powercor solar export limit

Here at SolarQuotes, we had been hearing quite a few complaints about Powercors zero export limits. 0000009027 00000 n 0000001575 00000 n 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. 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! If they want a big solar system with an inverter larger than 5 kW, they must export limit the inverter. 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? With permission export limiting can be used to install larger systems. 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). 306 47 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. %PDF-1.4 % Can I share my power excess with me neighbour? 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. In future, will powercor allow export limit if they upgrade transformer? Even if I were exporting 100% of it, it still would only bring down my bills by a tiny amount per month. I have a 5kw solar system plus a Tesla powerwall 2 on my house . Worried the impact this will have currently when we charge an EV in the near term. Some networks will allow larger sizes than those outlined below, pending specific approval from the network. ) 0000039096 00000 n Victorias Powercor area: Western Victoria, including a large portion of West Melbourne. That can raise the voltage to a level dangerous to appliances. Single-phase properties can have up to 5 kilowatts of inverter capacity, and 3 phase properties can have up to 30 kilowatts. Can you provide comment and evaluation of power tracing please. The distributor deals with that by putting the voltage slightly up at the sending end. 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. I have a new residential PV system in Perth WA, 6.6kW total panel capacity and a 5kW inverter (Growatt Min 5000TL-X). Even then, the losses from the limit are minor. 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. 220 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%. Western Australia Horizon Power area: Regional Western Australia. Im in the Endeavour Energy area. 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. 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. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. 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. Would the gateway signal the micro inverters to shut down one at a time, or to all reduce output equally? 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? Im trying to get some unbiased advice on whether or not we should add more solar. 0000010080 00000 n The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. 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. and only supply me with power from the grid VAr (var % rated VA) 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? 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. 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. 253 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. 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. My solar installer applied to Powercor to install a 5.4kw system at my Point Cook address. 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). 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 had applications rejected, and when I asked there was NO course for negotiation or discussion its the RULES is s synopsis of the responses. 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. All these profiles need to dance carefully around the problem. Finally! These consumption spikes go past the Solar energy being limited suggesting were drawing from the grid! But you probably would not recover the cost of the battery within its lifetime. We have a 3kwh system and are really using as much during the day as we can. As such, unless the investment pays for itself within at most 5-6 years, IMHO it is not a good investment/waste of money and natural resources. 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. Hi We respect your privacy and you can opt out from the newsletter at any time. March 2022 6 Powercor means Powercor Australia Limited, ABN 89 064 651 109. portal means the eConnect portal for CitiPower and . Means that it caps the amount you can reduce your bills for power used outside of daylight hours? This gives the advantage of having a new system covered by a new set of warranties. I will update the article with the information. After a major works program involving more than 500 different network alterations and other activities across nine key regions among the most constrained parts of the network, Powercor's new solar connections export approval rate of just over 60% at the start of the year has increased to above 90%. Ill upgrade the Endeavour Energy area from Ugly to Bad, since things are clearly not all bad there. Under another option to . 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. Thats a huge jump and even a smidge higher than the Powercor network wide average of 89%. I have 3 x PV systems on one phase. But depending on our network capacity, export constraints may influence the size of the unit they install. And yes 5kW export limit applies May I suggest an extra fact check to polish the valuable story above? Export limiting does limit the inverter output, but only as needed to keep the export power below the limit. 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. I was told to set Power Limit to ON. trailer ACTs EvoEnergy Network Area: Covers most homes in the ACT, especially in built-up areas. 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. In writing I was advised: 0000004823 00000 n Hi All. 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. Have a good christmas. We have had solar for 6 years and just recently moved homes. 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? Generation sources can be, but are not limited to solar, wind and batteries. No matter how badly you may want to export limit your solar system, it can only be done in locations where its permitted. Finally! We are on a zero limited export. 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. Thanks so much, David. 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. Thus if my system is at maximum output, and I am using 2kW, only 3 kW is being exported to the grid. 0000001260 00000 n When it comes to the limiting imposed by the electricity companies feed-in regulations, it means that, at any one time, not more than 5kW (100L) maybe be output to the grid (hose), it has nothing to do with the total over a certain period of time. We just applied for pre-approval from Powercor and were given a 0kW export approval which is going to make almost anything we choose uneconomical. 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. Enter your postcode now. How to correctly configure inverter settings. But whether or not extra solar capacity will pay for itself is another matter. You could buy a battery, charge it on the weekend and export during week nights. Im in the same situation, except I have an existing 5kW 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. 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. What I find is installers dont seem to like it when I tell them my plan. Definitely, thats an inverter that is export limited to zero. The solar installer or customer must have sought and received pre-approval from us for the requested capacity of the generator. 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. 0 0000038484 00000 n 00@ Oo 0000008571 00000 n 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. It is just the placement of the meter and the current sensor that controls the limiting. is there a inverter that stops power going back 0000018244 00000 n Rubbing salt into the wound were situations where someone was zero export limited while their next door neighbour wasnt. The ideal way to measure the power flow in and out of your house would be to ask your existing electricity meter. An option is to take your pumps off-grid and run them independently off a separate off-grid solar system. 0000039018 00000 n They did say that with future upgrades we could reapply, but I cant find a way to do this. <]/Prev 115522/XRefStm 1575>> 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. 0000029011 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. I have just had a 6.6kw system installed with a Fronius 5kw inverter and am export limited to 3kw. 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. 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. If you are using Enphase microinverters which is extremely likely the whole system can be export limited using the Enphase Envoy gateway. Or is the energy produced by the panels but dissipated somehow? 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 . 0000038296 00000 n Victoria's "Hotest" Solar Postcode is 3977 at last look. Is this default, or would it be programmed in if the distributor required it? And, no matter how powerful, the members of the legislatures imagine themselves to be, and, no matter how trump-like, they are, they can not stop the future. 0000037380 00000 n This is sufficient to charge a battery, although larger solar systems generally improve the return from batteries. So basically the whole local industry is going to be cactus until this is resolved. 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. STCs can be received for panel capacity up to one-third greater than the inverter capacity. Nobody wants to see solar energy . Powercor is the Distributed Network Service Provider for central and western Victoria, as well as Melbournes western suburbs. Sorry if dumb question. 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. Now, that would help protect electricity grids, especially, the fragile, decrepit SWIS grid, for the present. 0000029403 00000 n amended or replaced from time to time. Since in WA you cant have more than a 5kW inverter on a private residence, I believe there isnt actually export limiting in play, and the inverter itself clips the output AC regardless how much the panels are generating, sadly. 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. Unfortunately, the meter companies and inverter manufacturers cant get their shit together, and the utility meters refuse to talk to the inverters. driving range of 200km depending on ambient temperature. endstream endobj 351 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[17 289]/Length 31/Size 306/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream Powercor says it has contacted all solar customers within the previously impacted areas to let them know about the companys progress and to encourage them to consider reapplying for exports. I am a total newbie to this but I am unclear why export limiting is good? Im glad to hear its flexible enough to do that. The 7kW charger achieves full charge in 6 hours, and one 220 But you may as well just get a standard inverter and send your excess electricity into the grid. And Set Power Limit to 100%. Max. The word first can be confusing. 0% About 50%. Very true AL0126. But youll need to be confident you wont be hit with high demand charges during the evening peak that will wipe out any advantage. 0000007554 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.. Despite the low feed-in tariff you will receive it can still be worthwhile, especially if you can shift some electricity consumption to the middle of the day. 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. Note that connections off the main grid are usually far more restricted. 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. The fact is that Powercor does not set an upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, up to 30kW. Good question Tony. I am trying to get a system installed (6.5k smart hybrid inverter with a battery) and have been told by Western Power that I am limited to a 3.0 kva system. The inverter reduces the amount of electrical energy supplied by the solar panels. Thanks for the information. For example, if you are export limited, only the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring can provide this. Seem most solar places, even the ones the go on about how good they are, arent that good when presented with this, what seems to be a conundrum for them. The solar installer or customer must have sought and received pre-approval from us for the requested capacity of the generator. 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. Your dedicated meter will inform the inverter, and it will immediately reduce the power, so it doesnt exceed 5 kilowatts1. Voltage (V) measured at inverter terminals Wouldnt it be better for the inverter to display its total actual potential output under current conditions? 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. 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. For example, our Solar Enablement program is intended to allow more customers to connect a 5kVa solar PV system with export capacity. 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 would definitely be better if we didnt need to limit the amount of power solar systems sent into the grid. 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.