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Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)

Australia-wide scheme administered by the Clean Energy Regulator that issues STCs for solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters.

Administered byClean Energy Regulator (CER)
CertificateSmall-scale Technology Certificate (STC)
Certificate unit1 STC = 1 MWh energy saved vs. electric storage over 10 years
RegionAustralia-wide (climate zones 1–5)
AS/NZS 4234 version2008 (load size 2)

SRES is part of the Renewable Energy Target (RET). EnergyAE works exclusively with the SRES component — not the Large-scale RET.

EnergyAE’s role

EnergyAE works on behalf of manufacturers to get products listed on the CER Register of Solar Water Heaters. This involves compiling documentation, AS/NZS 4234 modelling, writing the report, and submitting the application.

The more efficient a product, the more STCs it earns. STCs have a market value of approximately $40 each and are typically passed on to the consumer as a point-of-sale discount.

CER calls for applications to the Register three times per year.