We have a 3kwh system and are really using as much during the day as we can. This certainly goes well beyond initial configuration and reporting. The loss figures above are for Sydney and are affected by the climate. 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. I realise that all the political parties in the the WA state parliament and especially, the Synergy/Western Power conglomerate, that controls approvals of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems connected to the SWIS grid, are opposed to domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems (even though we stabilise and sustain the grid), but, I am wondering whether any reason has ever been given by the oppressive authorities, for banning export limited inverters in WA. Now, there are quite a few profiles on offer that can be programmed into the microinverters. I have a 5kw solar system plus a Tesla powerwall 2 on my house . If you can export 3kva that means you can have a solar system with up to 4 kilowatts of panels. 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. I havent made any applications yet, but Ill certainly be asking this question when I get quotes!. at night or not enough at day time ? The fact is that Powercor does not set an upper limit on the size solar panel system you can install, up to 30kW. Do the inverters prevent the production of energy by the solar panels when an export limit would otherwise be exceeded? Okay, so that heading may be a bit of an exaggeration, but improvements the company has carried out appear to have made quite a difference. Anyway you are probably not supposed to be messing around with the profiles without agreement of your DNSP. reliable export limit control function as per AS4777.2 to limit the export output where the . Means that it caps the amount you can reduce your bills for power used outside of daylight hours? Normally single phase properties can have up to 5 kilowatts of solar inverter capacity and 3 phase properties can have 15 kilowatts. (Image from Finns Tesla App). It is possible to max out the 10 kW inverter capacity with my Tesla, house load and Heat Pump hot water. Some manufacturers may have this pre-selected. The ideal way to measure the power flow in and out of your house would be to ask your existing electricity meter. I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. Put down your weapons.3. If at any moment in time you are generating more solar electricity than you need, the excess is exported to the grid. South Australia Power Networks (SAPN) area: SAPN is the only distributor in South Australia. 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 . Ready for some quotes? 0000038830 00000 n The fact that export limiting is necessary is not a good thing. Queenslands Ergon network area: All of Queensland on the main grid outside of South East Queensland. There are two options: 1. Please confirm the maximum export limit in the relevant section of this application.. We installed solar power in November last year and were refused export (zero export). Shane, you appear to be mixing up kW and kWh easily done! The Ugly: In these areas export limiting may not be allowed at all. Below is the email response I received from Powercor. We might still be willing to do this all the same, from an environmental viewpoint. 0000000016 00000 n 0000037419 00000 n 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. 0000009027 00000 n . 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. In an Enphase system, that is with the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring. Was sure if its been configured correctly or if this is just how it works? The following is a list of the areas in case youve been missed. But depending on our network capacity, export constraints may influence the size of the unit they install. Because you dont see the rather obvious shutdowns (or see them less), you might not notice your solar might be throttled back on a regular basis. Wouldnt it be better for the inverter to display its total actual potential output under current conditions? I am a total newbie to this but I am unclear why export limiting is good? 0000029011 00000 n 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. My solar installer applied to Powercor to install a 5.4kw system at my Point Cook address. Note that connections off the main grid are usually far more restricted. What am I missing? We are in an area where only about 20% of the homes have solar. 0000017636 00000 n 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! 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. In my case, I have N & W facing panels, My inverters clip to 5Kw for a few hours, but I can still export a reasonable amount. 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. 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! I suspect that it is likely, that that they are all signaled equally, not in truth I dont know for sure. So my understanding of the info above is that my inverter will increase production in unison with demand until it hits 5kw? hb```f``sd`c`edd@ A >hp`86s8::\ MNmOe0pYuR`i g G7@ $n@]A#&S_2.dx f 0000009573 00000 n Single-phase properties can install inverter capacity up to 5 kilowatts while 3 phase properties can install up to 30 kilowatts. I know in the movie the Bad was worse than the Ugly, but thats not the way Im doing it. March 2022 6 Powercor means Powercor Australia Limited, ABN 89 064 651 109. portal means the eConnect portal for CitiPower and . VAr (var % rated VA) 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/. Off the main grid, rural properties can have 3 kilowatts of inverter capacity. Export limiting does limit the inverter output, but only as needed to keep the export power below the limit. 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). Plus a Tesla Powerwall 2. I was told that as there is an export limit of 5kW and I already have 3.5kW system, my new system will be export limited to 1.5kW. Im glad to hear its flexible enough to do that. 20% Tasmania: Under 1% of Tasmanians are on SWER lines, so the generous export limit should often be available. More information about the program and how customers can get the most out of their rooftop solar is available at www.powercor.com.au/solar-energy Ronald 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). 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. it is, kind of, effectively export limiting. I have a 10kw Solar Edge inverter limited to 5kw. 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. Origin offers 8 cents per kWh until a daily export limit of 14 kWh is reached. 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? 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. Your dedicated meter will inform the inverter, and it will immediately reduce the power, so it doesnt exceed 5 kilowatts1. NSWs Essential Energy area: Regional NSW. 0000005986 00000 n To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: AEMC: Electricity Prices To Continue To Fall, http://www.johnrogers.com.au/battery_charging_noon.jpg, http://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/kw-and-kwh-what-is-the-difference/, Why Australian Solar Installers Love Austrian Fronius Inverters, Tesla Powerwall Price Takes A Tumble In Australia, "Snail Mail" Home Battery Offers: Be Wary, New Minimum VIC Solar Feed-In Tariffs Locked In, Glenrowan Solar Farm Construction Gets Cranking. Thanks Steve 0418 815 193. Information on whether export limiting is allowed can be found here, but I am going to present the information differently for both ease of use and to make my boss think Ive done something useful. The MSO helps us manage and keep our network safe for solar customers. xref Many Australian homes are not allowed to export more than 5 kW to the grid. I realise that Australian legislatures do not care about the future, but, the future is coming, whether the legislatures like it or not. 0000093063 00000 n Solar Analytics confirms in this scenario its only exporting up to the limit; 3kw. Swearing revenge, he began his lifelong quest to reduce the harm the environment could cause. But a sub optimally configured grid sometimes forces installers into implementing setting that are probably less than ideal if the high voltage events in the grid were just occasions where there is too much generation and they do want have all generators throttle back to allow some time for rebalancing supply and demand. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. As a general rule, 5kW tends to be the upper system size limit for single-phase connections, but some networks allow up to 10kW. 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 so, it would make replacing the whole system more viable which is exactly what I wanted to avoid (and such a waste!). 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. The uptake of solar has surprised the powers that be so they are basically wasting free energy and penalizing the producers in the process. This gives the advantage of having a new system covered by a new set of warranties. 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? 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. 4. But still the solar companies keep trying to sell it to me.. &K?BK:T$A1Cn 0000028638 00000 n He first became interested in environmental matters when he was four years old after the environment tried to kill him by smashing fist sized hailstones through the roof of his parents Toowoomba home. First read the section How Export Limiting Works at the top of this thread. Makes sense but begs my next question (sorry). The majority of customers are approved for the export level they request. There are lots of variations to this theme, however. Please stay on topic. This is disappointing as this would be an easy option to implement. Can I share my power excess with me neighbour? I think of it like the rate at which water is flowing out of a hose. 2. Good question Tony. Its only possible to go larger with a zero export limit: https://www.powerwater.com.au/customers/power/solar-power-systems/pv-class-requirements. 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. 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: 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. hooked up to an energy efficient 44kW motor for a real-world 0000027694 00000 n 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). All these profiles need to dance carefully around the problem. How to correctly configure inverter settings. That is correct. hour of charging is enough to drive 35km.. 0000004736 00000 n They hid the problem pretty well, because they do tend to reduce the amount of shutdowns. Are Tesla Powerwall smart enough to let majority of power export to grid and only start charging battery as inverter approaches its export 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. However they have been advised that this wont be allowed anymore. Residential properties are unlikely to be allowed to use export limiting to install even larger inverters. (2nd one APPROVAL/SITE SPECIFIC CONDITION(s): Total Solar Export must be limited to 5kW). As far as I know, only solar installers can apply for export capacity in the Powercor area. When a home is exported limited, all the power the solar inverter can produce is available for the home to use. Normally it makes more sense to buy a second, separate system, than to expand an existing one. Thus if my system is at maximum output, and I am using 2kW, only 3 kW is being exported to the grid. Larger inverters that are export limited are allowed on a case by case basis. 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. Perhaps it is worth mentioning that the stricter export limitation becomes, it will make a stronger argument for batteries. ), 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. But just note, not everyone Envoy has required bits to do export limiting. Quotes vary and the deal has to be value/advantage logical or whats the point. Interesting article. Exporting surplus solar power is good because it reduces fossil fuel generation and pays you a feed-in tariff that reduces electricity bills. A small solar system can be financially viable. 0000004059 00000 n Victorias United Energy Network Area: A large chunk of Melbourne on the east side Port Phillip Bay and the Bayside Peninsula. So having a powerwall is way less useful for helping with an export limit than you would think. Amongst other things, AS4777.2015 has some requirements to shutdown on phase imbalance in a 3 phase setup. Im in the Endeavour Energy area. Fronius Wattpilot: A Smart EV Charger With A Short Warranty, You Wont Believe How Dumb The NSW Governments New Battery Calculator Is. Sometimes Powercor can reduce that to a lower figure, or even set a zero-export limit. 306 47 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 . I want about 10Kw of panels so I can run pumps etc. Enter your postcode now. Rubbing salt into the wound were situations where someone was zero export limited while their next door neighbour wasnt. I cant justify the cost of adding additional solar if the max I can export with Essential energy is 3kwh. 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? DC Input Power (Wp) 10000, from its published datasheet. 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. 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. The word first can be confusing. Max. 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. Many NSW rural situations are limited to 3Kw export, due to the length of the transmission lines. If that doesnt worry you then you can get a battery and just hope it mostly pays for itself. And, if a street full of these, plugs their cars into the grid, for recharging, starting the recharging between 1700 and 1800, lots of entertaining fireworks, along the street powerlines exploding. 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. 60% lagging So far I have not seen much more than 5kW DC anyway, but in summer I would expect to see a curve thats flattened at the top during the high sun phase, as it is cut off by the inverter. We do not prevent customers from installing solar for their own self-consumption. Website link shows system producing well over 10 kW. Efficiency has and will improve further over time, but never to the point of perpetuity. 0000004823 00000 n (Or at least it will be expensive to set up well. It clicked, not long after I wrote the comment, My 10 kW system will not go above 10 kW unless my house battery is charging and then it can go to 13.25 kW. 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. I have not been able to get an answer from Growatt Australia yet, it seems there is a bit of a cover-up going on. Real names are preferred - you should be happy to put your name to your comments.2. 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). I did get on the FiT in the early days for the 66cpkWh, but installed a separate system (which I have since incorporated into my stand-alone system. If a home cant export any power at all then there is no financial reason to install a large solar system. I am surprised to hear that Powercor has allowed you to increase your exports, but that is good to hear. So yeah, the Envoy is essentially all you need to configure export limiting or anything else if you have an Enphase microinverter set-up. Would the gateway signal the micro inverters to shut down one at a time, or to all reduce output equally? On the main grid, single-phase properties can have 5 kilowatts of solar inverter capacity, and three-phase properties can have 15 kilowatts. Or, if you want a lower cost method of dealing with blackouts, you can get yourself a small generator. But given average voltages are probably well above what they should be in lots of places, and once you factor in your local voltage rise, and pretty low values under AS4777 etc, there is not much room to play with until the distributors get the act together and deliver us power that better matches the 230v standard they are required to deliver us. 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. After all, Im a big picture kind of guy. Where do I find information on reapplying for export with Powercor? 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. This is sufficient to charge a battery, although larger solar systems generally improve the return from batteries. 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. Can you provide comment and evaluation of power tracing please. 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. I could not convince him that I knew what I was talking about! 100% I got a question about export limiter that I hope to get some answers from the community. 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? 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. and only supply me with power from the grid Im in the same situation, except I have an existing 5kW system. Is there anything that can be done about it? I have noticed that one string seems to be performing well under the performance of the slightly smaller string. 0000018244 00000 n AS4777.2:2015 has some rather low default recommendations, which can be tweaked up as no doubt my profile has allowed. As per current standards, a single phase premises is limited to 10kW generation and 5kW export.

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