The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) has always stopped at 100 kW. The 2026 amendments to the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations extend it to cover mid-scale solar: systems above 100 kW and up to 1 MW installed from 1 October 2026 now create small-scale technology certificates (STCs) at install. This answer collects what an installer needs, across the questions installers have been asking. The pillar page is mid-scale solar STCs.
Eligibility in one place
- Size band: above 100 kW and up to 1 MW.
- Install date: from 1 October 2026. Earlier systems stay under the old arrangements.
- Certificate: STCs, not LGCs. A system does not create both for the same output.
- Deeming period: a fixed five years, regardless of install year.
- Below 100 kW: unchanged. The deeming period for small systems is 5 years for 2026, 4 for 2027, stepping down to 1 in 2030, and the scheme ends 31 December 2030.
- Above 1 MW: remains LGCs under the large-scale scheme.
How it works day to day
You create the STCs through the CER’s Registry as you would for a small system, with panels from the approved list, a certified installer and photographic evidence. The CER has said applications for the new band open mid to late November 2026, so there is a gap between the start date and the process being available. Keep complete records for any job installed in October so you can lodge once the application opens. Confirm the registration steps and any extra documentation on the CER site.
What the certificate count looks like
A 150 kW system in zone 3 creates about 1,036 STCs (150 x 1.382 x 5). A 500 kW system is about 3,455. See the counts for 200 kW to 1 MW. At the roughly $38 to $40 STC market at the time of writing, the certificate value is a large part of a commercial payback.
What changes for the quote
Before this, a 150 kW commercial system had to price in a multi-year LGC stream whose value was uncertain and, in 2026, low (roughly $6 to $9 in September). Now the customer can see the value upfront, either as a discount or a payment to the installer. That changes finance and cash flow conversations. See commercial cash flow and the LGC impact.
What to check before you rely on it
- The system’s install date, not the contract date.
- Whether the site, owner and generation arrangements fit the SRES definition.
- The application opening date and registry steps.
- Zone rating for the postcode: what is my STC zone.
- How your buyer settles large parcels.
What this means for installers
The mid-scale market is now a certificate business as well as an installation business. Keep clean job files, plan for larger claims and speak to a trader early. STC trading explains the process, and pricing has the current published rates. If you want a settlement partner who pre-checks large claims, start trading.