0000004823 00000 n endstream endobj 351 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[17 289]/Length 31/Size 306/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream Of course, if you are planning to get an electric car, that has the potential to make a huge difference to your self consumption of solar power. So basically the whole local industry is going to be cactus until this is resolved. Please stay on topic. The new home didnt have solar. You could approach SAPN and ask for special permission to install more solar capacity on an SWER but I would not be optimistic about that. We are on a zero limited export. 1. Most systems have mostly N facing panels, so really only generate peak power for a few hours a day (often 10am>2pm approx) 5kW export limiter imposed on one inverter. Put down your weapons.3. A man named Canute, proved that, centuries ago. MPPT2 always shows better performance than MPPT, usually quite significantly better. Im in the Endeavour Energy area. trailer In addition, all modern solar inverters must comply with AS4777.2015 at least. After all, Im a big picture kind of guy. Off the main grid, rural properties can have 3 kilowatts of inverter capacity. Has the oppressive authority in WA ever given a reason for not allowing export limited inverters in WA? So the size of the system becomes irrelevant if you can only export 3kwh (we are Regional NSW Essential Energy). I have a 10kw Solar Edge inverter limited to 5kw. 0000005986 00000 n We want to add a battery and it seems logical to add more cells also to another inverter/battery setup. Ready for some quotes? I still dont know if they have programmed the inverter to reduce the overall output by a percentage or not. They want to do it there way and it seems my request complicates things for them and I dont hear back, bar a couple. Sometimes Powercor can reduce that to a lower figure, or even set a zero-export limit. 0000038562 00000 n 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 . When a home is exported limited, all the power the solar inverter can produce is available for the home to use. Assume positive intention.4. Under another option to . Very true AL0126. 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. 0000010603 00000 n The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. 0000010080 00000 n endstream endobj 307 0 obj <>/Metadata 15 0 R/Pages 14 0 R/StructTreeRoot 17 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 308 0 obj <. (Note: it is possible to install a larger system, say 10kW on a single phase property and meet the Powercor rules by export limiting the system . ), Finally understand, the article above is very well written for the layman Can anyone shed any light for me? This applies to both single-phase and three-phase properties. Thus, the question arises; if a single phase domestic rooftop photovoltaic system, involving a Goodwe GW-5000-MS inverter, and, 10kW of solar panels generating capacity, is installed (across up to three MPPTs), would the federal solar panels rebate apply to all of the 10kW of solar panels, or, to only the first 6.66 (or whatever is the exact applicable quantity) of the solar panels generating capacity? Information on whether export limiting is allowed can be found here, but I am going to present the information differently for both ease of use and to make my boss think Ive done something useful. The daily export limit is averaged across your billing period (calculated by multiplying the number of days in your billing period by your daily export limit of 14 kWh). Whilst this may not be technically defined as export limiting, as the inverter specifications, specify that the inverter, whilst allowing up to an overload factor of 2, will only generate up to 5kW of A/C power And, if a street full of these, plugs their cars into the grid, for recharging, starting the recharging between 1700 and 1800, lots of entertaining fireworks, along the street powerlines exploding. 100% 11kW panels with 10kW 3-phase inverter (Fronius Symo + Fronius 3-phase meter). Great article and content on this website Im surprised this hasnt hit the mainstream media yet. If the transformer capacity is limited, you could install solar initially with a low export limit (eg 1 kW) and then have your export limit increased when the transformer was . A small solar system can be financially viable. Assume positive intention.4. The 7kW charger achieves full charge in 6 hours, and one The standard relating to solar inverters is about to change. essential enrgy in central west nsw (Orange) are generally restricting to max 5kw export limit regardless of 1ph or 3ph: 2 x 3ph residential applications approvals cutnpaste below only difference was one specifically stated APPROVAL/SITE SPECIFIC CONDITION(s): Total Site to be export limited to 5kW 3 phase 1.66kW/per phase (and the padmount sub for the subdivision in on the property boundary) Energex doesnt automatically allow inverters over 5 kilowatts to be installed with export limiting, but currently regularly grants permission for single-phase homes on the main grid to install up to 10 kilowatts of inverter capacity with export limiting. Activities part of Powercors Solar Hotspots program carried out over three months included upgrading infrastructure, adjusting tap settings on street-level transformers, balancing voltage levels on powerlines and various tweakery at zone substations. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Download the first chapter of The Good Solar Guide, authored by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock, FREE! 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. And, when battery powered road vehicles with adequate distance capacity (I have read that VW expects to release a battery powered station wagon, with range between charges, of 700km, in 2023 (although, unless Australia wakes up, such vehicles will be unlikely to come to this neolithic country) ) are available, and, even for the rare ones that apparently, already exist in Australia (having not yet seen a battery powered vehicle in Australia, I wonder whether they are simply an urban myth, as to their presence in this backward country), when would they get charged, if people would only charge them at home? Is this correct? The uptake of solar has surprised the powers that be so they are basically wasting free energy and penalizing the producers in the process. In exchange, the customer receives a small rebate on their bill for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) they export. Economically this probably Is not viable, as our electricity bill is fairly low. 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. An Update: I just had system installed 4 days ago in the Energex DNSP and suggest the above is perhaps not quite correct. . But your situation is complicated by already having a 3 kilowatt system. Export limiting generally isnt permitted. Once voltage thresholds etc are configure in the profile by the Envoy at install, each micro operates largely independently. What Happens to the Surplus Power That Can't Be Exported to the Grid? 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. A 5 kilowatt inverter will never supply more than 5 kilowatts of power no matter how many kilowatts of panels it has. I have a 14kW solar array running Enphase IQ7+ microinverters (43 of them) hooked up to the grid in a 3-phase configuration in the Endeavour Energy area in NSW, and they currently have the profile AU default AS4777.2:2015 30kVa, Vv, Vw set. What am I missing? (Image from Finns Tesla App). Single-phase properties can install inverter capacity up to 5 kilowatts while 3 phase properties can install up to 30 kilowatts. 0000006578 00000 n The ideal way to measure the power flow in and out of your house would be to ask your existing electricity meter. 0000027818 00000 n ), converting to a maximum of 5kW of AC power, whilst the GW10K-MS provides for up to 13.5kW of panels generating capacity, across three MPPTs (strings? Now, such a hybrid inverter, as I previously submitted as a post, as being needed, would have the capability of providing for up to 10kW of panels generating capacity, and, of power conversion of up to 10kW, to provide for up to 5kW to provide for charging a battery system, and, the other 5kW to provide for the household load and with surplus (to the household load, out of the 5kW provision) being exported to the grid. both said Wouldnt it be better for the inverter to display its total actual potential output under current conditions? 20% 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. 0000005359 00000 n 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. Victorias Jemena network area: A small but crowded chunk of North and Western Melbourne. Typically in the Powercor area, the export limit is 5kW of exports for each single-phase household solar PV system. This seems to be becoming a big problem at least locally. Thus if my system is at maximum output, and I am using 2kW, only 3 kW is being exported to the grid. Heres the Fronius Smart Meter that you need if you want to export limit a Fronius inverter it will add about $500 to the cost of the system: An example of how export limiting works You have an inverter thats exported limited to 5 kilowatts. Depending on their location, some may be constrained to a lesser export level or even no exports at all. So it is unfortunate that it is necessary, but good that people can still install a larger system and generally have insignificant losses. I cant justify the cost of adding additional solar if the max I can export with Essential energy is 3kwh. I think is is utter madness that the VIC government is handing out generous rebates of $1850.00 and 4 year interest free loans of up to $1850.00 and Powercor has zero feed in capacity for excess solar power. Talking of which, the fact often gets dropped under the table that neither batteries nor panels and inverters (being mechano-electronic devices) have a limited life span, and their efficiency deteriorates gradually after only a few years. He's been reporting on Australian and international solar energy news ever since. The good news is, if you had a total of 6.6 kilowatts of solar youd probably loose very little due to export limiting if you consume half the output of a 3 kilowatt system and can export 3 kilowatts. Worried the impact this will have currently when we charge an EV in the near term. In most cases, if you had your envoy shut off, the micros would start and work on their own and independently of the envoy, and in fact of each other. hour of charging is enough to drive 35km.. 0000037380 00000 n 0% Australian Rooftop Solar Powers Rise Astounding, But.. Australias Emissions: Electricity Down, Transport Up, Compare Feed-In Tariffs And Electricity Plans, Solar Export Limiting What It Is & Why Its Useful. Finally! Certainly this dumb meter is not capable of sending current from the inverter selectively to my home circuits and any excess to the grid? Or, if you want a lower cost method of dealing with blackouts, you can get yourself a small generator. The good news is, even in a worst-case situation, the amount will be fairly minor. Its becoming common for solar inverters to be export limited, so the maximum amount of power they send into the grid is less than theyre capable of providing. My AS4777.2:2015 profile allows voltages up to 265v (for short periods, and shuts down on 10 minute averages above 258v). If we consider a home in Sydney where no electricity is used during the day, and all the solar panels face directly north, then the percentage of output that will be lost due to a 5 kilowatt export limit would be: So even in a worst-case situation for Sydney, an 8 kilowatt solar system that is exported limited to 5 kilowatts will only lose 4% of generation. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It also allows you to focus on increasing your self consumption which in turn provides a better return on investment. If you are using Enphase microinverters which is extremely likely the whole system can be export limited using the Enphase Envoy gateway. Thank you. The installation of solar photovoltaic systems as well as the correct inverter settings are critical to ensuring customers get the most for their investment in this technology. Interesting article. It does this by adjusting the MPPT but instead of working to maximize power from the panels it reduces it. Why on earth would I do that if I can help it. Yes I do have Enphase micro-inverters and an Envoy gateway, though not enough sunny roof to exceed 5kW, so my interest is rather academic but real. Any ideas of how I can get a system that is actually going to generate enough power to charge a battery? A condition of this basic connection offer is that all inverter energy systems must have the volt-watt and volt-var response modes enabled with the following settings: Im in regional WA with a rural 2 phase supply. Thanks Ronald! 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 ?.) 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. Its also unusual for a large solar system to have all the panels facing the same direction. I have a new residential PV system in Perth WA, 6.6kW total panel capacity and a 5kW inverter (Growatt Min 5000TL-X). (Although they will also allow an additional 5 kilowatts of battery inverter capacity.) Nobody wants to see solar energy . Three-phase homes can install up to 15 kilowatts of inverter capacity or 30 kilowatts with export limiting, except in South East Queensland where special permission is required from Energex to install an export limited inverter over 15 kilowatts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Download the first chapter of The Good Solar Guide, authored by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock, FREE! I was always of the belief that a 5kW inverter limited the total output/ production from my 6.5kW solar system to 5 kW, irrespective of what is being used in the house. But, if you are living in an area where it is required to install a large solar system a situation around half of Australians are in then export limiting can allow a larger system with normally very minor losses of clean solar generation. You could have mentioned that SWER stands for Single Wire Earth Return and why that matters. Voltage (V) measured at inverter terminals We installed solar power in November last year and were refused export (zero export). Fronius Wattpilot: A Smart EV Charger With A Short Warranty, You Wont Believe How Dumb The NSW Governments New Battery Calculator Is. Reminder: In Australia, you are allowed to install 33% more panel capacity than the inverter capacity for example, a 10 kW inverter can have up to 13.33 kW of panels attached. 0000029403 00000 n ) 0000028229 00000 n If you can export 3kva that means you can have a solar system with up to 4 kilowatts of panels. I was told that as there is an export limit of 5kW and I already have 3.5kW system, my new system will be export limited to 1.5kW. Im afraid thats a tough situation. <]/Prev 115522/XRefStm 1575>> As has been explained (and COSTED) on previous occasions batteries are VERY cost-effective.IF you stay away from the hi-tech/overpriced/dependence-creating/unproven battery-systems advocated by commercially self-interested parties. Max. The fact is that Powercor does not set an upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, up to 30kW. Tasmania: Under 1% of Tasmanians are on SWER lines, so the generous export limit should often be available. just wondering if anybody can shed some light on the following, 0000001575 00000 n you request 5kW and Powercor says you can only export 2.5kW) Set a 'zero export' limit - i.e. This profile also doesnt impose any export limits, because Endeavour Energy didnt require them of my installation (maximum is 30kW for a 3-phase installation, which my one is well under). 00@ Oo Put down your weapons.3. So, I am pretty much left in the dark about whether all the energy my panels are theoretically producing is being utilised, or (which is my fearful assumption) up to 1.6kW are wasted whenever the panels produce more than 5kW AC. Would the gateway signal the micro inverters to shut down one at a time, or to all reduce output equally? 0000008571 00000 n 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. But if you suddenly switch off everything, there is more surplus solar power than youre allowed to export. In reality, the losses will be considerably less. 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. 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. Queenslands Ergon network area: All of Queensland on the main grid outside of South East Queensland. If you are export limited, the only way to implement that is with some sort of meter as Ronald says. Thanks Ron. 0000000016 00000 n An option is to take your pumps off-grid and run them independently off a separate off-grid solar system. I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. I have divided Australias regions into three categories: The information below assumes the property is on the main grid. You can see from the profile name that it ensures the microinverters conform to the AS4777.2:2015 Australian standard that governs inverters, and it enables the advanced Volt-var and Volt-watt controls for adjusting export power when the grid voltage gets too high (as opposed to abruptly shutting off all export power when grid voltage is too high, which happens without Volt-var and Volt-watt). Although my testing shows that the micros technically operate quite independently, it is important to understand, only the Envoy can provide some critical components to a properly working Enphase System. The metered version comes with extra current clamps to hook up to the grid side so you can do consumption monitoring and export limiting. If you cant store the power (too expensive) and you cant export it, why the requirement (or desire) to put in large systems? 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. But it took him about another ten years to focus on it in a way that wasnt really stupid, Good Article. The loss figures above are for Sydney and are affected by the climate. This certainly goes well beyond initial configuration and reporting. This is often referred to as 'network constraints'. 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? But still the solar companies keep trying to sell it to me.. 1. But whether or not extra solar capacity will pay for itself is another matter. So, the whole of the system of restrictions and available components, for domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, needs to be reviewed, to provide for greater usage demands during peak demand hours, greater battery storage provisions (and financial assistance for householders to implement big behind the meter battery storage systems, and, regarding the fragile, decrepit SWIS grid, the allowance of large capacities of panel generation, limited export, inverters, such as the hybrid one that I proposed. P/Prated (%) Powercor claims 30% increase in rooftop solar export approvals Victorian network service provider Powercor claims a major works program designed to alleviate grid congestion in areas of high rooftop solar PV penetration has boosted the approval rate for new solar connections to export excess energy to the grid by an impressive 30%.