The Clean Energy Regulator wants photographic proof that a system exists, is where you say it is, and uses the equipment you claimed. The photos are the single most common reason a claim stalls, so it pays to be fussy on site.
The core set of photos
For a typical rooftop PV job, plan on:
- A wide shot of the array showing all panels in place and the roof they sit on.
- A close-up of the panel serial numbers, readable without zooming into blur.
- The inverter, its serial number label and its mounting location.
- The switchboard with the new circuit and isolators visible.
- Something that anchors the job to the address, such as the street number or a customer-facing context shot.
Our photo requirements guide has the full list with examples of what passes and what does not. Rules have been tightened over time, so treat any list, ours included, as a starting point and confirm against the CER’s current guidance.
How to take them so they survive review
Shoot in daylight, in focus, with the whole label in frame. Keep device location and date settings on. Take serial photos before panels go up, since the labels are hard to reach afterwards. Take more than you think you need; an extra photo costs nothing and a missing one can cost the whole claim.
Where claims go wrong
Photos taken from inside the van at the end of the week, panels photographed on the ground rather than installed, inverter labels cut off, and shots that could belong to any house. Each of these invites a request for more evidence, and a late request can mean returning to site.
What this means for installers
Build the photo set into your job checklist so it is done before the crew leaves. When you lodge through Energy Merchants, our compliance desk reviews the set before it goes anywhere near the registry. The how it works page shows where that check sits, and how STC audits work explains why it matters later.
Finally, keep your originals. Compressed or edited images can strip the metadata that makes a photo credible, so store the unedited files and share those, not screenshots or messaging-app copies.