CEC Announces Solar Module De-Listing

PV modules struck from the CEC Approved Products List

The Clean Energy Council (CEC), the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia, has for the first time openly communicated the de-listing of solar panels from its Approved Product List.

As part of eligibility to receive Small Scale Technology Certificates (STC’s), the basis for solar subsidies in Australia, solar panels must be on the CEC Approved Product List.

The CEC says TPL Energy solar panels have been removed from the list as the company’s importer did not agree to meet manufacturer warranty obligations or maintain records of serial numbers. TPL Energy has a right to appeal this decision with the CEC’s Product Listing Review Panel.

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UPDATE AUGUST 29, 2017 – TPL Energy modules have been re-included on the Approved Products list. It appears they were relisted on the 16th.
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It’s certainly not the first time a solar panel model or brand has been de-listed by the CEC. While five products were struck off last year, the product names were not published as they were listed prior to new Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) for PV modules introduced in March 2016 that enable such announcements to be made.

Modules listed under the newer terms and conditions have also been held to a higher level of assessment states the CEC, and subjected to a tighter level of control over quality and compliance.

In a continuing effort to see only quality products remain included on its lists, the CEC has also published another revision (PDF) of its Terms and Conditions for listing solar inverters and PV modules, which come into effect from 10 August 2017.

These will replace the T&C’s for inverters and power conversion equipment (PCE) introduced in 2015 and build on the 2016 module T&C’s; with the latter including changes relating to certification, importer obligations, warranty and product expiry requirements.

Solar Quotes founder Finn Peacock said the ongoing changes mean a greatly improved CEC process.

“As time goes on it should lead to a list of approved modules and inverters that is shorter and higher quality,” he said.

The CEC’s listing of approved modules (based on March 2016 T&C’s) can be viewed here; and solar inverters, here.

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