Queensland Battery Booster program installer information and registration

Inspectorate

Quality assurance—safety and compliance checks

All systems installed under this program may be inspected by a department-appointed inspectorate to ensure they meet applicable technical and safety standards.

The inspectorate will identify and report on any safety risks and non-compliance.

Approved installers may be removed from the approved installer's list and placed on the Removed installers list if:

• installations are found to be unsafe or repeatedly sub-standard
• licences or accreditations expire.

The inspectorate will contact homeowners to arrange an inspection of the installed battery system.

Approved installers should review the Battery Booster Program installer guide (PDF, 4MB) to ensure you meet program expectations and inspection standards.

Department-appointed inspectorate

All systems installed under the Battery Booster Program will be inspected by a department-appointed inspectorate to ensure they meet applicable technical and safety standards. The department has appointed Global Sustainable Energy Solutions Pty Ltd (GSES) as the Battery Booster program inspectorate. The inspectorate will conduct solar and battery storage compliance inspections for installed approved battery systems at no cost to customers.

The main objective of the inspections is to ensure that systems are safe and to uplift industry by promoting best practice installations.

Industry support

To assist approved installers in meeting industry best practice standards, the inspectorate has established a dedicated hotline and email to provide expert advice about installing approved battery systems.

Approved installers may also arrange a Zoom call with the hotline specialist. By using this service, the specialist will be able to see the issues being discussed.

The hotline and email inbox will be monitored during business hours 9am–5pm AEST/AEDT.

Inspectorate hotline number for installers: (07) 3185 5020

Inspectorate email address for installers: qldbattery@gsesinspections.com.au

Inspectorate Battery Booster website: https://www.gses.com.au/consulting/battery-booster-inspections/

For guidance on what a high-quality installation should entail and what items GSES will be inspecting, refer to the Battery Booster installer guide (PDF, 4MB). The guide will be regularly updated with inspection outcomes and approved installers will receive updates directly.

The inspection period for the Battery Booster program is expected to run from May 2024 until mid-2025, depending on the date and location of installations.

Approved installers may be removed from the approved installer's list and placed on the Removed installers list if:

• installations are found to be unsafe or repeatedly sub-standard
• licences or accreditations expire.

About approved installers

Householders will only be eligible for a rebate if their installer is on the Approved installer list at the time their approved battery system is installed.

Safety is a priority for the program, which is why approved installers must meet minimum licensing, accreditation and training requirements.

The Approved installer list will be updated throughout the program as required.

The program approval process for householders

The program has a 2-stage approval process for householders where the system will be installed.

Householders must meet eligibility criteria and have received confirmation of conditional approval before installing an approved battery system. Once installed, householders can apply for the rebate.

Stage 1—Conditional approval

Installation can only begin once the householder has received a conditional approval letter from the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).

Check that your customer has received conditional approval before proceeding to install the battery system. If they have not, they will not be eligible for a rebate.

The approved battery system must be installed by an approved installer within 90 days of the date on the conditional approval letter (or 120 days under specific circumstances).

The department is no longer accepting applications for new businesses to register as approved installers due to the closure of the program to conditional approval applications.

This factsheet (PDF,1.1MB) supports customers purchasing an approved battery system from a retailer.

What eligible quotes must include

• Name, address and ABN of the business issuing the quote.
  • If the quote is issued by an installer, the installer must be listed on the approved installer list on date the quote was issued.
  • If the quote is provided by a retailer, it is recommended that the quote include the details (name, address and ABN) of the approved installer who will carry out the installation.
• Customer name and address where the approved battery system will be installed.
• Brand, model and capacity of the approved battery system to be installed as referenced on the Approved battery systems list. For modular batteries, include the number of batteries being purchased and installed, and the make and model of the new or existing inverter the modules will be connected to (this is to confirm that that the new approved battery system has a total capacity of 6kWh or more and is listed as such on the approved battery systems list).
• Size (kW) of the rooftop solar PV system that will be connected to the approved battery system.
• If the approved battery system will be on-grid or standalone.
• Total cost of purchase and installation of the approved battery system.
• Quote issue date must be on or after 12 February 2024.

Stage 2—Rebate approval

Householders can apply for the rebate when:

• they have received a conditional approval letter from QRIDA.
• the approved battery system (that was conditionally approved) has been installed by an approved installer.
• they have an invoice demonstrating that the purchase and installation:
  • meets all eligibility requirements
  • has been paid in full.

What eligible invoices must include

• Name, address and ABN of the approved installer that installed the approved battery system must be listed on the Approved installers list with approval current on the date of the installation.
• Customer name and address where the approved battery system was installed.
• Brand, model and capacity of the approved battery system installed. For modular batteries, include the number of batteries being purchased and installed to confirm that the approved battery system has a total capacity of 6kWh or more and is listed as such on the Approved battery systems list.
• Serial number of the approved battery.
• Size (kW) of the rooftop solar PV system that is connected to the approved battery system.
• Name and electrical worker licence number of the electrician who installed the approved battery system.
• If the approved battery system is on-grid or standalone.
• The total cost of purchase and installation of the approved battery system.

Approved installer requirements

Installer requirements and supporting documentation

To register, you must provide complete, accurate and current information about your business and nominated electrician installers that meet the department's licensing and accreditation requirements.

To maintain your status as an approved installer, you must maintain the information provided as part of your application.

• Electrical licence
  • For businesses—Queensland electrical contractor licence (including carrying public liability insurance of at least $5 million).
  • For installers—Queensland open electrical mechanic licence.
• Working safely at heights certification
  • The certificate must have been completed within the last 6 years.
• Design accreditation
  • Provide evidence that at least 1 of your nominated, licensed electrician installers employed by the business has design accreditation or completed the equivalent training course.
• Areas serviced
  • You will be required to indicate which local government area(s) (PDF, 2.6MB) you intend to service under the program.
• Accreditation required—you must provide evidence of:
  • Clean Energy Council battery accreditation (for grid connected batteries and/or standalone power systems)
  • or
  • an equivalent level of training based on successful completion of nationally recognised training modules through an Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) Registered Training Organisation (RTO) issued within the past 3 years.

The specific accreditation and training requirements are summarised below.

Accreditation and training requirements

Select your installer type to determine specific accreditation and training required.

Solar Accreditation Australia

The department acknowledges the transition of accreditation from the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA).

Approved Installers are required to provide evidence of their transition from CEC to SAA and accreditation needs to remain current for the duration of installations under this program.

How you can help your customers

Use these resources to assist your customers' understanding of battery energy storage systems as well as the rebate application process:

• Householder rebate eligibility information, eligibility criteria and how to apply
• Battery Booster Program – Installer guide (PDF, 4MB)
• Battery Booster industry factsheet (PDF, 678KB)
• Customer communication pack
  • Customer factsheet (PDF, 799KB)
  • Retailer factsheet (PDF, 1.1MB) – for customers purchasing from a retailer.

Additional resources

• Queensland Fire Department – Battery and charging safety
• Electrical Safety Office – Battery energy storage systems

Contact us

Phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68) if you need help or more information.