• • Virtual Power Plants charging ahead with Federal Battery Scheme.
  • New NSW strata laws encouraging the uptake of sustainability infrastructure.
  • LGCs minor rebound continues.
  • VEECs trade sideways as registry opening for revised Activity 44 is announced.
  • ESCs come off the boil following previous gains.
  • PRCs show narrow gains.
  • ACCUs edge back in light trading.
  • STCs unchanged and Clearing House remains in deficit.

Virtual Power Plants charging ahead with Federal Battery Scheme.

Since the launch of Battery STCs under the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP) just a few weeks ago, Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) have seen a strong increase in uptake. For example, Amber has reported in the first month alone, nearly 3,000 new customers enrolled in its VPP offering, a dramatic near 5-fold increase compared with prior enrolment levels. This momentum is particularly strong in South Australia, where Amber’s SmartShift is now an approved VPP under the state’s Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS).

Ecovantage is supporting this uptake by enabling homeowners and businesses in South Australia to access the REPS VPP rebate under the Scheme’s VPP1 method. Households and small businesses that connect to an approved VPP through Ecovantage can apply for a rebate of up to $2,050.

For those looking to benefit from the new Federal battery rebates or South Australian VPP incentives, contact the Ecovantage Account Management Team for more information.

 

New NSW strata laws encouraging uptake of sustainability infrastructure.

Since the start of the new financial year it is now mandatory for owners corporations in NSW to consider sustainability at each of their Annual General Meetings (AGM’s). The AGM agenda must now include an item that considers environmental sustainability, such as the common property energy and water consumption and expenditures.

When preparing estimates for their capital works fund, owners corporations must consider costs for sustainability infrastructure, such as sustainable building materials and solar systems. This includes consideration of costs for the installation, replacement or repair of any sustainability related infrastructure, fixtures or fittings.

Some strata schemes previously had by-laws that restricted sustainability infrastructure from being installed if, for example, it impacted negatively on the external appearance of common property or an owner’s property. These by-laws are now banned unless the building is heritage-listed or in a heritage conservation area.

As a result of these changes Ecovantage is, for example, already seeing an uplift in enquiries for NABERS ratings for strata buildings. Ecovantage has qualified NABERS assessors that can assist with this process, enabling owners to measure the environmental performance of their building and identify for cost savings and future improvements.

Read more about the benefits of NABERS Ratings or reach out to the Ecovantage team with any questions.

Weekly Market Update | 11 – 15 August 2025

Large-Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs)

The LGC spot market opened the week trading almost 2% lower than last week at $13.25 per certificate with a total volume of 40k. On Tuesday we saw an increase to $13.75, and the spot remained stable at that level for the rest of the week.

The LGC forward markets recorded an upward trend; the week opened with CAL25 trading at $13.50 and CAL26 at $12.75, but both vintages quickly saw price increases by Tuesday, reaching $13.75 and $13.00 respectively.CAL26 continued climbing to $13.25 in two sizable mid-week transactions, with a trade volume of 90k certificates. Meanwhile, CAL27 experienced a little more volatility, trading between $10.25 and $10.50, and CAL 28 traded once at $7.50.The market closed out the week with a final high-volume trade for CAL 26 at $13.25, reinforcing upward momentum in this vintage.

Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs)

The VEEC market stagnated this week with just a handful of reported trades seeing the spot largely trade sideways to close the week where it started, at $95.80.

Despite a release from the Essential Services Commission (ESC) on Tuesday flagging upcoming enhancements to the new Registry, the ongoing failure to publish creation volumes continues to contribute to a lack of visibility for Accredited Persons (APs) and Scheme Participants.

Also included in the release was an announcement that Activity 44 activities completed on or after Friday, 25 July can be uploaded to the registry from Friday, 25 August onwards.

Though this is welcome news for a market with few viable avenues for VEEC creation, just a handful of products are approved under the revised activity, limiting the economies of scope and scale required to meet the ESC’s aim to rebuild the diminishing certificate liquidity surplus.

Energy Saving Certificates (ESCs)

Following two very soft weeks, ESC registrations increased to just over 30,000 certificates across the past 7-days. While this was an improvement on previous weeks, the number of certificates registered remained on the low side.

Consistent with the previous fortnight, Commercial Lighting continued to dominate, accounting for more than 90% of all certificates registered. With this activity currently under review, it would appear that a reduction to or removal of Commercial Lighting activities will leave a large void for other activities to fill.

Trading liquidity was also low, with just under 200,000 ESC’s traded throughout the week. While the spot price nudged up to $23.85 in a 10k parcel early in the week, this upward trend, which has been evident over the past few weeks, was not sustained, and by week’s end the spot had slipped back to $23.45, representing a decline of $0.30 across the trading week.

The forward ESC market was also quiet, the exception being 5k strips across March to December 2026 inclusive at a premium of $24.50. For the period of March through to July 2026 this represented an uplift of $1.90 on previous trades across those vintages.

Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs)

After a relatively quiet start, as the week progressed the PRC spot market saw a flurry of activity – with 625,000 certificates traded across multiple parcels on Wednesday. Most of these traded at $3.10 – showing a small $0.02 increase on the week’s opening price.

On the forwards market there were some notable trades, with two 50,000 parcels trading at $3.25 in March and April 2026 which maintained the premium pricing previously recorded for these two months.

Later in the week a 200,000 parcel in September 2025 saw the price rise by $0.05 to $3.15.

Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs)

The generic ACCU spot market traded down during the latest period, with a 15K parcel exchanging at $36.05 early in the week, followed by a further $0.25 decline on Thursday, with a 15k parcel trading at $35.80.

No Avoided Deforestation (No AD) spot saw a 10k parcel edging up spot by $0.10 to $36.10. However, this improvement was short-lived with two 5k parcels trading down at $35.90 the following day.

There was no activity on the forward ACCU markets, which have seen light trading since the beginning of August.

The method-specific ACCU market was also dormant this week, with no trades recorded across either the spot or forwards markets.

Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

There were no trades reported on both the spot and forward STC markets across the whole week, with the spot static at $39.95, and forwards unchanged, predominantly at $39.80.

The Clearing House remained in deficit by just over 1.25 million certificates, with buyers continuing to outnumber sellers by some margin.

Certificates spot prices & graphs available at Market Update >

At Ecovantage, we consistently analyse market activity, policy changes, consultation releases, and creation rates in conjunction with wider landscape activity. This allows us to keep our clients at the forefront of all relevant changes, and to leverage the advantage that this presents. Thank you for your continued support, and please reach out if you have any general or project-specific questions.