Michael caught the solar power bug after purchasing components to cobble together a small off-grid PV system in 2008. Ready for some quotes? MPPT2 always shows better performance than MPPT, usually quite significantly better. 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. A small solar system can be financially viable. Thanks Ron. ACTs EvoEnergy Network Area: Covers most homes in the ACT, especially in built-up areas. 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. Enter your postcode now. A Decent Battery From sonnen. But I suspect for a lot of people, the vast majority of these over voltage events are simply because the networks are running out of spec voltages. Its also worth taking a look in case you shied away from installing solar panels in the past because of the situation now might be the time to revisit the idea. If you are in the solar industry - try to get to the truth, not the sale.5. These consumption spikes go past the Solar energy being limited suggesting were drawing from the grid! 0000027818 00000 n So basically the whole local industry is going to be cactus until this is resolved. In an Enphase system, that is with the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring. I also dont know if my meter has limiting but suspect not as it is a pretty dumb device. 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! Youre using a total of four kilowatts to cook your lunch, so your home is exporting 4 kilowatts, which is below the limit. 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. I was told to set Power Limit to ON. We installed 4.5kw with a 5kw inverter in 2014. I realise that Australian legislatures do not care about the future, but, the future is coming, whether the legislatures like it or not. The standard relating to solar inverters is about to change. Hi 0000004823 00000 n Im surprised this hasnt hit the mainstream media yet. startxref 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. sonnenBatterie Evo. Generation sources can be, but are not limited to solar, wind and batteries. What is the go generally with adding an additional solar system to your home? Victoria's "Hotest" Solar Postcode is 3977 at last look. is it 10kW AC or DC?? But I will warn you, even with the high cost of grid electricity and the low solar feed-in tariff in Western Australia, batteries normally wont pay for themselves. Exporting surplus solar power is good because it reduces fossil fuel generation and pays you a feed-in tariff that reduces electricity bills. And also is it worth installing solar with 0 kWh limit with self consumption around 20-30%( payback 6-7 years). 0% 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? 0000037686 00000 n Please stay on topic. 0000038296 00000 n The power is first used to meet household consumption, with any surplus exported to the grid for other people to use. 0000008043 00000 n 100% I will update the article with the information. Self confessed newbie to the mechanics of Solar so bear with me. 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. Have a good christmas. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 220 Your dedicated meter will inform the inverter, and it will immediately reduce the power, so it doesnt exceed 5 kilowatts1. Recent work by Victorian DNSP Powercor on some problematic parts of its network is enabling more solar power from rooftop panels to be exported to the grid. endstream endobj 351 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/Index[17 289]/Length 31/Size 306/Type/XRef/W[1 1 1]>>stream But I can tell you a few things that might help with some of your pondering :- 1. Im in the same situation, except I have an existing 5kW system. 0000028638 00000 n Powercor program works to increase solar export capacity for 50,000 I do NOT have a device in my meter box that could tell the inverter anything about consumption and feed in energy. We are on a zero limited export. AC Output Data The distributor deals with that by putting the voltage slightly up at the sending end. 20% 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. 0000037419 00000 n 0000004622 00000 n 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. 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%. Smart inverter settings | CitiPower & Powercor They did say that with future upgrades we could reapply, but I cant find a way to do this. It appears the wire from the inverter is directly connected to my main fuse for the house circuits. 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). 2. Website link shows system producing well over 10 kW. Sorry Andrew: NQR. Do you know the situation here? 0000028229 00000 n Thanks so much, David. reliable export limit control function as per AS4777.2 to limit the export output where the . VAr (var % rated VA) 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. I want about 10Kw of panels so I can run pumps etc. Can you provide comment and evaluation of power tracing please. 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. Some households lose 20 per cent of their solar output from grid The metered version comes with extra current clamps to hook up to the grid side so you can do consumption monitoring and export limiting. I think the installers like the Volt-watt modes, because if you dont know where to look they hid the problem at your expense anyway. 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. Whats the logical and practical way forward? xref All these profiles need to dance carefully around the problem. Victoria's Powercor Lifts Its Solar Exports Game 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. I have solar on my house and having it installed at an investment property, but not sure what to do now as there will be no benefit of feed in tariff. 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. Victorias Jemena network area: A small but crowded chunk of North and Western Melbourne. The majority of customers are approved for the export level they request. 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. 2. I cant see any reference to the NT. 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. 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. However they have been advised that this wont be allowed anymore. Shane, you appear to be mixing up kW and kWh easily done! 0000037764 00000 n I am on my second Tesla EV and the new one has a rage of 700km if youre not a lead foot. 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 ?.) ), Finally understand, the article above is very well written for the layman My AS4777.2:2015 profile allows voltages up to 265v (for short periods, and shuts down on 10 minute averages above 258v). 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. Powercor wrote back with the following response:"Due to the size of t . If you are using Enphase microinverters which is extremely likely the whole system can be export limited using the Enphase Envoy gateway. FAQs - MASH: Community Solar 0000001260 00000 n 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: embedded generation system to the CitiPower and Powercor low voltage networks. I installed 6.6kw solar panels and have Goodwe 5kw inverter and applied for export limit of 5kw. 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. 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. . As your sister can presumably export as much power as her solar inverter can produce it wouldnt need this device. Why my Power Limit is set to ON with the % whereas her Power Limit is set to OFF and she has been exporting. 258 Finally! 220 And yes 5kW export limit applies May I suggest an extra fact check to polish the valuable story above? I still dont know if they have programmed the inverter to reduce the overall output by a percentage or not. 2. ARTICLE WRITES: Queenslands Energex area: South East Queensland. How to correctly configure inverter settings. Victorias United Energy Network Area: A large chunk of Melbourne on the east side Port Phillip Bay and the Bayside Peninsula. Many NSW rural situations are limited to 3Kw export, due to the length of the transmission lines. 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; I wouldnt drive anything else. ), 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. You could buy a battery, charge it on the weekend and export during week nights. We installed solar power in November last year and were refused export (zero export). But depending on our network capacity, export constraints may influence the size of the unit they install. 0% It is delivering 8 kilowatts of solar power. Many Australian homes are not allowed to export more than 5 kW to the grid. Even if I were exporting 100% of it, it still would only bring down my bills by a tiny amount per month. Good question Tony. (2nd one APPROVAL/SITE SPECIFIC CONDITION(s): Total Solar Export must be limited to 5kW). Assume positive intention.4. 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? PDF CitiPower Pty Ltd/ Powercor Australia Ltd Why on earth would I do that if I can help it. 0000004736 00000 n 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. 5kW times the number of hours is the total production over that time. Thus if my system is at maximum output, and I am using 2kW, only 3 kW is being exported to the grid. In addition, all modern solar inverters must comply with AS4777.2015 at least. Going solar even if Powercor says 'No' - MASH: Community Solar 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? Makes sense but begs my next question (sorry). 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. 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. Queenslands Energex area: South East Queensland. Installers must also follow the recommendations of the inverter manufacturer and they may say the limit for panel capacity is less than one-third more than the panels capacity. Was sure if its been configured correctly or if this is just how it works? I am surprised to hear that Powercor has allowed you to increase your exports, but that is good to hear. 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, 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. 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. As a single example, the Renault Kangoo ZE van (I think that it is the only battery powered cargo van currently available in Australia) has a 33kWh battery, and, To go further, Kangoo Z.E boasts a Z.E 33 (33kWh) battery, Victorias CitiPower area: The Melbourne Central Business District. At the time of the powerwall install I also had the Gateway installed at an extra cost so I could keep using the generated power from the powerwall and during solar production when the powergrit fell out without danger for the grit workers because the Gateway instantly falls and prevent power to the grit. 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. 0000009027 00000 n PDF Installation and connection - Powercor 0000029011 00000 n 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. 0000010603 00000 n This means you tend to see panels at the end of strings shutdown soonest on voltage risk conditions, as they have the highest voltage rise being at the end of the string. Swearing revenge, he began his lifelong quest to reduce the harm the environment could cause. I have just had a 6.6kw system installed with a Fronius 5kw inverter and am export limited to 3kw. 0000029403 00000 n . But there is also the DNSP rules which need to be followed. Theyd be higher for a sunnier location such as Perth and lower for cloudier places such as Melbourne or Hobart. Thanks. 0 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. This gives the advantage of having a new system covered by a new set of warranties. 0000038752 00000 n Aside from that, when you have high resistance lines, there is a voltage drop over their length. both said Long term benefits would be a more energy efficient system. 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. Thats a furphy from go to whoa. 306 0 obj <> endobj 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? Has the oppressive authority in WA ever given a reason for not allowing export limited inverters in WA? Powercor households stand to save even more with solar I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. There are two options: 1. 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. Powercor claims 30% increase in rooftop solar export approvals Efficiency has and will improve further over time, but never to the point of perpetuity. 240 60% lagging It is possible to max out the 10 kW inverter capacity with my Tesla, house load and Heat Pump hot water. 0000017636 00000 n Allows installation but has an export limit. Also, given that export limited inverters (supposedly) work the same, regardless of the grid to which they are connected, why is it so, that states have different rules whereby some allow export limited inverters, and, some do not? going back into the grid with no batteries. Solar connections for industry | CitiPower & Powercor Any ideas of how I can get a system that is actually going to generate enough power to charge a battery? I can also see specific profiles for other grid networks, such as Ausgrid and Ergon, that likely have specific requirements of the inverters. About 50%. 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. 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 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. Solar Export Limiting Explained -- What It Is & Why It's Useful 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. My guess is that when the Envoy-S sees it needs to throttle due to export limits, it does this by sending the same instruction to all micros to throttle the same amount (but dont know for sure). 44% leading I havent made any applications yet, but Ill certainly be asking this question when I get quotes!. If you are interested you can read about this here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/inverters/mppt/. Am I wrong? Youll also start receiving the SolarQuotes weekly newsletter, keeping you up to date on all the latest developments on Australias solar scene. is there a inverter that stops power going back Here at SolarQuotes, we had been hearing quite a few complaints about Powercors zero export limits. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. 1. South Australian solar panel owners can currently export 5 kilowatts of electricity to the grid but under Flexible Exports, they could export double that amount 10kW. Are Tesla Powerwall smart enough to let majority of power export to grid and only start charging battery as inverter approaches its export limit? Solar Export Limiting: Why You Should Know About It The percentage var/VA level leading is the inverter sourcing vars to the grid, whereas the percentage var/VA level lagging is the inverter sinking vars from the grid. He's been reporting on Australian and international solar energy news ever since. The loss figures above are for Sydney and are affected by the climate. What I find is installers dont seem to like it when I tell them my plan. It also allows you to focus on increasing your self consumption which in turn provides a better return on investment. Of more concern is occasional spikes in consumption which go past the 5kw limit. As far as I know, only solar installers can apply for export capacity in the Powercor area. This certainly goes well beyond initial configuration and reporting. When a home is exported limited, all the power the solar inverter can produce is available for the home to use. 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: Some networks will allow larger sizes than those outlined below, pending specific approval from the network. To add to this, in the installer section of the Envoys web server control panel, you can set the profile by which all microinverters operate. 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.
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