Latest
Features , Editors’ Blog , Long Reads
The rule change is set to commence from 1 July 2025. Image: EIT.
Australia’s Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has called on Australia’s climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, to “urgently intervene” on a rule change that could threaten to derail the uptake of rooftop solar PV.
Under the new rule change, effective 1 July 2025, the same day the federal government launches its AU$2.3 billion (US$1.49 billion) Cheaper Home Batteries Program, some accredited solar and energy storage specialists will be prevented from working alongside licensed electricians.
This article requires Premium Subscription Basic (FREE) Subscription
Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis
Photovoltaics International is now included.
Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual
Or continue reading this article for free
Specifically, the design and supervision accreditation is being removed from Australia’s Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) scheme, which could put “thousands of jobs at risk”, the SEIA said, particularly industry veterans.
Indeed, the organisation said the rule change predominantly affects solar veterans who have been designing and installing solar and energy storage technology under legacy accreditation without requiring AC electrical licenses, provided they partnered with an electrical contractor to sign off on a handful of aspects of their work.
Acquiring these AC electrical licences, which will now be required under the rule change, often takes around four years to secure. This could be a significant barrier for industry veterans and block them from supporting the energy transition.
The SEIA also questioned the timing of such a rule change, especially with the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which is set to turn Australia into a “red-hot market for battery energy storage systems (BESS)” and could see an expected 400% growth in the need for tradesmen.
“Shutting down hundreds of specialist businesses just as the rebate starts and needs experienced professionals is ludicrous, especially as there is already a massive shortage in accredited installers with battery installation experience,” said Thomas Bywater, national chairman of the SEIA.
“It needlessly increases risks using less experienced installers and could affect 2,000 staff and AU$300 million of business. It threatens the success of the government’s own battery rollout.”
Australia’s rooftop solar PV uptake has been one of the primary success stories regarding its energy transition. Earlier this year, it surpassed the 25GW milestone, higher than the country’s operational coal generators.
Earlier this week, PV Tech Premium released its latest National Electricity Market (NEM) data dive, exploring utility-scale and rooftop solar PV generation across May 2025.
Read Next
rPlus Energies has secured more than US$500 million for an 800MW solar-plus-storage project in Emery County, Utah, US.
ElectraNet has revealed that renewables supplied 100% of South Australia’s electricity demand for 27% of 2024, roughly 99 days.
Solar manufacturer Involt Energy has broken ground on its first solar cell manufacturing plant in the western Indian state of Gujarat, with an initial annual nameplate capacity of 1.78GW.
Indian solar module manufacturer Vikram Solar has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to proceed with its initial public offering (IPO) and raise capital through the public markets.
Policy uncertainty in the US is likely to disrupt investment in clean energy, according to a recent report from Crux.
Investment in clean energy and grids will reach US$2.2 trillion in 2025, double the expected investment into fossil fuels this year, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Subscribe to Newsletter
Most Read
Upcoming Events
PV Tech is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC
This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC’s registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.
https://www.pv-tech.org/seia-calls-on-australian-government-to-urgently-intervene-on-solar-rule-change/
