The scheme does not ask where a panel was made. It asks whether the model is on the approved list. Chinese manufacturers supply a large share of the Australian market, and many of their models are listed. Imported panels from anywhere else are in exactly the same position.
Are Chinese panels eligible
Yes, where the specific model is listed. Eligibility is by model number, so a manufacturer can have some models on the list and others not. Check the exact product on the delivery note, not the brand name.
Are imported panels eligible
Almost every panel installed in Australia is imported, so there is no separate import test. What matters is the listing on the installation date, and the product being installed in line with Australian standards.
Are Tier 1 panels eligible
Tier 1 is a ranking published by a private research firm about a manufacturer’s financial bankability, meaning how likely lenders consider it to be around in ten years. It says nothing about regulatory approval. A Tier 1 brand with an unlisted model gets no STCs; a smaller brand with a listed model does.
Are cheap panels eligible
Price does not enter into it. A low price is a reason to check the listing carefully, because discounted stock is often older models that may be near or past their approval expiry, but a cheap panel on the list qualifies like any other.
How to check any panel
- Take the model number from the panel label or datasheet.
- Search it on the CEC PV module list.
- Read the approval dates.
- Confirm the installation date falls inside them.
A word on warranty, since it is where origin does matter commercially: a manufacturer with no Australian entity can be difficult to claim against. That is a buying consideration rather than an STC rule, but it is worth raising with customers alongside the listing check.
What this means for installers
Do the check at quote and again at install. If a distributor offers a heavily discounted pallet, confirm the expiry date before you buy. See what happens if panels are removed from the list for how the dates work, and STC photo requirements for proving the model on the day.
What this means for homeowners
Judge a quote on three things: the panel is listed, the installer is accredited, and the warranty is from a manufacturer with an Australian presence you could actually claim against. Then use the STC calculator to confirm the discount is realistic for your zone and system size.
For the bigger picture see STC trading. Installers can compare buy rates on pricing or start trading.