Batteries, especially lithium-based ones, play a huge role in our clean energy transition. But they also come with safety risks if not designed, tested, and installed properly. That’s why the Clean Energy Council requires battery systems to meet strict criteria before they can be included in its Approved Products List.

This listing isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about ensuring that energy storage systems used across homes and businesses in Australia are safe, reliable, and compliant with the best practices in our local industry.

Understand the Three Pathways

Before applying, we first need to understand the three acceptable pathways for demonstrating compliance. These are outlined in the Battery Safety Guide and referred to as Methods 1, 2, and 3. There’s a fourth method in the guide, but the CEC doesn’t accept it for the purposes of listing—so we’ll ignore that one.

Each method gives us a different route to prove that a battery system meets the required standards. The difference comes down to the type of battery system, the integration level, and what standards the product has been tested against. The Clean Energy Council provides checklists for each method, which act as your step-by-step reference when pulling together your application.

The important thing is to make sure you choose the right method for your product and follow the associated checklist closely.

Get Certified by the Right Lab

Whichever method you choose, your battery system needs to be tested and certified. But not just any lab will do. The Clean Energy Council accepts certifications from:

IEC-recognised laboratories

JAS-ANZ-accredited certifying bodies

This gives confidence that the results are internationally recognised and independently verified. If your product hasn’t yet been tested or certified by an eligible lab, that’s your first job.

You can find a list of certified labs for battery testing on the IEC website. Don’t forget to double-check that the lab you’re using meets either IEC or JAS-ANZ criteria. If it doesn’t, your application might be rejected before it’s even reviewed.

You’ll Need a Local Importer

Even if you’re the original manufacturer based overseas, you can’t apply for a listing unless there’s a nominated importer or manufacturer based in Australia or New Zealand. That local representative must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or a New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (IRD) number.

Why does this matter? It’s about warranty responsibility. The Clean Energy Council wants to ensure that if a battery system fails, the importer or local manufacturer can handle warranty claims and support Australian consumers directly. This is a key part of protecting consumers and ensuring accountability within the supply chain.

If you’re an overseas manufacturer, make sure you’ve got a strong relationship with your importer—and that you’re both on the same page about warranty responsibilities and documentation.

Gather All the Right Documents

This is where it can get a bit overwhelming, but don’t worry. The Clean Energy Council is very clear about what needs to be submitted with your application. If you’re missing even one of these, your application could be delayed or rejected. Here’s what’s required:

A certificate showing the product complies with all the relevant standards (as outlined in the checklist for your chosen method)

Test reports for all applicable standards

A self-assessed declaration form that covers specific product requirements

A clear installation manual

A product data sheet or brochure

A safety data sheet (SDS)

Warranty terms and conditions

A ratings note that explains the system’s energy capacity at standard conditions

The ratings note, in particular, must be clearly defined. For standalone battery systems (BS), this means the energy capacity at beginning of life, at the max recommended depth of discharge, and 25°C ambient temperature—tested at a 0.1C or greater charge/discharge rate. The same applies to integrated BESS units.

It’s not enough to simply throw together a few PDFs—make sure all documents are complete, accurate, and consistent.

Fill Out the Online Form

Once you’ve got all your documents together and you’re confident you meet the requirements for your chosen method, it’s time to fill out the online application form through the CEC website.

This form will ask for a lot of details, including:

Product identification

Certification body and test report details

Importer/manufacturer contact details

Warranty terms

Safety and compliance declarations

Before submitting, double-check everything against the relevant checklist. A lot of applications get held up because someone forgot to attach a test report or missed a declaration.

You’ll also need to agree to the Clean Energy Council’s Listing Terms and Conditions as part of the form. Make sure you (and your importer, if you’re not local) have read and understood these.

Pay the Application Fee

There’s an application fee that must be paid before your submission is assessed. At the time of writing, the base fee is $5,500 (plus GST) for up to 10 battery models, if they’re certified under a single certificate. If you’ve got more than one certificate or more than 10 models, extra fees apply.

Payment is made as part of the online application process. Applications won’t be reviewed until payment is confirmed.

If you need to withdraw your application later on, refunds may be available—depending on how far into the process your application has progressed. The closer you get to a final review, the less likely you are to get a full refund.

What Happens Next?

Once you’ve submitted everything, the CEC will perform an administrative review to check that your application is complete. If something is missing or unclear, you’ll be asked to fix it. After that, a technical review will be done.

If your product passes all the checks, it’ll be added to the Approved Products List. From there, you’re good to go.

But if your application is incomplete or keeps bouncing back due to missing or invalid documents, you may be asked to start again from scratch. That’s why it’s worth taking the time to do it right the first time.