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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? Have a good christmas. Am planning to install solar 6.6 kWh system and upon checking with powercor they are giving export limit as 0 kWh. In future, will powercor allow export limit if they upgrade transformer? As batteries currently operate they charge from power in the morning that could otherwise be sold rather than from power that may not be able to be sold in the middle of the day. The fact is that Powercor does not set an upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, up to 30kW. This gives the advantage of having a new system covered by a new set of warranties. 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. When a home is exported limited, all the power the solar inverter can produce is available for the home to use. 0000010603 00000 n 0000009027 00000 n That can raise the voltage to a level dangerous to appliances. 0000027818 00000 n 3. Weve seen a rapid growth in rooftop solar systems.With each installation, were facilitating rapid growth in the amount of solar capacity on our network. 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. We just had a 30kW inverter solar install for our business and it has been limited to 1.8kW export. All is explained here: http://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/kw-and-kwh-what-is-the-difference/, ( 5kW per hour is a non-sensical unit unless you want to describe an acceleration of energy! The MSO helps us manage and keep our network safe for solar customers. 0000007057 00000 n Our Solar & Battery Calculator can give an idea of if its likely to pay: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar-calculator/. 0000038484 00000 n I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. I have an existing 3.5kW PV system with Solis inverter. Its only possible to go larger with a zero export limit: https://www.powerwater.com.au/customers/power/solar-power-systems/pv-class-requirements. Store it and use it later (this requires solar battery storage), or it disappears into thin air via a heat sink. 0000004736 00000 n 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. The reason why your sisters inverter is different from yours is your Goodwe would be because yours has a current transformer device that lets it limit the amount of power it exports to the grid. I was told to set Power Limit to ON. embedded generation system to the CitiPower and Powercor low voltage networks. Origin offers 8 cents per kWh until a daily export limit of 14 kWh is reached. There may well be a tipping point in battery prices where a drought of mid day solar will be followed by very little evening use and possibly large numbers of households abandoning the grid altogether. Your dedicated meter will inform the inverter, and it will immediately reduce the power, so it doesnt exceed 5 kilowatts1. 220 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). Thanks for the information. endstream endobj 351 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[17 289]/Length 31/Size 306/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream But if you dont use much electricity it may need to be very small, as I explain here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/zero-kw-export-solar/. As a side issue for you, if you (like lots of people) have high voltages issue causing shutdown / throttling, I am not a big fan of the Volt-watt modes, as often these modes will also lower the voltages at which the throttling kicks in. Typically in the Powercor area, the export limit is 5kW of exports for each single-phase household solar PV system. How is export limited for micro-inverters? No matter how badly you may want to export limit your solar system, it can only be done in locations where its permitted. 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) At times MPPT1 is at 600 odd watts while MPPT2 is at 2500 odd watts. There is not likely to be an Enphase system without a gateway (called the Envoy with in the Enphase system), because this is needed to setup the system, configure its profiles and report production and other important functions of the system. I am looking at adding a second system (6.2kW) with GoodWe inverter. the system is set to export the maximum amount of power approved in our Solar Export Pre-Approval to you your obligations as the owner and operator of an 'embedded generator' exporting . No-one seems to have replied Dirk, so I will try. NSWs Essential Energy area: Regional NSW. NSWs Endeavour Energy area: Western Sydney. This seems to be becoming a big problem at least locally. Even then, the losses from the limit are minor. Now, there are quite a few profiles on offer that can be programmed into the microinverters. 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. Some manufacturers may have this pre-selected. We are on a zero limited export. The earth is used as one conductor which has a higher resistance than a copper wire. Website link shows system producing well over 10 kW. The naming of zones may differ between manufacturers but may appear as: Australia A - applies to the configuration of inverter settings in Victoria and all Eastern . DC Input Power (Wp) 10000, from its published datasheet. But this is at least partially because when you throttle back output, you also reduce the amount of voltage rise you are causing on your local connection to the point of interconnect which is probably contributing to the issue. Victoria's "Hotest" Solar Postcode is 3977 at last look. I know in the movie the Bad was worse than the Ugly, but thats not the way Im doing it. 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. Will this mean any additional system would be limited to 0kW output?? Actually I made a chart showing the percentage of electricity lines in each state that were SWER but I left it out for the sake of brevity. In my mind though the Smart meter at the box would adjust the export limit in line with what the house is consuming? reliable export limit control function as per AS4777.2 to limit the export output where the . 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). In writing I was advised: Under another option to . is it 10kW AC or DC?? Powercor's network solutions manager Claire Cass said of 32,580 customers connected to solar with Powercor in the last 18 months, only 2023 could not export power. Self confessed newbie to the mechanics of Solar so bear with me. Still a very long payback period, but not as long. There are lots of variations to this theme, however. Please make sure you engage early with our team through eConnect to check on network capacity for your customers. at night or not enough at day time ? ARTICLE WRITES: Queenslands Energex area: South East Queensland. But just note, not everyone Envoy has required bits to do export limiting. Efficiency has and will improve further over time, but never to the point of perpetuity. Households and small businesses that generate electricity using solar panels, wind turbines, or other small-scale generators, can feed back any unused electricity into the electricity grid for other customers to use. 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 . Thanks. Plus a Tesla Powerwall 2. ACTs EvoEnergy Network Area: Covers most homes in the ACT, especially in built-up areas. I cant see any reference to the NT. Fronius Wattpilot: A Smart EV Charger With A Short Warranty, You Wont Believe How Dumb The NSW Governments New Battery Calculator Is. Queenslands Ergon network area: All of Queensland on the main grid outside of South East Queensland. and only supply me with power from the grid I have previously posted (or, submitted for posting), the proposition that what is needed, is a hybrid (not meaning in this instance, a hybrid inverter as is commonly used) inverter that is like a cross/combination, of the Goodwe GW5000-MS inverter (or, kind of, the GW10K-MS, in terms of power conversion), and the Goodwe GW5048D-ES; three GW5000-MS provides for up to 10kW of panels generating capacity, across three MPPTs (strings? Western Australia Horizon Power area: Regional Western Australia. 0000037686 00000 n March 2022 6 Powercor means Powercor Australia Limited, ABN 89 064 651 109. portal means the eConnect portal for CitiPower and . Were continually investing in our networks and aim to keep customers informed if additional export capacity becomes available in their area. The standard relating to solar inverters is about to change. Ronald was born more years ago than he can remember. This is done for three main reasons: In this article, Ill give a broad outline of how export limiting works and why it can be a good idea. 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. It appears the wire from the inverter is directly connected to my main fuse for the house circuits. Nominal Output Power (W) 5000 I have divided Australias regions into three categories: The information below assumes the property is on the main grid. And yes 5kW export limit applies May I suggest an extra fact check to polish the valuable story above? Makes sense but begs my next question (sorry). After all, Im a big picture kind of guy. Its moderately cheaper and the solar feed-in tariff youll receive will lower your electricity bills and increase the amount of clean energy available for others to use. Why my Power Limit is set to ON with the % whereas her Power Limit is set to OFF and she has been exporting. Hi i want to install solar with no power Swearing revenge, he began his lifelong quest to reduce the harm the environment could cause. 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. JackD 1 year ago. 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. Depending on their location, some may be constrained to a lesser export level or even no exports at all. Residential properties are unlikely to be allowed to use export limiting to install even larger inverters. The good news is, even in a worst-case situation, the amount will be fairly minor. 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. Its also unusual for a large solar system to have all the panels facing the same direction. 240 If thats not a good option, you can consider getting a demand tariff and doing pumping outside the peak period when the cost of grid electricity will be relatively low. A 5 kilowatt inverter will never supply more than 5 kilowatts of power no matter how many kilowatts of panels it has. My sister has the same type of inverter (Goodwe) but she lives in the Estern suburbs of Victoria and she has been exporting but her Power Limit was set OFF. So, if a contractor or tradesman, using one of these during the day, or, another type of worker, gets home after work, and, plugs one of these in to charge, an immediate drain of 7 kW (I believe that it is actually 7.4 kW), and immediate significant drain is imposed on the grid, for several hours, during peak demand. Finally, there are profiles for other countries that run 220-240V networks, and its remarkable how many of them use the older AS4777.3:2005 standard in their countries, because for many of these countries, this is the only profile the Envoy offers. sonnenBatterie Evo. 5kW export limiter imposed on one inverter. 0000017636 00000 n Theyd be higher for a sunnier location such as Perth and lower for cloudier places such as Melbourne or Hobart. 60% lagging Note that connections off the main grid are usually far more restricted. 0 ), Finally understand, the article above is very well written for the layman In exchange, the customer receives a small rebate on their bill for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) they export. 0000029011 00000 n Assume positive intention.4. 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. 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? Phone, email, give us feedback or make a claim. But your situation is complicated by already having a 3 kilowatt system. But if you had a larger solar system with a larger inverter that was export limited to 5 kilowatts it could potentially supply 2 kilowatts to your home while exporting 5 kilowatts to the grid. But youll need to be confident you wont be hit with high demand charges during the evening peak that will wipe out any advantage. With permission export limiting can be used to install larger systems. As a general rule, 5kW tends to be the upper system size limit for single-phase connections, but some networks allow up to 10kW. So if an inverter that is export limited to 5 kilowatts is providing 8 kilowatts of power, none of it will go to waste provided the home is consuming at least 3 kilowatts at the time. 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). So basically the whole local industry is going to be cactus until this is resolved. ), 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? But it took him about another ten years to focus on it in a way that wasnt really stupid, Good Article. 0000001575 00000 n 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. But if people send a lot of power into the line then the voltage at the far end, instead of being lower than at the sending end, becomes higher. Quotes vary and the deal has to be value/advantage logical or whats the point. The new home didnt have solar. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. 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. Sorry if dumb question. I am surprised to hear that Powercor has allowed you to increase your exports, but that is good to hear. 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? We installed solar power in November last year and were refused export (zero export). So yeah, the Envoy is essentially all you need to configure export limiting or anything else if you have an Enphase microinverter set-up. Queenslands Energex area: South East Queensland. The loss figures above are for Sydney and are affected by the climate. 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). (2nd one APPROVAL/SITE SPECIFIC CONDITION(s): Total Solar Export must be limited to 5kW). 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. hooked up to an energy efficient 44kW motor for a real-world While installing solar panels can still be worth it under these conditions, its a disincentive, increases payback time and is generally a pretty crappy state of affairs. And also is it worth installing solar with 0 kWh limit with self consumption around 20-30%( payback 6-7 years). Because people have been refused any STCs for being just a few watts over, no installer will go over the limit for a normal installation. You could buy a battery, charge it on the weekend and export during week nights. Why on earth would I do that if I can help it. So what goes throgh the meter, in either direction, is the difference between what you generate and what you use. "Some of these customers may have received approval to export since, due to network improvements made since their connection." 207 driving range of 200km depending on ambient temperature. The word first can be confusing. 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. 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. Michael caught the solar power bug after purchasing components to cobble together a small off-grid PV system in 2008. 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 Metered and a non metered version. 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. hour of charging is enough to drive 35km.. It is delivering 8 kilowatts of solar power. 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. I could easily share my excess power for the time I am not irrigating my crops. both said This is disappointing as this would be an easy option to implement. hb```f``sd`c`edd@ A >hp`86s8::\ MNmOe0pYuR`i g G7@ $n@]A#&S_2.dx f Also, if you are on the main grid the amount of power you are allowed to export can still be below the limits given or even zero, depending on how much additional solar capacity the local grid can handle at your location. Larger inverters that are export limited are allowed on a case by case basis. 0% If your solar company provides you with the Solar pre-approval (SPA) number for your pre-approval, we can check specifically what was decided on with regards to exporting. it is, kind of, effectively export limiting. Export limiting generally isnt permitted. Or is the energy produced by the panels but dissipated somehow? If they want a big solar system with an inverter larger than 5 kW, they must export limit the inverter. While this is fine during the week when we are open, it seems a huge waste of electricity on the weekends when we are closed. If that doesnt worry you then you can get a battery and just hope it mostly pays for itself. Its located in Ausnet Services' Distribution Area but Ausnet is not part of the CitiPower, Powercor and UnitedEnergy . (Although they will also allow an additional 5 kilowatts of battery inverter capacity.) 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. 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 . We installed 4.5kw with a 5kw inverter in 2014. just wondering if anybody can shed some light on the following, 0000004823 00000 n I have just had a 6.6kw system installed with a Fronius 5kw inverter and am export limited to 3kw. ), converting to up to 10kW of AC power, and, the GW5048D-ES provides for up to 6.65kW of panels generating capacity, converting to up to 4.95 kW of AC power, and, acting as a battery management system and UPS, when a battery system (of up to two approved, low voltage, batteries) is connected. 0000037497 00000 n 0000038562 00000 n But there is also the DNSP rules which need to be followed. All these profiles need to dance carefully around the problem. I will update the article with the information. %PDF-1.4 % My AS4777.2:2015 profile allows voltages up to 265v (for short periods, and shuts down on 10 minute averages above 258v). As per current standards, a single phase premises is limited to 10kW generation and 5kW export. Unfortunately, the meter companies and inverter manufacturers cant get their shit together, and the utility meters refuse to talk to the inverters. It would definitely be better if we didnt need to limit the amount of power solar systems sent into the grid. 0000028638 00000 n I could not convince him that I knew what I was talking about! Its the same with kW and hours of solar electricity production. In an Enphase system, that is with the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring. If youre not satisfied with what answers our calculator gives, let me know your figures for grid electricity and solar feed-in tariff and Ill come up with an estimate for you. 0000038830 00000 n 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. So having a powerwall is way less useful for helping with an export limit than you would think. If you are export limited, the only way to implement that is with some sort of meter as Ronald says. Finally! 258 Many Australian homes are not allowed to export more than 5 kW to the grid. Am I wrong? By the time he was eight, he was already focused on using the power of the sun to stop fossil fuel emissions destabilizing the climate. Victorias Jemena network area: A small but crowded chunk of North and Western Melbourne. 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. 2. At the moment a battery system is unlikely to pay for itself, but you could install a system that is larger than what makes financial sense for your current situation and hope home batteries will fall in price over the next few years. The fact that export limiting is necessary is not a good thing. We have a 3kwh system and are really using as much during the day as we can. 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! For example, if you are export limited, only the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring can provide this. So it is unfortunate that it is necessary, but good that people can still install a larger system and generally have insignificant losses. Off the main grid, rural properties can have 3 kilowatts of inverter capacity. We want to add a battery and it seems logical to add more cells also to another inverter/battery setup. A man named Canute, proved that, centuries ago. If a home cant export any power at all then there is no financial reason to install a large solar system. If you use a pre AS4777.3:2005 the limits are probably even higher, but you loose some other features (like frequency ramping which is probably very sensible to have if you want to be a good grid citizen), and you probably are not supposed to run those unless it is a pre 2016 install. IE if Im producing 8KW, the house is using 2KW it will still export 5kw? 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. Please confirm the maximum export limit in the relevant section of this application.. Still, few people will want more than the 13.33 kilowatts of panel capacity single phase homes can generally install: The Bad: Homes with single-phase power on the main grid can have up to 5 kilowatts of inverter capacity but can usually get around this limit by installing an export limited solar inverter of up to 10 kilowatts. Some say so you want to replace your system? Furthermore, the sustained overvoltage inverter protection set point shall be set to 258V. While export limiting is possible its not always approved. It can also only provide this when it is running. Even if you have the Envoy-S, I believe at least on paper there was a Enphase Envoy-S I believe it must have been set up during installation, but the installer company claims that this is handled by Growatt themselves. I have 3 x PV systems on one phase. So really apart from the requirement that the initial startup can only happy on voltages below 253v, I have no throttling until at least 285v and probably even higher. (We are conected to a 25Kw transformer, with 5 consumers connected.). But depending on our network capacity, export constraints may influence the size of the unit they install. 100% But still the solar companies keep trying to sell it to me.. Good question Tony. The data has 5KW flat lining confirming more is being generated. But it seems the situation has been changing for the better in the last couple of months in a number of affected areas. While I dont know where you are a 4 kilowatt solar system should produce an average of around 18 kilowatt-hours a day in WA. We might still be willing to do this all the same, from an environmental viewpoint. All I can really suggest is to try to shift power use to the middle of the day and hope mainly solar energy is consumed. A small solar system can be financially viable. The new inverter standard AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 has new inclusions to address grid stability issues - a new feature that is necessary to further enhance the hosting capacity to accommodate more solar and renewable energy systems. If you can go outside and scream at the top of your lungs with no chance your neighbours will hear you, then theres a good chance you are off the main grid and face much stricter limits on exports. Have I been conned into believing I could produce up to 6.6kW myself, but in fact the maximum my inverter will ever allow through to the meter (and to my house) is only 5kW? 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. What I find is installers dont seem to like it when I tell them my plan. But I can tell you a few things that might help with some of your pondering :- 1. A Decent Battery From sonnen. I still dont know if they have programmed the inverter to reduce the overall output by a percentage or not.