November 2023 Program Rule Changes
These program rule changes mainly aim to maintain GreenPower's alignment with a range of climate change, sustainability and renewable energy standards and frameworks that are valued by GreenPower customers, including: Climate Active, NABERS, RE100 and B Corp.
Thank you to everyone who responded to our Program Review consultation, and provided feedback during further targeted consultation with GreenPower customers, providers and generators earlier this year. This feedback has been invaluable as we have been refining and finalising these improvements.
What are the program rule changes?
1. Alignment of GreenPower and CER generator accreditation dates
GreenPower’s generator accreditation dates will change by 31 December 2023 so they align with the Clean Energy Regulator's accreditation date for renewable electricity generators, with some exceptions. This alignment in accreditation dates will remove some administrative burden and make it easier for GreenPower customers and providers to buy GreenPower Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs).
GreenPower's generator accreditation date will differ from the Clean Energy Regulator's date for:
- re-powered (substantially upgraded) generators, and
- co-located additions of new fuel sources to existing renewable generators, e.g., a solar farm being added to an existing wind farm.
GreenPower Generators which have been substantially upgraded can apply now for recognition of their re-powering.
Download the re-powering application form
GreenPower Generators which have co-located an additional, new fuel source at an existing renewable generator can also apply now for recognition of this new fuel source by using the generator application form.
2. Introduction of a 15-year age limit for renewable generators participating in GreenPower, with some limited exemptions
A 15-year generator age limit will apply to all GreenPower sales from 1 January 2024, with some limited exemptions. This generator age limit will help facilitate the installation of new renewable energy generators and maintain GreenPower’s alignment with renewable and climate frameworks such as RE100 and BCorp’s draft climate action standard that are valued by GreenPower customers.
The age limit will be applied based on the generator's accreditation date, as outlined above, and is in addition to the current exclusion of pre-1997, 'below-baseline' generation capacity.
Exemptions to the 15-year generator age limit
Exemptions to the 15-year generator age limit can be sought by either GreenPower Providers, Generators or Corporate Direct Customers that are a party to a pre-existing contract or power purchase agreement which commenced on or before 23 February 2023. LGCs granted an exemption from the generator age limit will only be eligible for surrender under GreenPower by the GreenPower Provider, Corporate Direct Participant, or their eligible subsidiaries, noted in the exemption approval notification.
Download the exemptions application form
GreenPower Generators owned by a not-for profit or co-operative organisation which have a generation capacity under 5MW are exempt from this 15-year generator age limit. Generators which meet both of these requirements can request this exemption by emailing the Program Manager and providing evidence from ASIC and/or their relevant state regulator of their ownership by a not-for profit or co-operative organisation.
3. Bringing renewable generation and customer energy use closer together
GreenPower has introduced a 27-month certificate vintage requirement on Large-scale Generation Certificates applicable to all GreenPower sales from 1 January 2024. This certificate vintage requirement will help ensure renewable electricity is generated close to the period in which the electricity was consumed and help maintain GreenPower's alignment with climate change and sustainability frameworks such as Climate Active and NABERS.
4. More granular reporting of GreenPower uptake
GreenPower Providers are required to provide postcode-level reporting of GreenPower purchases on a quarterly basis from Q1 2024 onwards. This will enable more targeted marketing and evaluation of campaigns by GreenPower and its local council promotional partners, and help these councils to reduce community emissions in their local government area more cost effectively.
Postcode-level data will be anonymised and aggregated from all Providers before it is published. Providers have previously been notified of these new reporting requirements and some Providers have already been piloting the updated reporting system.
5. Minor administrative changes
Some minor administrative rule changes are also included in this latest version of the program rules and are now in effect. These minor changes include:
- small changes to the mission and aims reflecting GreenPower's expansion into renewable gas
- modernisation to remove references to former programs or outdated requirements
- administrative changes such as the standardisation of some definitions and the addition of some new definitions
- clarification of fees for Providers, Corporate Direct and Connect Participants
- introduction of pro-rata minimum fees for new Providers to make it easier and potentially cheaper for new Providers to become a GreenPower Provider at any time of the year.
Download the updated GreenPower program rules
GreenPower's updated program rules contain all of the detailed requirements for these changes.