Large-scale generation certificates, or LGCs, are the large-scale counterpart of STCs. They reward generation rather than capacity, and they are created over the life of a project.
The steps
- Check eligibility. The system should be a renewable generator that falls outside the small-scale scheme. Rooftop systems up to 100 kW, with a limit on annual output, create STCs instead, and from 1 October 2026 so does solar above 100 kW and up to 1 MW (see mid-scale solar STCs). Solar above 1 MW, and older solar above 100 kW, sits in the LGC scheme.
- Accredit the power station. Apply to the Clean Energy Regulator with details of the site, equipment, connection and ownership.
- Set the baseline. For most new projects the baseline is zero, so all eligible generation can create LGCs.
- Register in the REC Registry. Create an account and link the power station.
- Measure and report. Metered generation is reported, and the CER’s rules on metering and evidence apply.
- Create the LGCs. One LGC per MWh of eligible generation, then transfer or surrender them as the owner chooses.
Practical points
- Accreditation takes time and paperwork, so plan before construction finishes.
- Metering needs to meet the CER’s requirements, and a revenue-grade meter is typical.
- Some projects hire an LGC agent to manage creation and sale.
- LGC spot has been roughly $6 to $9 in September 2026 after a low near $4 in February, so the revenue is modest per MWh and varies with the market.
Costs to budget for
Expect to budget for accreditation fees, an approved metering arrangement, any independent verification the application requires and, if you use an agent, a fee or a share of certificate revenue. Compared with the revenue of an LGC at roughly $6 to $9 each, these costs are fixed, so the larger the system, the better the economics. Run the sums early, ideally before you finalise the system design, because metering choices are cheapest to make during the build.
What this means for installers
If you build commercial solar, the question to settle with your customer is who owns the certificates, and who will manage them. The size split is explained in commercial solar above 100 kW and the value in how much an LGC is worth. For small systems, the STC trading page applies, and the resources hub lists other guides. The glossary defines the terms.