New App for Solar Panel Validation campaign

The Clean Energy Regulator has partnered with industry to implement the Solar Panel Validation (SPV) Initiative. SPV aims to protect the integrity of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and give industry and consumers an easy way to check and confirm that solar panels:

• are backed by manufacturer warranties, 

• meet Australian standards for quality and performance, and 

• are eligible for small-scale technology certificates.

SPV is made up of two parts — an app for installers to use on a mobile device and a database of serial numbers for approved solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, received directly from manufacturers. Installers use the app to scan solar panel serial numbers, which are then checked against a database to ensure they correspond to verified serial numbers for panels approved by the Clean Energy Council. SPV provides customers with an electronic record of confirmation their installed solar panels are verified as part of SPV. The record includes information such as the make and model of the solar panels, their serial numbers, the time and date of installation and the location. Customers are now asking solar businesses if they are participating in SPV and for a record of verification for their solar panels.