CER STC Creation Evidence and 5 Year Document Retention Guide: August 2026 Requirements

Key Takeaways

• You must create Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) in the REC Registry strictly within 12 months of the installation date.
• The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) can audit and demand all installation documentation for up to 5 years from certificate creation.
• All photo evidence must carry verifiable time, date, and geolocation metadata.
• Photos showing the inverter serial number on the product must match the listed number in the REC Registry.

Clean Energy Regulator Requirements for STC Creation and Document Retention

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) sets mandatory evidentiary requirements for creating Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) in the REC Registry. These rules ensure the integrity of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). Understanding these provisions is crucial for installers, agents, and system owners to avoid non-compliance.

STC Creation Deadlines and Agent Engagement

You must create STCs in the REC Registry within 12 months of the installation date. This is a strict statutory limitation. The CER advises that if your system is within 8 weeks of this 12-month deadline, you should contact a registered agent. This recommendation is due to the potential for account verification processes to take 6+ weeks. Additionally, you must have the STCs assigned to you before creating them in the REC Registry.

Mandatory Document Retention

The CER requires you to retain all necessary documentation for a significant period. We can request you provide the required documents for up to 5 years from the date of creation. This obligation extends even if your claim has already been approved; you must provide the documents if requested. Failure to provide these documents can lead to sanctions, including a request to surrender STCs.

Photo Evidence Standards

The CER has specific requirements for photo evidence submitted for STC creation. All photos must include time and date metadata and geolocation at the installation site. This standard applies across all photographic evidence. For instance, on-site attendance evidence should also include the face of the installer. When documenting equipment, serial number photos must show the serial number on the product itself. Specifically for inverters, photos showing the inverter serial number on the product must match the listed number in the REC Registry. For solar battery installations, photos showing critical labelling are also required.

These provisions ensure that all claims for STCs are supported by verifiable evidence, maintaining the integrity of the SRES.

Related Scheme Compliance Guides

For agent qualification procedures, see our Clean Energy Regulator SRES Registered Agent Application Guide. You can also review retailer obligations in our CER SRES Solar Retailer Written Statement Guide and certificate calculations in our CER SRES STC Calculation and Agent Assignment Guide. Before designing your system, calculate deeming periods with our solar sizing tool.