Green Power Australia

1. Review the Program Rules: Download and read the current National GreenPower Accreditation Program Rules (Version 11.3) from greenpower.gov.au to understand the eligibility criteria, sourcing requirements, and reporting obligations your electricity product must meet.

1. Assess product eligibility: Determine which of your electricity retail products you wish to accredit. GreenPower accreditation applies at the product level, so each product must independently meet the program's renewable energy sourcing and traceability standards.

1. Establish renewable energy sourcing: Ensure your product is backed by 100% accredited renewable energy sources, with appropriate Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) or equivalent instruments to demonstrate traceability and additionality as required by the Program Rules.

1. Prepare your application documentation: Compile all required evidence, including renewable energy sourcing agreements, LGC records, product specifications, and any other documentation specified in the Program Rules for your application submission.

1. Submit your application: Lodge your application with the GreenPower program administrators via the official program portal. The administrators will review your documentation for compliance with the Program Rules.

1. Undergo compliance review: Program administrators will assess your submitted documentation. Be prepared to respond to queries or provide additional evidence during the review process.

1. Receive accreditation and launch your product: Once approved, you will be authorised to label and market your electricity product as GreenPower accredited and list it on the GreenPower provider registry.

1. Maintain ongoing compliance: Submit annual compliance reports, maintain traceability records, and adhere to updated Program Rules to retain accreditation for each product year-on-year.

GreenPower accreditation evaluates electricity retail products against the National GreenPower Accreditation Program Rules across several key compliance areas. The primary requirement is that the product must be backed by 100% accredited renewable electricity — meaning all energy sold under the GreenPower label must be sourced from eligible renewable generators such as wind, solar, hydro, and biomass facilities that meet the program's environmental criteria.

Traceability and certificate management are central to the assessment. Retailers must demonstrate that Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) or equivalent instruments are acquired, registered, and surrendered in proportion to the volume of GreenPower sold, ensuring that each unit of accredited electricity can be traced back to a specific renewable source. The program also evaluates the eligibility of generation sources, excluding technologies or facilities that do not meet GreenPower's environmental standards.

Reporting and transparency obligations are also assessed. Retailers must maintain accurate records of energy volumes, certificate transactions, and customer sales, and submit annual compliance reports to the program administrators. Periodic audits may be conducted to verify the accuracy of reported data. Product marketing and labelling practices are reviewed to ensure that only accredited products carry the GreenPower mark and that claims made to consumers are consistent with the program's standards. Non-compliance in any of these areas can result in suspension or removal of accreditation.

GreenPower is the dominant government-backed green electricity accreditation program in Australia, with no direct national competitor offering the same level of multi-jurisdictional government endorsement. Its longevity — nearly 30 years — and its backing by six state and territory government agencies give it a level of institutional credibility that voluntary or private-sector alternatives cannot easily replicate. Over 360,000 households and businesses purchase GreenPower-accredited products, and most major Australian electricity retailers offer at least one accredited product, making it a de facto standard in the Australian retail green energy market.

Despite its strong position, GreenPower faces competitive pressure from other environmental instruments such as Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and corporate renewable energy commitments under frameworks like RE100. Some large businesses bypass GreenPower entirely in favour of direct PPAs or self-generation, which can be more cost-effective at scale. The program's relevance is also shaped by Australia's broader energy transition — as renewable energy becomes a larger share of the grid, the marginal value of GreenPower accreditation for additionality claims is increasingly debated.

The program's expansion into Renewable Gas certification (Version 3.0 rules released in 2025) and new LCLF and biogenic CO2 schemes signals a strategic effort to remain relevant as Australia's decarbonisation agenda broadens beyond electricity. Demand for credible green energy labels is expected to grow as corporate net-zero commitments proliferate and regulators tighten greenwashing standards, positioning GreenPower well for continued relevance in the medium term.

GreenPower was established in 1997 as a joint initiative of Australian state and territory government agencies, making it one of the world's earliest government-backed green electricity accreditation programs. It was created to address growing consumer demand for renewable energy products and to combat greenwashing in the emerging retail green electricity market, providing a nationally consistent standard that retailers could meet and consumers could trust. The program was initially managed by a small number of state agencies and has since expanded to cover ACT, NSW, SA, QLD, VIC, and WA.

Over its nearly three decades of operation, GreenPower has undergone multiple revisions to its Program Rules — now at Version 11.3 as of April 2026 — reflecting the rapid evolution of Australia's renewable energy sector, including the integration of large-scale generation certificates (LGCs), traceability requirements, and new certification streams such as Renewable Gas. The program has grown to support over 360,000 household and business customers and continues to expand its scope, with new certification schemes for low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLF) and biogenic CO2 announced in 2025.