New Safety Regulations for Solar

Companies seeking to install solar photovoltaic [PV] panels in Australia will be now be forced to operate under much tougher safety standard laws.

Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, said new regulations under the Government's Renewable Energy Target will commence as of June 21.

To be eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) - the solar credits which act as the program's rebate - installations must now comply with state and territory regulations for panel mountings and electrical connections.

Installers must also be, both Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited and licensed electricians, with special exceptions given to some remote non-grid connected installers.

And lastly, installers of solar panels will now be required to retain documentation of how they have met the above requirements.

If these requirements are not met, installers face penalties such as fines, injunctions, ineligibility to create RECs, and even criminal charges.

"The government takes safety for solar PV very seriously and these additional measures will further strengthen safety arrangements," Senator Wong said.

"The amendments give the Renewable Energy Regulator more power to use against people that do the wrong thing, including breaches of safety requirements."