I. Product Market Access: CEC Approved List and AS/NZS 4777.2
Market access for energy storage components in Australia centers on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved list. Inverters and Power Conversion Equipment (PCE) must undergo testing and certification in accordance with AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 (including Amendment 2 of 2024, which became mandatory on August 23, 2025); certificates must be issued by a JAS-ANZ accredited certification body or a state electrical regulatory authority.
The CEC list includes over 3,800 inverter models, and the use of listed products is required for state grid connections and government subsidy programs (such as the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, SRES); models failing to meet the new standards were removed from the list effective August 23, 2025. Application fees are charged by model group: AUD 5,500 plus GST per inverter application (covering up to 10 models and 2 certificates), AUD 1,100 plus GST per PCE application, and AUD 5,500 plus GST per Energy Storage Device (ESD) application.
Ongoing maintenance of certification is required;
starting January 2026, the expiration dates for certain inverters have been brought forward to December 31, 2027, to align with transition arrangements for new battery product specifications.
II. Energy Storage Equipment (Battery) Certification: IEC 62619 and Related Standards
The CEC has established specific standard combinations for energy storage battery equipment applications (including battery packs and pre-assembled energy storage systems). The primary standards are AS IEC 62619:2017 (or IEC 62619:2017) combined with AS/NZS 60950.1:2015 or AS/NZS 62368.1:2018. Secondary standards include Clause 22.46 of AS/NZS 60335.1:2011 or the corresponding clauses of UL 1973:2013 (software testing may be exempted if conducted in accordance with IEC 62619 and proven equivalent). Outdoor equipment must also be verified against IEC 60068-2-5 and ISO 4892-4 to ensure that labels do not degrade under UV exposure.
Application documentation must include test reports from NATA- or IECEE-accredited laboratories, a declaration of conformity (requiring a clause-by-clause declaration as mandated by the “Best Practice Guide for Battery Energy Storage Equipment”), an inverter compatibility statement, and an installation manual.
It is important to emphasize that battery product certifications—such as IEC 62619, UL 1973, UN 38.3, and IEC 63056—attest to the safety of the product itself; they do not replace Australian installation compliance requirements. These requirements are complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
III. Installation Compliance: AS/NZS 5139, 4777.1, and 3000
Following product certification, energy storage systems installed in Australia must comply with three installation standards: AS/NZS 5139:2019 *Electrical installations—Safety of battery systems for use with power conversion equipment* (including Amendment No. 1, effective immediately in New South Wales and fully enforceable in Western Australia from June 19, 2026), which specifies requirements for installation, protection, and overcurrent protection; AS/NZS 4777.1:2024 *Grid connection of energy systems via inverters—Installation requirements*, mandatory for all low-voltage grid-connected inverters from February 23, 2025, covering voltage and frequency protection settings as well as current-carrying capacity rules for multi-mode inverter (MMI) supply cables; and AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules) alongside AS/NZS 3008.1.1:2025 (cable selection standards, now including tables for 1500V DC systems), which jointly govern cable design.
Exporters must verify implementation timelines for the specific target state and prepare documentation covering both product certification and installation standards;
failure to meet requirements in either area will result in the rejection of grid connection.
IV. New Regulations on Electrical Safety and Communication: EESS, RCM, and CSIP-AUS
In addition to the CEC listing, energy storage components must meet the requirements of the Australian Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS): importers or local manufacturers must be legal Australian entities (holding an ABN) registered as “Responsible Suppliers” in the EESS database, and products must obtain the RCM mark based on their risk classification.
A key shift expected in 2026 concerns the communications aspect: Australian grid operators are implementing CSIP-AUS (Common Smart Inverter Profile – Australia, based on SA TS 5573:2025) certification and integration with NEPKI (National Energy Public Key Infrastructure) to ensure secure communication between smart devices (such as inverters) and the grid; some states will make this mandatory starting July 2026. The CEC recommends that manufacturers complete CSIP-AUS certification via the Australian National University (ANU) testing service and integrate with NEPKI as soon as possible; the CEC has already added a dedicated section for CSIP-AUS compliance information to its approved product list.
Companies planning to export to Australia should incorporate smart communication compliance into their product development and certification budgets, rather than treating it as an optional extra.
V.
Practical Implementation Path and Trends
The practical path for exporting energy storage components to Australia involves five steps: First, identify the target state and verify the requirements of state regulatory bodies (as implementation timelines for AS/NZS 5139 amendments vary by state). Second, determine the applicable standards based on product category—inverters must comply with AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Amd 2:2024, while batteries require IEC 62619 plus relevant safety standards—and submit products to JAS-ANZ or IECEE-accredited laboratories for testing. Third, apply for inclusion on the CEC approved product list, register as a Responsible Supplier under the EESS, and obtain the RCM mark. Fourth, simultaneously initiate CSIP-AUS certification and NEPKI integration to avoid being unable to sell products after state-level mandates take effect in July 2026. Fifth, coordinate with local installers and state grid operators regarding grid connection application documentation.
In terms of trends, Australia is shifting from a focus solely on “product compliance” to prioritizing both “communication security and system compliance”; Amendment 2 to AS/NZS 4777.2, Amendment 1 to AS/NZS 5139, and CSIP-AUS constitute the three major new hurdles for 2025–2026, and companies that prepare early will significantly shorten their approval timelines.
Conclusion
The standards for exporting energy storage components to Australia can be summarized as “product listing, installation compliance, and smart communication adherence”: obtain certification and CEC listing under AS/NZS 4777.2 and IEC 62619; ensure installation compliance with AS/NZS 5139, 4777.1, and 3000;
and secure market access for electrical safety and smart communication via EESS/RCM and CSIP-AUS.
Only by advancing these three layers of standards as an integrated system can products successfully clear customs and achieve grid connection in the Australian market.
