powercor solar export limit

Michael caught the solar power bug after purchasing components to cobble together a small off-grid PV system in 2008. 0000007554 00000 n I have just had a 6.6kw system installed with a Fronius 5kw inverter and am export limited to 3kw. This could be important, given that we have a state parliamentary election due in a couple of months. So yeah, the Envoy is essentially all you need to configure export limiting or anything else if you have an Enphase microinverter set-up. While losses increase as the solar power system size goes up, even with 10 kilowatts of panels which is twice the export limit, only 13% of generation is lost. So my understanding of the info above is that my inverter will increase production in unison with demand until it hits 5kw? We are on a zero limited export. Thats a furphy from go to whoa. The whole system of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, needs to be reviewed; by both the legislatures and regulators, and, by the components (especially the inverters) manufacturers. 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. Hello. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. Good question Tony. 0% 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 . Fronius Wattpilot: A Smart EV Charger With A Short Warranty, You Wont Believe How Dumb The NSW Governments New Battery Calculator Is. Export limiting generally isnt permitted. 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. 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. Im trying to get some unbiased advice on whether or not we should add more solar. 00@ Oo So the size of the system becomes irrelevant if you can only export 3kwh (we are Regional NSW Essential Energy). 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. ACTs EvoEnergy Network Area: Covers most homes in the ACT, especially in built-up areas. Long term benefits would be a more energy efficient system. 3. If you dont get under the covers and look carefully at the logs you might miss this, or think it is a cloud coming over, rather than voltage triggered throttling. 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? The uptake of solar has surprised the powers that be so they are basically wasting free energy and penalizing the producers in the process. It appears the wire from the inverter is directly connected to my main fuse for the house circuits. 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. 0000010080 00000 n About 50%. A Decent Battery From sonnen. Victorias Powercor area: Western Victoria, including a large portion of West Melbourne. But depending on our network capacity, export constraints may influence the size of the unit they install. Larger inverters that are export limited are allowed on a case by case basis. Powercor's technical assessment aims for these works to enable at least 80% of new solar applications to export 5 kW. 0000029011 00000 n Powercor is the Distributed Network Service Provider for central and western Victoria, as well as Melbournes western suburbs. I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. It owns and operates the states largest electricity distribution network, and is responsible for more than half a million poles and over 88,000 kilometres of powerlines. Now, there are quite a few profiles on offer that can be programmed into the microinverters. Victorias CitiPower area: The Melbourne Central Business District. Im glad to hear its flexible enough to do that. given that we are working from home all the time these days. 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) Then the information that was left was cut to make the piece more introductory, but perhaps all these reductions made the article like my favorite World War II movie Abridged Too Far. both said The infrastructure is not sufficiently flexible to deal with this. I want about 10Kw of panels so I can run pumps etc. Single-phase properties can install inverter capacity up to 5 kilowatts while 3 phase properties can install up to 30 kilowatts. Why my Power Limit is set to ON with the % whereas her Power Limit is set to OFF and she has been exporting. Instead the home can benefit from a small system, as I explain here: Ah yes I see. 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? Of more concern is occasional spikes in consumption which go past the 5kw limit. We respect your privacy and you can opt out from the newsletter at any time. The earth is used as one conductor which has a higher resistance than a copper wire. I cant justify the cost of adding additional solar if the max I can export with Essential energy is 3kwh. 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. Very true AL0126. Its also unusual for a large solar system to have all the panels facing the same direction. 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. 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. (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 . 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. 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? MPPT2 always shows better performance than MPPT, usually quite significantly better. ), Finally understand, the article above is very well written for the layman 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. But it took him about another ten years to focus on it in a way that wasnt really stupid, Good Article. March 2022 6 Powercor means Powercor Australia Limited, ABN 89 064 651 109. portal means the eConnect portal for CitiPower and . 0000037952 00000 n Below is the email response I received from Powercor. ) 0000027818 00000 n I havent made any applications yet, but Ill certainly be asking this question when I get quotes!. 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. We have a 3kwh system and are really using as much during the day as we can. Aside from that, when you have high resistance lines, there is a voltage drop over their length. This seems to be becoming a big problem at least locally. 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). I guess it would be technically possible to have a solar system with a battery but still be connected to the grid as backup. Note that connections off the main grid are usually far more restricted. STCs can be received for panel capacity up to one-third greater than the inverter capacity. I am not sure whether it has been explicitly explained, but, what exactly, is the limit of panels generating capacity, that is covered by the federal solar panels rebate? 0% And, depending on the circumstances of each individual household, 10-15 kW of total panels generating capacity, with limiting export to the grid, to 5kW, could provide better for the months with less available solar radiation, to lessen the demand for grid electricity, peaking on a seasonal basis. . That would provide both export limiting, and, the incorporation of a battery system (for my household, if we would have a 6.6 kW panels generating capacity system, rather than the 5kW one that we have, something like the BYD LVS 20 or 24kWh battery tower, would, I believe be appropriate), which would provide for energy arbitrage, smoothing both power exported to the grid, and, power imported from the grid, especially during peak demand periods. They want to do it there way and it seems my request complicates things for them and I dont hear back, bar a couple. It can also only provide this when it is running. When a home is exported limited, all the power the solar inverter can produce is available for the home to use. We installed 4.5kw with a 5kw inverter in 2014. 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. embedded generation system to the CitiPower and Powercor low voltage networks. 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. 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. 260 &K?BK:T$A1Cn 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. The metered version comes with extra current clamps to hook up to the grid side so you can do consumption monitoring and export limiting. Definitely, thats an inverter that is export limited to zero. I have 13.25 kW of panels with a 9.8 kW LG Chem battery and a 10 kW inverter export limited to 5 kW. Voltage (V) measured at inverter terminals 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. xref Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I just dont understand it. 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. 253 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. 0000009573 00000 n This is often referred to as 'network constraints'. This is sufficient to charge a battery, although larger solar systems generally improve the return from batteries. (2nd one APPROVAL/SITE SPECIFIC CONDITION(s): Total Solar Export must be limited to 5kW). In future, will powercor allow export limit if they upgrade transformer? But you will probably find that there is another setting that it will shutdown when 10 minute average voltage is a measly 255v. I am looking at adding a second system (6.2kW) with GoodWe inverter. I wouldnt drive anything else. See image at http://www.johnrogers.com.au/battery_charging_noon.jpg, CORRECTION: My 13.25 kW system will not go above the 10 kW inverter limit unless my house battery is charging and then it can go to 13.25 kW. 220 We want to add a battery and it seems logical to add more cells also to another inverter/battery setup. Weve got a system that can be left alone in my opinion, so adding say 6.6kw and a 10kw battery makes good sense but what a task. Voltage (V) measured at inverter terminals 0000006578 00000 n 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. I do NOT have a device in my meter box that could tell the inverter anything about consumption and feed in energy. As your sister can presumably export as much power as her solar inverter can produce it wouldnt need this device. Finally! This certainly goes well beyond initial configuration and reporting. For example, I can see several Energex profiles that do things like limit export to differing amounts, turns on Volt-var without Volt-watt, or sets the power factor to 0.9. I have noticed that one string seems to be performing well under the performance of the slightly smaller string. Where do I find information on reapplying for export with Powercor? Assume positive intention.4. 0000001575 00000 n The MSO helps us manage and keep our network safe for solar customers. 0000008043 00000 n Im surprised this hasnt hit the mainstream media yet. Ill upgrade the Endeavour Energy area from Ugly to Bad, since things are clearly not all bad there. 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. Select your country/region. 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. So-called wasting of the extra electricity produced is irrelevant: sunlight is FREE, and whether I use it or not has no bearing on the environment. 0000009027 00000 n 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. Thanks. 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. Generally however, I can advise that Powercor intends to upgrade the network over the next 5 years, starting in January, however, the specifics of where upgrades are happening and the order has not been decided. 4. 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). Western Australia Horizon Power area: Regional Western Australia. But if you suddenly switch off everything, there is more surplus solar power than youre allowed to export. This extra meter adds to the cost of a solar system. While the Envoy is an important part of the system, the micros largely operate independently of the Envoy, and in a lot of cases can work without the Envoy at all. 0000037380 00000 n 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 inverter reduces the amount of electrical energy supplied by the solar panels. Its located in Ausnet Services' Distribution Area but Ausnet is not part of the CitiPower, Powercor and UnitedEnergy . Upgrading the local electricity network so more businesses and households can export excess solar to share. If so, it would make replacing the whole system more viable which is exactly what I wanted to avoid (and such a waste!). Definition A low voltage embedded generation connection in CitiPower and Powercor is defined as "an LV EG system with a total system capacity greater than 30kVA for a three-phase IES or non-IES (excluding ESS) network connection that is: Unfortunately, the meter companies and inverter manufacturers cant get their shit together, and the utility meters refuse to talk to the inverters. There are versions without this consumption monitoring (old Non -s version of Envoy and even the Envoy-S without consumption monitoring). 0000001757 00000 n 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. Even then, the losses from the limit are minor. 0000001916 00000 n It seems so strange that it is clear government policy to get more solar going and yet the network operators are effectively blocking it now. A small solar system can be financially viable. We might still be willing to do this all the same, from an environmental viewpoint. The good news is, even in a worst-case situation, the amount will be fairly minor. 60% lagging Im in regional WA with a rural 2 phase supply. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. startxref What is the go generally with adding an additional solar system to your home? Tasmania: Under 1% of Tasmanians are on SWER lines, so the generous export limit should often be available. 0000039096 00000 n 0000022631 00000 n Metered and a non metered version. hour of charging is enough to drive 35km.. 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. 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? Thank you. Depending on their location, some may be constrained to a lesser export level or even no exports at all. This applies to both single-phase and three-phase properties. Swearing revenge, he began his lifelong quest to reduce the harm the environment could cause. I can also see specific profiles for other grid networks, such as Ausgrid and Ergon, that likely have specific requirements of the inverters. On the main grid, single-phase properties can have 5 kilowatts of solar inverter capacity, and three-phase properties can have 15 kilowatts. 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. just wondering if anybody can shed some light on the following, 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. 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. I know in the movie the Bad was worse than the Ugly, but thats not the way Im doing it. So the solar inverter has to have its own energy meter installed in your switchboard one that talks to the inverter to tell it when power sent into the grid reaches the export limit. 240 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! hb```f``sd`c`edd@ A >hp`86s8::\ MNmOe0pYuR`i g G7@ $n@]A#&S_2.dx f Limited export means more power for home If your system has a limit on how much it can export then it means more power will get used in your home instead. NSWs Essential Energy area: Regional NSW. 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. 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. NSWs Ausgrid Network Area: This covers East Sydney, Newcastle, and out to Merriwa. Makes sense but begs my next question (sorry). going back into the grid with no batteries. An option is to take your pumps off-grid and run them independently off a separate off-grid solar system. Unfortunately, the inverters parameters such as Export Limitation are all password protected, and so far I have been unable to even determine who knows this password. 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. 220 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. Hi All. NSWs Endeavour Energy area: Western Sydney. Amongst other things, AS4777.2015 has some requirements to shutdown on phase imbalance in a 3 phase setup. Export limiting does limit the inverter output, but only as needed to keep the export power below the limit. driving range of 200km depending on ambient temperature. Do the inverters prevent the production of energy by the solar panels when an export limit would otherwise be exceeded? But, now, Goodwe have the GW5000-MS inverter, which, from what I have read, is apparently allowed in WA, for a single phase SWIS grid connection, and, that inverter is a 5kW inverter, that has a maximum panels generating capacity; A Decent Battery From sonnen. The new home didnt have solar. 0 As the LG Chem battery charges using DC current from the panels it is possible to go over the 10 kW inverter limit by charging the LG Chem battery in the middle of the day. and only supply me with power from the grid The battery is charging from the DC current which is before the inverter. (Or at least it will be expensive to set up well. I realise that Australian legislatures do not care about the future, but, the future is coming, whether the legislatures like it or not. 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. No matter how badly you may want to export limit your solar system, it can only be done in locations where its permitted. But just note, not everyone Envoy has required bits to do export limiting. For example, if you are export limited, only the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring can provide this. In exchange, the customer receives a small rebate on their bill for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) they export. Can I share my power excess with me neighbour? I am afraid Western Power is very strict. 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. There are two options: 1. I have a new residential PV system in Perth WA, 6.6kW total panel capacity and a 5kW inverter (Growatt Min 5000TL-X). IE if Im producing 8KW, the house is using 2KW it will still export 5kw? The power is first used to meet household consumption, with any surplus exported to the grid for other people to use. Victorias United Energy Network Area: A large chunk of Melbourne on the east side Port Phillip Bay and the Bayside Peninsula. Unfortunately, SAPN wont allow more than 5 kilowatts of inverter capacity on an SWER line. Have a good christmas. 0000039018 00000 n 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). 0000038218 00000 n I have a 10kw Solar Edge inverter limited to 5kw. 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. Allows installation but has a zero export limit. 0000038030 00000 n 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. Fronius Wattpilot: A Smart EV Charger With A Short Warranty, You Wont Believe How Dumb The NSW Governments New Battery Calculator Is. If they want a big solar system with an inverter larger than 5 kW, they must export limit the inverter. 100% 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. In writing I was advised: About CitiPower and Powercor FACT SHEET: SOLAR EXPORT APPROVAL Set appliances to use your solar power Maintenance and safety checks are important 20% No active system controls whether you use inverter of imported power. 207 Im afraid in a typical situation the inverter wont show its potential output. 306 47 How to correctly configure inverter settings. Nominal Output Power (W) 5000 0000004622 00000 n This 80% could translate to an estimated 50,000 current or potential solar customers able to export more solar to the grid.