Selling LGCs is a different job to selling STCs, and the right buyer is a different type of business. If your commercial client’s system is above 1 MW, or is above 100 kW and was installed before 1 October 2026, the certificates they create are LGCs, and someone has to turn them into cash. Solar above 100 kW and up to 1 MW installed from 1 October 2026 creates STCs instead (see mid-scale solar STCs). For the scheme background, see what is an LGC.
What an LGC trader does
They buy certificates from accredited generators and sell to retailers and other liable entities, often combining small parcels into saleable volume. They may also offer forward contracts, which fix a price for future deliveries.
What to compare
| Question | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Pricing | A clear bid, stated for your volume and vintage |
| Settlement | A defined date after transfer, with no surprises |
| Fees | Disclosed upfront |
| Registry help | They can guide the transfer and handle common errors |
| Fit | Comfortable with parcels from a single commercial site |
Small commercial systems are different
Large generators deal in huge volumes, and may not bother with a single 150 kW site. Ask whether a trader has a minimum parcel size, or whether they work with aggregators. You may be better off with a trader that already handles smaller commercial customers.
What the owner needs to do first
The system must be accredited as a power station, with the proper metering, and the owner needs a registry account. That is the owner’s responsibility, not the trader’s, though a good trader will explain the steps. See commercial solar and the 100 kW limit, and what changed on 1 October 2026.
From the desk: if the client’s system is above 100 kW and up to 1 MW and goes in from 1 October 2026, check the STC route first. The upfront certificate value is often attractive, and no design tweak is needed.
Questions to ask on a first call
Ask how long they have been trading LGCs, what the typical parcel size is, how they handle registry transfers, and what the payment terms are. Ask for a reference from another commercial solar owner, and check that they can explain the process without jargon. A clear answer here is a good sign.
What this means for installers
Energy Merchants focuses on STCs, VEECs and battery STCs rather than LGCs. If your commercial job creates STCs, including mid-scale solar up to 1 MW, see STC trading and pricing. For LGCs, speak to brokers who list them as a core product. The resources hub has more.