owner of the unit certifying that the electrical installation of the unit complies with laws relating to safety and technical standards; and

               (d)    a written statement by the installer of the unit that the installation complies with the following as in force from time to time:

                          (i)    AS/NZS 3000, Wiring Rules ;

                         (ii)    AS/NZS 1768, Lightning protection ;

                        (iii)    if the unit is an on-grid system  -- AS 4777, Grid connection of energy systems via inverters ; and

                (e)    for a unit that is a solar (photovoltaic) system:

                          (i)    a written statement by the installer of the unit that the installation complies with the following as in force from time to time:

                                   (A)     AS/NZS 5033, Installation of photovoltaic (PV) arrays ;

                                   (B)     AS/NZS 1170.2, Structural design actions , Part 2: Wind actions ; and

                                   (C)     if the unit is an off-grid system -- AS/NZS 4509.1, Stand-alone power systems , Part 1: Safety and installation and AS 4086.2, Secondary batteries for use with stand-alone power systems , Part 2: Installation and maintenance ; and

                         (ii)    a written statement by the installer of the unit
that the installer has at the time of the installation used a model of a photovoltaic module listed
in AS/NZS 5033 Compliant PV Modules as in force from time to time and available at http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au ; and

                        (iii)    if the system uses an inverter -- a written statement by the installer of the unit that the installer has at the time of the installation used a model of grid-connect inverter listed in Tested and Approved Grid Connected Inverters as in force from time to time and available at http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au ; and

                (f)    for a unit that is a wind system -- a written statement by the installer of the unit that the installation complies with the following as in force from time to time:

                          (i)    AS/NZS 1170.2, Structural design actions , Part 2: Wind actions ;

                         (ii)    if the unit is an off-grid system -- AS/NZS 4509.1, Stand-alone power systems , Part 1: Safety and installation and AS 4086.2, Secondary batteries for use with stand-alone power systems , Part 2: Installation and maintenance .

Note    For subparagraph (a) (iv), the Clean Energy Council's Code of Conduct is available at http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au .

         (6)   Subregulation (3) does not apply to electrical wiring if:

                (a)    the unit is not grid-connected; and

               (b)    the wiring does not involve alternating current of 50 or more volts; and

                (c)    the wiring does not involve direct current of 120 or more volts; and

               (d)    before any certificates are created for the unit, the person who is entitled to create the certificates for the unit obtains a written statement by the installer of the unit that:

                          (i)    the unit is not grid-connected; and

                         (ii)    an electrical worker holding an unrestricted license for electrical work issued by the State or Territory authority for the place where the unit was installed undertook all wiring of the unit that involves:

                                   (A)     alternating current of 50 or more volts; or

                                   (B)     direct current of 120 or more volts.