A Sydney-based solar company that recruited some of Australia's most recognisable sporting names as ambassadors has been permanently banned from selling systems nationwide, after the Clean Energy Regulator found it failed to meet the basic standards required to operate in the industry.

1 Solar Australia Pty Ltd, which trades as Solar Power Nation, has been suspended from the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The regulator announced the decision on Wednesday, stating it was not satisfied the company was "fit and proper" under the scheme's requirements.

What the ban means and why it was imposed

Eligibility under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, a government-backed program designed to encourage investment in rooftop solar and battery storage, requires companies to demonstrate the necessary skills, capability, competency, good business practices, integrity and good character. The regulator found Solar Power Nation fell short across those criteria.

Regulator chair Tony Chappel said the organisation maintains a zero-tolerance position on poor business conduct that harms customers.

"If we see companies that are not operating professionally, we will not hesitate to take action to protect the integrity of the scheme," he said. "We have a zero-tolerance approach for any poor business practice that can create an adverse outcome for the customer."

Chappel also indicated that Solar Power Nation's compliance with other laws and consumer codes could be taken into consideration as the matter progresses. The regulator noted it works closely with multiple agencies to protect the integrity of the scheme.

The company has 60 days to request a formal review of the suspension. Solar Power Nation was contacted for comment.

High-profile sporting ambassadors front the company's marketing

Solar Power Nation describes itself on its website as "The #1 home solar and battery company in Australia" and has leaned heavily on celebrity endorsements from the sporting world to build its profile.

Former Australian Test cricket captain Michael Clarke serves as a brand ambassador, while Olympic gold medallists Sally Pearson and Kyle Chalmers feature prominently on the company's website. BMX rider and Olympic gold medallist Logan Martin, NRL player Ezra Mam, and AFL identities Brendan Fevola and Anthony Koutoufides also appear as ambassadors.

The use of trusted public figures to promote consumer products has drawn increasing scrutiny from regulators in recent years, particularly where the underlying company's conduct is later found to be problematic. For more on Australia's growing rooftop solar sector and the regulatory environment shaping it, see our coverage of Australia's commercial rooftops as the next solar frontier.

A pattern of complaints and prior sanctions

Wednesday's ban is not the first action taken against the company. In July 2026, the South Australian Commissioner for Consumer Affairs issued a public warning notice against Solar Power Nation after receiving dozens of complaints lodged between July 2025 and April 2026.

Before that, in December 2025, the company was expelled from the voluntary New Energy Tech Consumer Code. That expulsion followed findings that it had failed to install a compliant system, among other failings.

The sequence of regulatory actions paints a picture of a company that attracted repeated complaints across multiple jurisdictions before the Clean Energy Regulator moved to impose a permanent suspension from the national scheme.