Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001

For subsection 22(1) of the Act, the Regulator may determine, by legislative instrument, the method to be used to determine the number of certificates that may be created for a particular model of solar water heater.

The determination must provide that the number of certificates that may be created is to be worked out by reference to the difference, over the number of years specified for the solar water heater in regulation 19BE, between:

the energy, other than solar energy or energy collected from the latent and sensible heat of the atmosphere, to be used by the solar water heater; and

the electrical energy that would be used by an equivalent electric water heater.

For subregulation (2), an electric water heater is an equivalent electric water heater if it:

supplies the same, or a similar, hot water load as the solar water heater mentioned in paragraph (2)(a); and

is not a heat pump.

In making the determination, the Regulator must have regard to the method set out in the Australian Standard, set out in Schedule 4, as in force at the time the determination is made that applies to the solar water heater.

In making the first determination under subregulation (1), the Regulator must have regard to:

the guidelines known as REC calculation methodology for solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters with a volumetric capacity up to and including 700 litres, published by the Regulator on its website, as in force at the time the determination is made; and

the guidelines known as REC calculation methodology for solar water heaters and heat pump water heaters with a volumetric capacity over 700 litres, published by the Regulator on its website, as in force at the time the determination is made.