Caravans, motorhomes and tiny homes sit in an awkward corner of the scheme. The usual rule is that a system must generate electricity at the premises where it is installed. A unit that moves seems to break that rule, so the CER has spelled out how it applies: for off-grid transportable systems such as caravans and tiny homes, consumption within the unit counts.
What has to be true
- The system is a proper installation, not a plug-in kit. It needs panels and an inverter on the Clean Energy Council approved list.
- It is designed and installed by an installer with the right SAA accreditation. Off-grid work is a separate accreditation type to grid-connect.
- The system is under 100 kW (a caravan will be a fraction of that), and the STC claim is made within 12 months of installation.
- The installation address, photos and serial numbers are recorded like any other job.
Caravan solar panels: why most kits miss out
Most owners fit a 200 to 400 watt kit themselves, with a regulator and a battery. That is rarely an eligible installation: the owner is not an accredited installer, the components may not be on the approved list, and the system is not claimed through an assignment. At 400 W in zone 3 the maths shows how little is at stake in any case: 0.4 x 1.382 x 5 is 2 STCs, worth roughly $80 at current prices. The cost of accreditation and paperwork usually exceeds the certificate value.
Motorhomes and tiny homes
The CER wording covers transportable units generally, so a motorhome with a fixed, professionally installed array is treated like a caravan. A tiny home is the stronger case: it is a dwelling, often with a bigger array, and a 3 kW system in zone 3 earns 3 x 1.382 x 5, or 20 STCs. Tiny homes on trailers raise a fair question about where the “premises” is, so check with the CER if the unit will be moved regularly.
Batteries
Off-grid and transportable battery rules differ from the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which requires a VPP-capable battery and an accredited installer; see off-grid battery STCs.
What this means for installers
Treat these as off-grid jobs from the first conversation. Confirm accreditation, quote the likely STC value honestly (small), and photograph everything as for a normal install. Our photo requirements guide lists the shots. If the customer plans to move the unit, record the installed location.
For the wider rules, see off-grid solar STCs and the STC trading overview. Rates are on the pricing page.