Geotagged photo (STC evidence)

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 2 October 2026

A geotagged photo is a picture with its location written into the file. Most phones add the GPS coordinates and a timestamp to each photo automatically, as long as location services are switched on for the camera. That metadata is what lets a reviewer check that the photo was taken at the installation address, at the time the work was done.

For certificate claims, the metadata is evidence. A set of photos taken at the right address on the right day supports the installation date, which in turn determines the deeming period for solar.

In practice

The practical rule is simple: switch location on, take the photos on site, and upload the original files. The commonest failures are all avoidable.

• Location turned off. The photos have no coordinates, so they prove nothing about where they were taken.
• Edited or screenshotted images. Many editing apps and messaging services strip the metadata. Send the original file, not a copy from a chat.
• Photos taken later. Pictures taken the next day at the office do not match the installation date.
• Wrong address. The coordinates land on a depot or a previous job.

New battery photo and evidence rules applied from 1 March 2026. Check the current requirements in the battery submission guide and the Clean Energy Regulator’s guidance, since the detail has been tightened. The general photo list for solar is in the STC photo requirements.

Common confusion

Geotagging is not a requirement on its own to be the only evidence. A location-stamped photo with an illegible serial number still fails, and a clear serial photo without location metadata may raise questions. Both matter. The photos also do not replace the installer written statement or the assignment form. See installer written statement.

Some people assume a watermark or app overlay counts as a geotag. An overlay is text on the picture, which can be useful but is not the same as the metadata in the file.

See the top reasons claims fail in STC claim rejection reasons and the certificate trading glossary for related terms.