Accreditation is the gate between building a solar farm and creating LGCs. Until the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) accredits the power station, no certificate can be created for the electricity it generates, so most developers start the application during construction rather than after.
Who needs it
A solar farm above 1 MW generally goes down the accreditation route. Rooftop systems under 100 kW are small generation units and use STCs. Since 1 October 2026, systems above 100 kW and up to 1 MW installed from that date create STCs with a fixed five-year deeming period (CER says applications open mid to late November 2026), so check mid-scale solar STCs first if your project falls in that band. Below 100 kW nothing changes.
What you need to apply
- Eligibility of the technology. Solar PV is an eligible renewable source. The station must be new or have an increase in generation to earn certificates for the added output.
- Ownership and site control. Evidence that you own or control the site, plus landowner consent where relevant.
- Fit and proper person. The CER assesses the applicant and associated persons.
- Planning and grid approvals. Development consent and a grid connection agreement or offer.
- A metering arrangement. The CER needs to see how electricity generated and consumed will be measured. See LGC metering data requirements.
- A baseline. For new stations the baseline is usually nil. Older sites may have a historical baseline to subtract.
- Capacity and technical details. Nameplate capacity, inverter data and any auxiliary load, so the CER can calculate eligible generation.
Fees and timing
The CER charges an application fee plus a small per-LGC fee. Amounts change, so check the CER fees page. We cover the costs and typical timeframes in what accreditation costs and how long it takes.
After accreditation
Once accredited you can create LGCs in the REC Registry for metered generation, within the time limits. See creating LGCs and how often you can create them. The certificates then go through the registry transfer process to a buyer.
What this means for developers and installers
Build the compliance file as you build the farm: commissioning dates, meter certificates, test reports and the single-line diagram. If your project is just over or just under the mid-scale boundary, run both numbers before you design. For the commercial context see selling LGCs from a commercial system and the LGC trading guide. Energy Merchants works mainly on small-scale certificates, so see how it works and resources if you also install behind-the-meter solar.