I installed 6.6kw solar panels and have Goodwe 5kw inverter and applied for export limit of 5kw. Quotes vary and the deal has to be value/advantage logical or whats the point. DC Input Power (Wp) 10000, from its published datasheet. All these profiles need to dance carefully around the problem. 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 . This 80% could translate to an estimated 50,000 current or potential solar customers able to export more solar to the grid. I am surprised to hear that Powercor has allowed you to increase your exports, but that is good to hear. The inverter reduces the amount of electrical energy supplied by the solar panels. So the size of the system becomes irrelevant if you can only export 3kwh (we are Regional NSW Essential Energy). But whether or not extra solar capacity will pay for itself is another matter. 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. Perhaps it is worth mentioning that the stricter export limitation becomes, it will make a stronger argument for batteries. We are on a zero limited export. Can anyone shed any light for me? In an Enphase system, that is with the Envoy-S with consumption monitoring. Victorias Jemena network area: A small but crowded chunk of North and Western Melbourne. Website link shows system producing well over 10 kW. Long term benefits would be a more energy efficient system. If you are in the solar industry - try to get to the truth, not the sale.5. 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. 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. I think that the limiter can connect only to one inverter and not two at the same time. Note that connections off the main grid are usually far more restricted. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. Store it and use it later (this requires solar battery storage), or it disappears into thin air via a heat sink. I still dont know if they have programmed the inverter to reduce the overall output by a percentage or not. There are exceptions for off-grid installations and systems that are installed with a battery. This is assuming that my understanding of what I have read, is correct; that such a system would be permitted, in a single phase connection to the SWIS grid. 0000027694 00000 n We might still be willing to do this all the same, from an environmental viewpoint. 0 As far as I know, only solar installers can apply for export capacity in the Powercor area. 0000008571 00000 n What made the situation all the more frustrating is periods of high congestion which can threaten the stability of a local network can be quite brief. Single-phase properties can install inverter capacity up to 5 kilowatts while 3 phase properties can install up to 30 kilowatts. Real names are preferred - you should be happy to put your name to your comments.2. 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. 11kW panels with 10kW 3-phase inverter (Fronius Symo + Fronius 3-phase meter). I was told to set Power Limit to ON. Still, few people will want more than the 13.33 kilowatts of panel capacity single phase homes can generally install: The Bad: Homes with single-phase power on the main grid can have up to 5 kilowatts of inverter capacity but can usually get around this limit by installing an export limited solar inverter of up to 10 kilowatts. The MSO helps us manage and keep our network safe for solar customers. If that doesnt worry you then you can get a battery and just hope it mostly pays for itself. Finally! If you are interested you can read about this here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/inverters/mppt/. 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! AC Output Data In a Enphase system, only the Envoy can provide this. Exporting surplus solar power is good because it reduces fossil fuel generation and pays you a feed-in tariff that reduces electricity bills. Surely the distributors capping what you can export to the grid is a bad thing? It appears the wire from the inverter is directly connected to my main fuse for the house circuits. 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 could easily share my excess power for the time I am not irrigating my crops. Please stay on topic. 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. 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. When it says that you can export 5kw, does that mean you can export up to 5kw PER HOUR? "Some of these customers may have received approval to export since, due to network improvements made since their connection." 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. So my understanding of the info above is that my inverter will increase production in unison with demand until it hits 5kw? I have 3 x PV systems on one phase. I will update the article with the information. Please keep the SolarQuotes blog constructive and useful with these 5 rules: 1. 0000009027 00000 n I prefer a profile that just has the voltages set to a high voltage threshold, and if I have to sacrifice V-W mode, so be it. Australian Rooftop Solar Powers Rise Astounding, But.. Australias Emissions: Electricity Down, Transport Up, Compare Feed-In Tariffs And Electricity Plans, Solar Export Limiting What It Is & Why Its Useful. hour of charging is enough to drive 35km.. reliable export limit control function as per AS4777.2 to limit the export output where the . Typically in the Powercor area, the export limit is 5kW of exports for each single-phase household solar PV system. But if you had a larger solar system with a larger inverter that was export limited to 5 kilowatts it could potentially supply 2 kilowatts to your home while exporting 5 kilowatts to the grid. startxref At times MPPT1 is at 600 odd watts while MPPT2 is at 2500 odd watts. When an inverter is export limited, it has to know how much solar energy is being sent into the grid so it can immediately reduce output if its about to go over the limit. 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. 0000038562 00000 n Hi All, Still a very long payback period, but not as long. 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. just wondering if anybody can shed some light on the following, There are versions without this consumption monitoring (old Non -s version of Envoy and even the Envoy-S without consumption monitoring). Many NSW rural situations are limited to 3Kw export, due to the length of the transmission lines. We respect your privacy and you can opt out from the newsletter at any time. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Origin offers 8 cents per kWh until a daily export limit of 14 kWh is reached. For example, our Solar Enablement program is intended to allow more customers to connect a 5kVa solar PV system with export capacity. 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? Makes sense but begs my next question (sorry). Its located in Ausnet Services' Distribution Area but Ausnet is not part of the CitiPower, Powercor and UnitedEnergy . First read the section How Export Limiting Works at the top of this thread. 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. 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. AS4777.2:2015 has some rather low default recommendations, which can be tweaked up as no doubt my profile has allowed. Self confessed newbie to the mechanics of Solar so bear with me. 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. 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. 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/. The solar installer or customer must have sought and received pre-approval from us for the requested capacity of the generator. The battery is charging from the DC current which is before the inverter. Worried the impact this will have currently when we charge an EV in the near term. These consumption spikes go past the Solar energy being limited suggesting were drawing from the grid! 0000001260 00000 n 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. 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. 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). There are lots of variations to this theme, however. But I can tell you a few things that might help with some of your pondering :- 1. This extra meter adds to the cost of a solar system. People have done it at fairly low cost with second hand panels and a DC pump.) The installer has been able to get the system through WP in the past as the inverter can limit the export to grid to 3kva. 0000039096 00000 n Only residential homes with inverters of 5 kilowatts or less can receive the states. The solar PV system is connected to the network via an inverter. Any ideas of how I can get a system that is actually going to generate enough power to charge a battery? This seems to be becoming a big problem at least locally. Metered and a non metered version. If you are export limited, the only way to implement that is with some sort of meter as Ronald says. I have noticed that one string seems to be performing well under the performance of the slightly smaller string. trailer 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? 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. Off the main grid, rural properties can have 3 kilowatts of inverter capacity. 0000037380 00000 n 220 240 0000005359 00000 n A rooftop solar system's grid export limit is determined by the local electricity network operator - sometimes on a case-by-case basis, sometimes according to an across-the-board standard, and . If they face in two or more directions, it will further reduce the losses by reducing the peak solar output while stretching it out, so it lasts longer through the day. That is correct. It is just the placement of the meter and the current sensor that controls the limiting. Am planning to install solar 6.6 kWh system and upon checking with powercor they are giving export limit as 0 kWh. 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.. 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. Similarly, which would be more detrimental to a fragile electricity grid, through power exporting; a 5kW inverter with no export limiting, or, a 10kW inverter, with export limiting set to 1kW? He's been reporting on Australian and international solar energy news ever since. 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 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. Victoria's "Hotest" Solar Postcode is 3977 at last look. Select the AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 Australia A setting. 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. Can one have micro-inverter panels without a gateway, and how would that be limited? I do NOT have a device in my meter box that could tell the inverter anything about consumption and feed in energy. 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. Im in regional WA with a rural 2 phase supply. 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. The Ugly: In these areas export limiting may not be allowed at all. No active system controls whether you use inverter of imported power. So it is unfortunate that it is necessary, but good that people can still install a larger system and generally have insignificant losses. 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. 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? 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. 2. South Australia Power Networks (SAPN) area: SAPN is the only distributor in South Australia. 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: So having a powerwall is way less useful for helping with an export limit than you would think. 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. So what goes throgh the meter, in either direction, is the difference between what you generate and what you use. MPPT2 always shows better performance than MPPT, usually quite significantly better. 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. This could be important, given that we have a state parliamentary election due in a couple of months. Or is the energy produced by the panels but dissipated somehow? 5kW export limiter imposed on one inverter. 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%. Even if you have the Envoy-S, I believe at least on paper there was a Enphase Envoy-S &K?BK:T$A1Cn This applies to both single-phase and three-phase properties. I have a 5kw solar system plus a Tesla powerwall 2 on my house . With permission export limiting can be used to install larger systems. 0000037497 00000 n Am I wrong? 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). ), converting to a maximum of 5kW of AC power, whilst the GW10K-MS provides for up to 13.5kW of panels generating capacity, across three MPPTs (strings? An option is to take your pumps off-grid and run them independently off a separate off-grid solar system. I think I was partially wrong about how my PV is connected to the home and the meter. 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. Of more concern is occasional spikes in consumption which go past the 5kw limit. 0000093063 00000 n 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). A Decent Battery From sonnen. Phone, email, give us feedback or make a claim. To give you example, you will probably find the profile you mention is probably throttling from a very low 250v and will ramp down to 20% at 265v. Its moderately cheaper and the solar feed-in tariff youll receive will lower your electricity bills and increase the amount of clean energy available for others to use.