) South Australian solar panel owners can currently export 5 kilowatts of electricity to the grid but under Flexible Exports, they could export double that amount 10kW. I dont quite understand how the DC energy from the inverter can go to my home circuits first, before any excess current is fed into the grid. When a home is exported limited, all the power the solar inverter can produce is available for the home to use. Interesting article. 0000010080 00000 n I prefer a profile that just has the voltages set to a high voltage threshold, and if I have to sacrifice V-W mode, so be it. The solar installer or customer must have sought and received pre-approval from us for the requested capacity of the generator. We are in an area where only about 20% of the homes have solar. Can I share my power excess with me neighbour? 0000007554 00000 n Thank you. NSWs Endeavour Energy area: Western Sydney. I think the installers like the Volt-watt modes, because if you dont know where to look they hid the problem at your expense anyway. First read the section How Export Limiting Works at the top of this thread. Thanks Ronald! so if I was correctly explained to, then I am limited to export less than 5kW (because my existing system will never produce 3.5kW), No installer (or their salepeople) is able to explain to me how the limiter is connected/set up in the scenario where I have 2 inverters. No matter how badly you may want to export limit your solar system, it can only be done in locations where its permitted. To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: Flexible Solar Exports To Ramp Up In South Australia, Australian Solar Systems Interest Index: September 2021, Why Australian Solar Installers Love Austrian Fronius Inverters, Tesla Powerwall Price Takes A Tumble In Australia, "Snail Mail" Home Battery Offers: Be Wary, New Minimum VIC Solar Feed-In Tariffs Locked In, Glenrowan Solar Farm Construction Gets Cranking. The Good: In these locations, properties can usually install up to 10 kilowatts of solar inverter capacity if they have single-phase power and up to 30 kilowatts with 3 phase power. What is the go generally with adding an additional solar system to your home? I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. Hello. Technically, what will happen is the inverter will reduce the solar systems output so the generation will be forgone, but I dont want to go into too much detail in this article. Also note that for new installations in WA, only residences with inverters of 5 kilowatts or less can receive the states, Western Australias Western Power area: Perth and South West WA. Am I wrong? There are profiles that still conform the microinverters to AS4777.2:2015, but can disable Volt-Var/Volt-Watt, change the power factor to 0.9 (some grid operators require this), turn off export altogether or set specific maximum export levels like 1kW, 3kW etc., or configure to satisfy specific grid network requirements. 0000037419 00000 n ARTICLE WRITES: Queenslands Energex area: South East Queensland. I think it is illegal in WA to rewire your inverter or modify any parameters, as it may result in more than 5kW being sent to the grid, so I will just bite the bullet and see that I use as much solar as possible. Providing the export limiting is done on the meter current as described above ( not on the inverter output current), you can generate more than the export limit if you are consuming enough power to make up the difference between generation and export limit. In future, will powercor allow export limit if they upgrade transformer? 0000022631 00000 n Voltage (V) measured at inverter terminals I was lucky to have an early approval, so limited to 10Kw (or due to bad calculation by the approver, 8.6Kw, where he said ALL the Neutral current went down the common Neutral wire, where in fact only the difference between the phases goes down the Neutral (2 phase, 180 degree). The Solar installer is telling me that they just started getting 0kW approvals back for about 9 out of 10 requests and so they dont believe they will be able to do many installs at all going forward. I have a 5kw solar system plus a Tesla powerwall 2 on my house . Can anyone shed any light for me? endstream endobj 351 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[17 289]/Length 31/Size 306/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream Powercor is telling increasing numbers of households looking to install new systems in this area they will have a zero export limit. Solar customers who currently have a limit on the amount they can export are invited to contact Powercor to reapply for an export agreement based on the greater capacity now available on the network. My assumption is (and I may be wrong after all) that the idea of using my own energy first before buying from the grid is an illusion, and in fact it only appears like that because all the energy from the inverter (up to 5kW) is measured as exported, all energy required by the house is actually imported from the grid (as if there was no solar system at all), and it is just because the exports are offset against the imports for billing, why it appears that my PV system is reducing the imports. 0000037952 00000 n Do the inverters prevent the production of energy by the solar panels when an export limit would otherwise be exceeded? As discussion of the topic of export limiting, is continuing, what,if any, is/are the direct effect differences to electricity grid load (as in the load on the wires, not the load as the term used for meaning demand), between a 5kW inverter, and a 10kW inverter with 5kW export limiting? Most systems have mostly N facing panels, so really only generate peak power for a few hours a day (often 10am>2pm approx) Store it and use it later (this requires solar battery storage), or it disappears into thin air via a heat sink. They did say that with future upgrades we could reapply, but I cant find a way to do this. Hi All. A rooftop solar system's grid export limit is determined by the local electricity network operator - sometimes on a case-by-case basis, sometimes according to an across-the-board standard, and . If you can export 3kva that means you can have a solar system with up to 4 kilowatts of panels. 0000038830 00000 n Im afraid in a typical situation the inverter wont show its potential output. AC Output Data One thing I find is that Voltage control works well: instead of the inverter resetting if the voltage gets too high, my inverters roll back output, so it actually helps my neighbors too because their inverters reset less often. An Update: I just had system installed 4 days ago in the Energex DNSP and suggest the above is perhaps not quite correct. AS4777.2:2015 has some rather low default recommendations, which can be tweaked up as no doubt my profile has allowed. Single-phase properties can install inverter capacity up to 5 kilowatts while 3 phase properties can install up to 30 kilowatts. 0000029011 00000 n Allows installation but has an export limit. Once voltage thresholds etc are configure in the profile by the Envoy at install, each micro operates largely independently. It is just the placement of the meter and the current sensor that controls the limiting. When an inverter is export limited, it has to know how much solar energy is being sent into the grid so it can immediately reduce output if its about to go over the limit. 0000011077 00000 n This is often referred to as 'network constraints'. In contrast, most other network distributors set a strict upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, typically 10kW for single-phase properties. I just dont understand it. As your sister can presumably export as much power as her solar inverter can produce it wouldnt need this device. 0000093063 00000 n Fronius Wattpilot: A Smart EV Charger With A Short Warranty, You Wont Believe How Dumb The NSW Governments New Battery Calculator Is. There are versions without this consumption monitoring (old Non -s version of Envoy and even the Envoy-S without consumption monitoring). I do NOT have a device in my meter box that could tell the inverter anything about consumption and feed in energy. The distributor deals with that by putting the voltage slightly up at the sending end. 5 kilowatt inverter + 6.6 kilowatts of solar panels (no export limiting): 0%, 6 kilowatt inverter + 8 kilowatts of solar panels: 4% loss, 7 kilowatt inverter + 9 kilowatts of solar panels: 8% loss, 8 kilowatt inverter + 10 kilowatts of solar panels: 13% loss, So, on the one hand, the Victorian Government is. I have just had a 6.6kw system installed with a Fronius 5kw inverter and am export limited to 3kw. An option is to take your pumps off-grid and run them independently off a separate off-grid solar system. 0000005986 00000 n Sometimes Powercor can reduce that to a lower figure, or even set a zero-export limit. But depending on our network capacity, export constraints may influence the size of the unit they install. Normally single phase properties can have up to 5 kilowatts of solar inverter capacity and 3 phase properties can have 15 kilowatts. But there is also the DNSP rules which need to be followed. And Set Power Limit to 100%. Regarding batteries, as we all know from our mobile phones, constantly being charged and discharged, will deteriorate much quicker than PV panels (and the same that goes for phones, laptops, and your electric toothbrush also goes for solar and electric vehicle batteries, unfortunately). The percentage var/VA level leading is the inverter sourcing vars to the grid, whereas the percentage var/VA level lagging is the inverter sinking vars from the grid. Up until quite recently, Powercor had been informing a large proportion of households looking to install new solar systems they will have to cop a zero export limit due to high congestion created by exports from existing systems. Were continually investing in our networks and aim to keep customers informed if additional export capacity becomes available in their area. He first became interested in environmental matters when he was four years old after the environment tried to kill him by smashing fist sized hailstones through the roof of his parents Toowoomba home. So in effect I have two safety guards in place, 1. the 5kw limiter to the grit and 2. the extra Gateway . While export limiting is possible its not always approved. Of course the manufacturers dont want this to be public knowledge and pretend that once you paid for a system you are set for life (yours, not that of the system). I cant justify the cost of adding additional solar if the max I can export with Essential energy is 3kwh. "Some of these customers may have received approval to export since, due to network improvements made since their connection." Below is the email response I received from Powercor. After (almost) three months with no reply, has any reason been given, as to why export limited inverters are not allowed for single phase grid connections to the SWIS grid in WA? The majority of customers are approved for the export level they request. 0000000016 00000 n 0000038296 00000 n Australian Rooftop Solar Powers Rise Astounding, But.. Australias Emissions: Electricity Down, Transport Up, Compare Feed-In Tariffs And Electricity Plans, Victorias Powercor Lifts Its Solar Exports Game, 3029: Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina, 3030: Cocoroc, Derrimut, Point Cook, Werribee, Werribee South, 3551: Ascot (Greater Bendigo), Axe Creek, Axedale, Bagshot, East Bendigo, Emu Creek, Eppalock, Epsom, 3337: Kurunjang, Melton, Melton West, Toolern Vale, 3340: Bacchus Marsh, Balliang, Coimadai, Darley, Hopetoun Park, Long Forest, Maddingley, Merrimu, 3352: Bonshaw, Bungaree, Bunkers Hill, Burrumbeet, Cambrian Hill, Cardigan, Cardigan Village, Clarendon, 3305: Bolwarra, Cape Bridgewater, Gorae West, Heathmere, Portland, Portland North, Portland West, 3444: Baynton, Kyneton, Lauriston, Lyal, Metcalfe, Redesdale, Tylden 3465 Alma, Bowenvale, Daisy Hill, Maryborough. Certainly this dumb meter is not capable of sending current from the inverter selectively to my home circuits and any excess to the grid? So while the article suggests 10kW inverter ( 13.33kW DC) in fact the limit seemed to be 10kW DC ( hmmm what does 10kW generation mean exactly ?.) No-one seems to have replied Dirk, so I will try. The MSO helps us manage and keep our network safe for solar customers. Though endless quibbling over unnecessary details might keep the presses churning, a FACT remains that Ive been using ever-more-cost-effective batteries since 1980. See image at http://www.johnrogers.com.au/battery_charging_noon.jpg. Makes sense but begs my next question (sorry). xref going back into the grid with no batteries. House batteries should have the capability of being set to turn off when they are fully charged and then on towards the middle of the day. amended or replaced from time to time. 4. I am surprised to hear that Powercor has allowed you to increase your exports, but that is good to hear. The current Envoy they will be selling is the Envoy-S. Before that was the straight Envoy which did not have the consumption monitoring / metering needed to do export limiting. This is because even if there is only a refrigerator running during the day it will reduce the losses from export limiting and if an effort is made to shift electricity consumption to the middle of the day then losses can be mostly or entirely eliminated. How is export limited for micro-inverters? The inverter reduces the amount of electrical energy supplied by the solar panels. Thanks for the information. But you will probably find that there is another setting that it will shutdown when 10 minute average voltage is a measly 255v. Shane, you appear to be mixing up kW and kWh easily done! Is it the 6.66 kW, as the 1.3 overload factor of a 5kW inverter, or, is it the maximum allowed (by the manufacturer) panels generating capacity, for an inverter that is allowed by a state/territory government? Powercor's technical assessment aims for these works to enable at least 80% of new solar applications to export 5 kW. 0000001916 00000 n Your meter is on the connection between the mains network on one side and the combination of your inverter and your loads on the other side. This applies to both single-phase and three-phase properties. Unfortunately, the meter companies and inverter manufacturers cant get their shit together, and the utility meters refuse to talk to the inverters. Many NSW rural situations are limited to 3Kw export, due to the length of the transmission lines. I wouldnt drive anything else. 3. If so, it would make replacing the whole system more viable which is exactly what I wanted to avoid (and such a waste!). Website link shows system producing well over 10 kW. Wouldnt it be better for the inverter to display its total actual potential output under current conditions? 220 Definitely, thats an inverter that is export limited to zero. Good question Tony. 220 Was sure if its been configured correctly or if this is just how it works? Normally it makes more sense to buy a second, separate system, than to expand an existing one. Powercor says the Solar Hotspots initiative is the first stage of a five-year Future Networks program to support customer investment in solar power systems, electric vehicles and battery storage. Im afraid thats a tough situation. Are Tesla Powerwall smart enough to let majority of power export to grid and only start charging battery as inverter approaches its export limit? reliable export limit control function as per AS4777.2 to limit the export output where the . I have divided Australias regions into three categories: The information below assumes the property is on the main grid. It is delivering 8 kilowatts of solar power. The installer has been able to get the system through WP in the past as the inverter can limit the export to grid to 3kva. Michael caught the solar power bug after purchasing components to cobble together a small off-grid PV system in 2008. Is this perhaps one of the well-kept secrets about the reality of residential solar production in Western Australia, one that neither the solar installers or inverter manufacturers, let alone Synergy or Western Power want to be publicly known? IE if Im producing 8KW, the house is using 2KW it will still export 5kw? Some networks will allow larger sizes than those outlined below, pending specific approval from the network. Australian network service providers (including CitiPower) use solar export limits to keep voltage levels in transmission lines operating within safe . For example, our Solar Enablement program is intended to allow more customers to connect a 5kVa solar PV system with export capacity. NSWs Essential Energy area: Regional NSW. Tasmania: Under 1% of Tasmanians are on SWER lines, so the generous export limit should often be available. Ready for some quotes? But it seems the situation has been changing for the better in the last couple of months in a number of affected areas. 0000004823 00000 n And for this reasons, I have increasingly seen that it is more challenging to run micros without the envoy which would no doubt be extra code required in later versions of the envoy to enforce implementation of various AS4777 and export limiting requirements that cant be done in the micros alone. Select your country/region. Does anyone have similar experience with powercor? The fact that export limiting is necessary is not a good thing. given that we are working from home all the time these days. 0000006578 00000 n That said, provided the Installer included your details and phone number in the customer section when the SPA was lodged, the solar team intends to follow up with customers if capacity becomes available to export into the grid through upgrades to the network.. If you are export limited, the only way to implement that is with some sort of meter as Ronald says. This seems technically impossible, because theres only a wire going from the inverter to the meter (the export or feed in to the grid) and a wire going from the meter to my homes main fuse. Thats a furphy from go to whoa. A 5 kilowatt inverter will never supply more than 5 kilowatts of power no matter how many kilowatts of panels it has. 0000018244 00000 n Victorias Jemena network area: A small but crowded chunk of North and Western Melbourne. Nominal Output Power (W) 5000 My question is should that then eliminate the 5 kw inverter of the powerwall wich Energex claims is part of the 10kw allowance on a single phase? In my mind though the Smart meter at the box would adjust the export limit in line with what the house is consuming? 0000028229 00000 n sonnenBatterie Evo. On a related note, we mentioned yesterday that over the border in South Australia, SA Power Networks is readying to ramp up flexible solar exports in an effort to support more solar installations and its pretty clever stuff. To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: AEMC: Electricity Prices To Continue To Fall, http://www.johnrogers.com.au/battery_charging_noon.jpg, http://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/kw-and-kwh-what-is-the-difference/, Why Australian Solar Installers Love Austrian Fronius Inverters, Tesla Powerwall Price Takes A Tumble In Australia, "Snail Mail" Home Battery Offers: Be Wary, New Minimum VIC Solar Feed-In Tariffs Locked In, Glenrowan Solar Farm Construction Gets Cranking. Were seeing a real lift in the number of customers able to export excess solar back into the grid in these areas, which were among the most constrained in our network only a few months ago, said Powercor General Manager Electricity Networks, Mark Clarke. %%EOF I have a new residential PV system in Perth WA, 6.6kW total panel capacity and a 5kW inverter (Growatt Min 5000TL-X). If you are interested you can read about this here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/inverters/mppt/. Metered and a non metered version. Why my Power Limit is set to ON with the % whereas her Power Limit is set to OFF and she has been exporting. You could contact Powercor and explain your situation, but I suspect theyll say you need to be an installer to check if an increase in export capability is available. It appears the wire from the inverter is directly connected to my main fuse for the house circuits. Okay, so that heading may be a bit of an exaggeration, but improvements the company has carried out appear to have made quite a difference. Just last week, Powercor (Western Victoria) advised that they now have more room in the grid for export. After all, Im a big picture kind of guy. They want to do it there way and it seems my request complicates things for them and I dont hear back, bar a couple. Amongst other things, AS4777.2015 has some requirements to shutdown on phase imbalance in a 3 phase setup. hbbf`b``3 I j Voltage (V) measured at inverter terminals I also dont know if my meter has limiting but suspect not as it is a pretty dumb device. We have a 3kwh system and are really using as much during the day as we can. The power is first used to meet household consumption, with any surplus exported to the grid for other people to use. Aside from that, when you have high resistance lines, there is a voltage drop over their length. So an Enphase setup, without a continuously operating Envoy with not be providing this functionality and likely to raise some concerns in the AS4777.2015 certification process if they did not take steps to make sure these functions are always guaranteed to be implemented. 0000037686 00000 n So far I have not seen much more than 5kW DC anyway, but in summer I would expect to see a curve thats flattened at the top during the high sun phase, as it is cut off by the inverter. Thanks so much, David. 0% (2nd one APPROVAL/SITE SPECIFIC CONDITION(s): Total Solar Export must be limited to 5kW). I am not even sure the inverter would support that, but I fear that sadly up to 25% of the PV energy might be going to waste! Contracts and resources for connection agreement, Vegetation clearing requirements for new powerlines, Registered Electrical Contractor resources, Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL), Endorsement for wholesale demand response. The reason for this query, is that, in the past, my understanding has been that, in WA, where export limiting is apparently, banned by the gratuitously oppressive state parliament, and, where a limit of a 5kW output inverter, is allowed, for a single phase grid connection on the SWIS grid, a limit of 6.66 kW of panels generating capacity, is imposed for single phase connections to the SWIS grid, and, thence, the limit of panels generating capacity, to which the federal solar panels rebate applies, for such a connection, has been the 6.66kW. Its also unusual for a large solar system to have all the panels facing the same direction. So if your home isnt currently drawing power you wont know from looking at the display if its capable of producing the maximum 5 kilowatts or if it cant provide more than 3 kilowatts. I havent made any applications yet, but Ill certainly be asking this question when I get quotes!. I have seen my panels producing over 13 kW of power when the battery is drawing 3 kW DC power and the battery, house and car 10 kW of AC power. But, if you are really keen, I suppose you could use a site such as PV Institutes Live PV Map to see how other solar systems in your general area are performing: Note that patchy cloud can produce a lot of variation in output. To me it does not quite make sense as no system can produce 100% of its capacity meaning my existing 3.5kW will never produce full 3.5kW (on a good day, I am lucky to get 2.5kW).