Short answer

For federal STCs, the model must be on the Clean Energy Regulator's register of solar water heaters (which includes air source heat pumps). Victoria uses the VEU product register and Solar Victoria's product list, and NSW uses IPART's accepted products list. The Clean Energy Council does not keep a heat pump list.

On this page
  1. Which product lists matter for heat pumps?
  2. How do I check a model on the Clean Energy Regulator register?
  3. What does Victoria require?
  4. What does NSW require?
  5. Is there a Clean Energy Council approved heat pump list?
  6. Does a heat pump have an energy star rating?
  7. Sources for this page

Every heat pump discount depends on the exact model being on the right list. Installers usually check this for you, but it takes a few minutes to check yourself, and it is the easiest way to catch a quote that promises a discount the product can't get.

Which product lists matter for heat pumps?

Product lists for heat pump rebates
ListRun byNeeded for
Register of solar water heaters (air source heat pump table)Clean Energy RegulatorFederal STCs, everywhere in Australia. NSW also says only these heat pumps are eligible for NSW incentives.
VEU product registerEssential Services Commission (Victoria)Victorian Energy Upgrades discount; the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme also uses it
Solar Victoria product listSolar VictoriaVictorian Solar Homes hot water rebate
IPART accepted productsIPART (NSW)NSW Energy Savings Scheme

How do I check a model on the Clean Energy Regulator register?

  1. Get the exact model number from the quote (the product name alone is not enough).
  2. Open the CER's register of solar water heaters. It offers the air source heat pump list as a downloadable spreadsheet (CSV file).
  3. Search for the brand and model number.
  4. Check the "eligible to" date. The CER says a model is eligible until its certification expires or the scheme ends on 31 December 2030, whichever comes first.
  5. Read the STC figure for your zone (zones 1 to 5). Multiply by the factor for your install year to see how many STCs you should get. See STCs explained.

The register also limits heat pumps to tanks of no more than 425 litres. In the file I downloaded on 3 November 2026, there were 1,177 heat pump model rows across many brands.

What does Victoria require?

For the VEU discount, the product must be approved under the program with at least a 5-year warranty (VEU). For the Solar Homes rebate, heat pumps on Solar Victoria's list must:

  • Come with a comprehensive five-year product warranty.
  • Be registered under VEU as tested to AS/NZS 4234:2021.
  • Use only refrigerants with a global warming potential below 700.
  • Have an end-user configurable timer, or be able to connect to a solar PV system to run during solar generation.

For Victorian rentals from 1 March 2027, Consumer Affairs Victoria suggests using the VEU product register to find a system that meets the rental hot water standard (CAV).

What does NSW require?

The NSW Government says only heat pumps on the CER register are eligible for incentives from the Australian and NSW governments (energy.nsw.gov.au). IPART publishes accepted water heater products, showing brand, model and the dates each is accepted from and to. IPART notes it "is not involved in any testing or certification of products" (IPART).

Is there a Clean Energy Council approved heat pump list?

No. The Clean Energy Council keeps approved lists for solar panels, inverters and power conversion equipment, and batteries (Clean Energy Council). It doesn't list heat pumps or water heaters. If a seller says a heat pump is "CEC approved", ask what they mean, and check the CER register instead.

Does a heat pump have an energy star rating?

Not yet. energy.gov.au says minimum energy performance standards are not in place for heat pump water heaters and that water heaters don't have to display an Energy Rating Label (energy.gov.au). Labelling is planned, likely in 2028 (Energy Rating). Until then, the CER STC figure for your zone is the closest thing to an efficiency rating.

Sources for this page

  1. Register of solar water heaters (includes air source heat pumps), Clean Energy Regulator. Last checked: November 2026.
  2. VEU Registry: product register search, Essential Services Commission (Victoria). Last checked: November 2026.
  3. Product lists, Solar Victoria. Last checked: November 2026.
  4. Product lists, NSW Energy Sustainability Schemes (IPART). Last checked: November 2026.
  5. Air source heat pump models (register data file, CSV), Clean Energy Regulator. Last checked: November 2026.
  6. Hot water system discounts (Victorian Energy Upgrades), Victorian Government (energy.vic.gov.au). Last checked: November 2026.
  7. Minimum energy efficiency standards: hot water standard, Consumer Affairs Victoria. Last checked: November 2026.
  8. Heat pump water heaters, NSW Government (energy.nsw.gov.au). Last checked: November 2026.
  9. Products program, Clean Energy Council (industry body). Last checked: November 2026.
  10. Hot water systems, energy.gov.au (Australian Government). Last checked: November 2026.
  11. Decision Regulation Impact Statement: heat pump water heaters, Energy Rating (Australian Government). Last checked: November 2026.

Every source used on the site is listed on the sources page.