The Clean Energy Council is urging manufacturers, buyers and installers to prepare for new battery safety requirements following the release of a technical standard by Standards Australia in October 2025.

The standard, SA TS 5398: Electrical Energy Storage Equipment – Safety Requirements, updates previous guidelines and introduces safety requirements for emerging technologies, including lead acid batteries. It replaces the Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage Equipment – Electrical Safety Requirements, which has governed battery approvals until now.

The Clean Energy Council is phasing in the new standard over two years to minimise disruption, while transitioning its approved batteries list to align with updated requirements. Since 1 January 2026, applications have been accepted under either the new standard or the previous guide, with listings under the old framework set to expire no later than 31 December 2027.

From 1 January 2027, only applications meeting SA TS 5398 will be accepted and all batteries approved under the previous guide will be removed from the approved products list by the end of that year.

The Clean Energy Council says other bodies, including the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council, electricity networks and government programs, may adopt the new standard sooner. It advised businesses and installers to ensure compliance with all relevant safety requirements as the transition progresses.