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4. Public consultation - methodology change and 5th zone for heat pumps

Public Consultation for change to the STC methodology for solar water heaters and air source heat pumps and the addition of a 5^th zone for air source heat pumps. 

The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) is seeking public comment on the amendments to the Regulation 19B Legislative Instrument – Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) methodology for solar water heaters and air source heat pump water heaters. The primary changes include the establishment of a 5^th zone for air source heat pumps based on the incorporation of AS/NZS5125.1:2010 and AS/NZS4234:2008 Amdt 1/ 2011 into the STC methodology.

Please provide comments to the ORER by 3pm ADST Friday 10 February 2012. Comments should be sent via email to swh@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au

If you require further information, please contact the Small Renewables Registration team on 1300 553 542 or swh@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au

Background

This legislative instrument will be created under Regulation 19B of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 and will replace the current methodology used since Version 10 of the Register available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2011L00486.

AS/NZS5125.1: 2010 Heat pump water heaters – performance assessment was published on 23 December 2010. This standard required manufacturers to undertake physical tests of their products, accordingly the ORER methodology included a 12 month transition period for the change. This transition period has now passed and the ORER is updating the methodology to include the Low Temperature Performance Penalty for Class A Low Temperature products.

Additionally, AS/NZS4234 Amdt 1: 2011 Heated water systems – Calculation of energy consumption has been published to include the 5^th zone for air source heat pumps. The ORER has produced an updated postcode table, including the 5^th zone postcode list for air source heat pumps.

Updating the Register

The ORER will be implementing these changes from Version 14 which we expect will open in mid-May 2012.

• All air source heat pumps will be required to be modelled using the updated methodology including the 5^th zone STC values.  Otherwise, systems installed on or after 1 November 2012 will no longer be eligible for STCs.
• Air source heat pumps currently listed on the Register using AS/NZS5125.1:2010 for the Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Power calculations will have to resubmit modelling to include all 5 postcode zones.
• Air source heat pumps currently listed on the Register using the Morrison et al. methodology (see footnote 1) for COP and Power will have to be tested in compliance with AS/NZS5125.1:2010 and remodelled to include all 5 postcode zones.
• Solar water heaters listed on the Register will not be required to resubmit and the STC values will not be affected by this update.
• A separate post code zone table will apply for air source heat pumps installed on or after 1 November 2012, which includes the 5^th zone as set out by climate zone HP5-Au in AS/NZS4234:2008 Amdt 1/ 2011.

Timeline

Existing air source heat pump models not submitted in Version 14 will receive an end date of 31 October 2012. 

Once Version 14 is published, existing air source heat pump models weren’t submitted in Version 14 will be given an end date of 31 October 2012. STC values modelled for all 5 zones will apply for systems installed from 1 November 2012 onwards.

Public Consultation Responses

Download:

• Legislative Instrument (PDF 358 KB)
• Air Source Heat Pump Postcode table (PDF 371 KB)
• Template include and weather files for zone 5 (ZIP 79 KB) - for use with the ORER heat pump template deck, applicable from 19 November 2011, see the Application to include or modify solar water heater models into the Register of solar water heaters page.

Please format your feedback to comment the following areas:

1. Incorporation of AS/NZS5125.1:2010 and changes to the STC methodology for solar water heaters and air source heat pump water heater.
2. New postcode list for air source heat pumps
3. The timeframes for the release of the methodology and Version 14 of the Register of solar water heaters

Responses must be provided in writing via email to swh@cleanenergyregulator.gov.au by 3pm ADST Friday 10 February 2012. Late submissions will not be considered.

Footnote

[1] Morrison et al (2004) – Morrison G.L., Anderson T and Behnia M. (2004) Seasonal performance rating of heat pump water heaters, ISES Solar World Congress conference 2002, also Solar Energy V76, 147-152, (2004)