EnergySafe Magazine Winter 2019, issue 54 | Page 12

Latest news Winter 2019 energysafe issue 54 No tolerance for substandard or unsafe solar installations or inspections By Neil Fraser, Deputy Director ESV Over 30,000 households have signed up for rebates on solar power system installations since the Victorian Solar Homes program was launched in August 2018. The growth in solar installations is expected to continue across the state when applications for rebates re-open on 1 July 2019. ESV is working closely with Solar Victoria and the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to ensure all solar photovoltaics (PV) systems installed in Victoria are safe and compliant. Use approved products All systems installed under the Solar Victoria package are required to meet Australian Standards. ESV participates in the technical committees that develop the standards for solar installations, storage systems and the electrical equipment used. The Clean Energy Council (CEC) maintains a list of approved modules and inverters that meet Australian Standards for use in the design and installation of solar PV systems. The Solar Homes program requires the installation of solar PV systems included on the CEC Approved Products list. For solar hot water, the program requires the installation of an approved product from the Clean Energy Regulator’s Register of Approved Solar Providers and the Victorian Essential Services Commission (ESC) Registered Products list. 12 Use approved installers All PV installations are required to be completed by a licensed electrician, issued a Prescribed Certificate of Electrical Safety, and be physically inspected by a licensed electrical inspector upon completion. Auditing of installations in place To ensure safety and quality standards are being met, Solar Victoria is conducting a program of regular random auditing of installed systems in partnership with Energy Safe Victoria and the Victorian Building Authority. Occupation Health and Safety Regulations 2017 require that safe work methods and fall prevention measures be in place for each installation. As a result of the auditing process, installers may be removed from the CEC accredited lists and electricians or inspectors found to be incompetent or negligent will have their electrical licenses suspended, cancelled or have restrictions placed on the licence. The Solar Victoria program explicitly requires solar providers sign a statement ensuring these provisions are in place. Further to these legislated requirements, the Solar Victoria program requires additional safety measures: » » All eligible PV systems are to be installed by CEC accredited installers, through a program that has been in operation since 2012, and providing additional training on safety and quality issues surrounding PV installation. » » All installers are required to have had no prosecutions registered with WorkSafe Victoria in the past three years (or with an equivalent authority in another Australian jurisdiction). Safety is of the highest concern to Solar Victoria and ESV. Solar PV panels have been regularly and safely installed in Victoria since the 1970’s, and we are committed to ensuring this remains the case for years to come.