The Australian solar industry is entering a new era of strict compliance. Starting March 2026, the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is rolling out stringent mandatory requirements for photo evidence submitted with Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) claims. Failing to meet these standards won't just result in a warning—it will lead to outright claim rejections, delayed payments, and potentially costly site revisits.
The CER is tightening the rules to combat fraudulent claims, ensure the physical safety of installations, and maintain the integrity of the SRES program.
High-quality, geo-tagged, and time-stamped photo evidence is now the only acceptable proof that an installation occurred at the correct location, with the approved equipment, and by an accredited installer.
Based on the new framework, STC claims are most likely to fail during the audit process due to these three photo documentation errors:
Inverters, battery systems, and sample panels must have their serial numbers clearly photographed. If the AI or auditor cannot read the text due to blurriness, glare, or distance, the claim is rejected.
Photos must clearly show the main switch (inverter supply), appropriate warning labels (e.g., Multiple Supplies, Solar Array), and secure wire routing. Missing a $2 sticker can cost you a $3,000 STC payout delay.
All photos must contain EXIF data proving the GPS location, date, and time of the installation. Sending photos via standard compression apps (like WhatsApp) strips this data, rendering the evidence invalid.
Relying on manual visual checks by back-office staff is no longer viable. The human eye easily misses a faded switchboard sticker or a blurry digit in a serial number. By the time the auditor spots it, the installer has already left the site.
This is exactly why we built SolarLens AI™.
SolarLens AI acts as your automated, instant compliance auditor. While your installers are still on-site, they can simply upload their photos to the SolarLens platform. Within seconds, our AI vision engine cross-references the images against the latest CER standards.
Protect your cash flow by using AI to instantly verify your installation photos while your team is still on the roof.
Try SolarLens AI Today