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Get help launching your energy business idea

The Energy Innovation Toolkit is a free service offered by the AER in collaboration with the Australian Energy Market Commission, Australian Energy Market Operator, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and the Essential Services Commission. The Toolkit can help you understand energy regulation, explore options to launch your energy business under current frameworks, and get clear guidance. You can now apply for proof-of-concept trials offering relief from specific energy regulations through time-limited waivers and trial rule changes. It's never too early to get free help. We can help you with projects and ideas at any stage.

How we can help

Helping energy innovators power ahead

Access tools and services to help your business launch trials, share knowledge, and enter the market.

Understanding energy regulation
Understand energy regulation

Access interactive energy regulation tools, market explainers, and hypothetical business model use cases, designed to make complex frameworks easy to navigate. 
Case Study
NEW - read real guidance we have provided and explainers of common topics

Learn from case studies developed in partnership with real innovators we've helped, as well as explainers on regulatory issues our users want to understand. 
Questions / Innovation Enquiry Service
Ask your questions

Contact us for feedback on your regulatory questions.
Trials
Read about trials

Find out what kinds of regulatory relief we offer through proof-of-concept trials. 
About this project

Delivered by trusted experts

The Australian Government has created the Energy Innovation Toolkit to better respond to the energy sectors’ evolving needs, to encourage competition resulting in better outcomes for energy consumers, and to allow Australia’s energy frameworks to better adapt to rapid technological change.

The Energy Innovation Toolkit is delivered by the Australian Energy Regulator, in coordination with our Project Partners.

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See regulations that may apply to your energy project

Use our Regulation Navigator tool to see what licensing, authorisation and registration requirements might apply to your business model, as well as what exemptions may be available.  

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Latest Updates

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09 May 2023
First trial waiver application opens for consultation!

The AER today has released a Consultation Notice for its first trial waiver application from Endeavour Energy.

Updates
Distributed energy resources illustraltion
23 Mar 2023
NEW - Regulatory Explainer on Virtual Power Plants

The Energy Innovation Toolkit receives a lot of enquiries concerning virtual power plants and peer-to-peer transactions. To make things easier for innovators we have published a regulatory explainer on these kinds of technology, including information about how they work and what regulations apply. If you want to know more about VPPs or P2P trading see our article here.

Updates
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23 Mar 2023
New - Regulatory Explainer on Selling Energy

The Energy Innovation Toolkit receives a lot of enquiries concerning selling energy. To make things easier for innovators we have published a regulatory explainer on how energy is sold and purchased and the kinds of regulations that apply. If you want to know more about selling energy see our article here.

Updates