How To Register a Heat Pump Water Heater for STCs
EnergyAE is your specialist partner for registering solar and heat pump products for STCs under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
About the STC scheme
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) is a nationwide incentive scheme in Australia for solar water heaters (SWHs) and air source heat pump water heaters (HPWHs). It is administered by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
The SRES incentivises households and small businesses to install SWHs and HPWHs up to 425 L. EnergyAE works on behalf of manufacturers who want their products listed on the CER’s Register of Solar Water Heaters.
1 STC is equivalent to 1 MWh of energy saved, relative to an electric storage water heater, per year over the deeming period. STCs provide consumers with a discount on the product, with the value depending on the certificate market at the time of sale.
Adding products to the register
Three times per year there is a call to submit applications to add products to the register. EnergyAE can compile the technical information, complete TRNSYS modelling, write the AS/NZS 4234 report, and submit the application to the CER.
Testing
Manufacturers should liaise with an Accredited Certification Body (ACB), such as SAI Global or IAPMO, to confirm which tests are required for the product.
For solar water heaters, required tests usually include:
- Solar collector testing (AS 2535)
- Tank heat loss testing (AS/NZS 4692.1)
- System testing (AS/NZS 2712)
- Gas auxiliary booster testing (AS 4552), if applicable
- Electrical safety testing
- Watermark testing (AS 4020)
- Energy performance testing (AS/NZS 4234)
For heat pump water heaters, required tests usually include:
- Heat pump performance testing (AS/NZS 5125.1)
- Tank heat loss testing (AS/NZS 4692.1)
- Electrical safety testing
- Watermark testing (AS 4020)
- Energy performance testing (AS/NZS 4234)
EnergyAE provides the energy performance AS/NZS 4234 report, which is based on results from the other test reports.
Certification
Once all testing has been completed, the results are submitted to your ACB for AS/NZS 2712 certification. Once your products are listed on your AS/NZS 2712 certificate and schedule, you are ready to submit to the schemes.
Submission
EnergyAE can take care of the whole submission process. For each product, the submission package typically includes tank drawings, schematics, test reports, TRNSYS files, and application forms.
The regulator will come back to us with any questions relating to the submission. The product will usually be added to the register within 3 months of application, and then becomes eligible to claim certificates.
Other schemes
As well as STCs, SWH and HPWH products are also eligible for VEECs in Victoria and ESCs in NSW. Contact us to discuss multi-scheme registration for your products.