Once an accredited power station has created LGCs, the sale is a transfer between two accounts in the REC Registry run by the Clean Energy Regulator. The registry is the record of who owns which certificate, so a sale is only complete when the registry shows it.
Step by step
- Create the certificates. After generating and metering electricity, create LGCs for the period in the registry. See creating LGCs for the timing.
- Find a buyer. Buyers include retailers meeting their liability, corporates seeking renewable claims and traders or brokers. An LGC trader can quote a bid.
- Agree the terms. Volume, price per certificate, vintage (the year of generation), settlement date and who pays any fees. Put it in writing.
- Transfer in the registry. The seller initiates the transfer to the buyer’s registered account and the buyer accepts. Both parties see the status.
- Settle. Payment is made per the contract. Many deals pay on or shortly after transfer.
- Keep records. Save the trade confirmation and the registry transaction record for your tax and audit file.
Cash versus forward
A spot sale transfers existing certificates at today’s price. A forward sale agrees a price now for certificates to be delivered later, which locks revenue but creates a delivery obligation. Read what the forward curve looks like to 2030 before committing. At the time of writing LGCs are oversupplied at roughly $6 to $9 in September 2026, so check the live price rather than relying on an old quote.
GST and tax
LGC sales are generally taxable supplies if you are registered for GST, and the buyer may issue a recipient-created tax invoice. Ask your accountant how it applies to your structure. Our guide to RCTI, GST and ABN for STC payments covers similar mechanics.
Who to sell to
Large generators often sell to a retailer under an offtake agreement or a PPA. Smaller owners sell through a broker or trader to avoid chasing buyers. See who buys LGCs from small solar and fees and commissions.
What this means for owners
Set up the registry account before commissioning, decide your sales policy (spot, quarterly or forward) and build in a settlement check. If your system is 100 kW to 1 MW and installed from 1 October 2026, you may use STCs instead and skip this process: see mid-scale solar STCs. Wider reading: the LGC trading guide and selling LGCs.