DYNAMIC EXPORTS Solar Inverter User Guide
- June 16, 2024
- DYNAMIC EXPORTS
Table of Contents
Information for CONSUMERS
Solar Inverter
From 1 July 2023 Dynamic Exports compliance requirements will apply for any
new solar inverter installation.
energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Our goal is to safely manage solar exports for all South Australians now and into the future
But it’s a challenging goal
Too much solar energy exported to the grid on mild, sunny days can lead to:
- unstable electricity supply
- local voltage issues
- potential for outages
The Solution: Dynamic Exports
Solar exports automatically adjust to match the available capacity on the
network.
Your installer will advise about your eligibility for Dynamic Exports and how
to enrol.
You will find more information available in the frequently asked questions on
the following pages.
FAQ
Q : That snuck up on me. Not compulsory this week but next week?
A : From 1 July 2023 dynamic exports compliance requirements will apply for any new solar inverter installation. These requirements are described in detail in the dynamic export guidelines available at the below link. A range of exemptions and deemedto-comply arrangements exist covering battery installs, zero and static-export scenarios, sites with >30kW generation and other specific cases. Solar installations which had connection applications submitted prior to 1 July 2023 can be installed without meeting dynamic export compliance until 1 September 2023. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : Why is it being enforced (legislated) upon manufacturers to have this ability if its voluntary?
A : To ensure that South Australians can keep installing rooftop solar while allowing the safe and reliable management of the power grid, solar installations need to get ‘smarter’. These changes mean that rooftop solar exports can be balanced with the needs of the power grid. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : Does this also mean you’ll penalize those who don’t ‘volunteer’? If not now, will it be so in the future?
A : There is no penalty for any solar owner who doesn’t choose to take up a dynamic export capable connection agreement. By having dynamic export capable solar equipment installed, energy consumers will be able to make a choice as to whether a static or flexible export limit will make economic sense for them. All South Australian homes are expected to have the option of a Flexible Export connection by mid2024. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : As a customer, how can I tell if what I’m purchasing requires to meet these regs and if that model has that feature? Don’t want shops dumping old tech on me.
A : The public listing of fully certified Dynamic Export compliant inverters is available from the Clean Energy Council (CEC) here. Any inverter on that list is certified to be Dynamic Export capable. A second list, hosted by SA Power Networks is publicly available here, this list of ‘deemedto-comply’ inverters contain equipment that has proven functionality to deliver the critical functionality of Dynamic Exports, but is still undergoing development for more advanced features. (This list ends on 1 April 2024, all compliant inverters at that point will be on CEC’s list). Finally, the Office of the Technical Regulator has provided exemptions to a specific list of manufacturers and models available at the below link. These inverters are exempt from Dynamic Exports until 1 September 2024 or until they move to the ‘deemed-to-comply’ list, whichever is sooner. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : I hear a plan is being proposed to take any battery power you have stored in your home batteries, EV batteries etc., to a central, or suburb battery for general use. Is this true or false?
A : Battery systems are partially exempt for Dynamic Export compliance requirements, with further information on which systems require compliance available at the below link. Home battery owners do have the option to voluntarily participate in Virtual Power Plant (VPP) schemes, where the battery owner allows an energy retailer to use their battery system in the energy market for some benefit. Community batteries are currently being explored around Australia, including South Australia, but generally plan to absorb solar exports or cheap grid power to try and lower overall energy costs. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : Are there plans to start charging homeowners for excess solar they export into the grid?
A : Dynamic Export regulations do not contain any measures to charge solar system owners for exports to the grid. For solar systems over 5kW in size, a solar owner participating in dynamic export capable connections will be able to export more solar power up to 98% of the time. Incoming AER rules administered at the federal level will allow for DNSPs such as SA Power Networks to charge high-exporting solar users to export to the grid. However, these changes would not apply to most residential solar owners. More information available here You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : So if you can’t participate does that mean you get higher energy bills? This is annoying me due to the fact we only just put a new system in
A : In some cases older systems may be able to be upgraded to become dynamic export capable. An owner wanting to pursue this should talk to their installer. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : Could ‘Dynamic Exports’ be fully explained and how does it affect the use of my solar?
A : Energy generated by your solar which is not consumed or stored at your home can be exported to the grid and used by other consumers. Typically you would see a feed in tariff paid to you against your electricity bill to recognise this service. Exports from rooftop solar are a great way to ensure that renewable energy is used rather than wasted, and can reduce your energy costs. When your solar is connected to the grid, historically a static export limit was set – an upper limit to the amount of energy able to be exported to the grid. These static limits typically remain unchanged for the lifetime of a system. Because the grid needs to operate at a very high level of reliability, these limits are set conservatively against the worst conditions in the grid. Dynamic exports describes the ability for solar to receive export limits many times each day, which in general will be much higher than the static limit. In those times where the lower static limit is needed for the reliability of the grid, dynamic exports allows for the export limit to be dialled down to safe levels. These times are expected to only make up a small percentage of the year. Note that even with a dynamic export capable system, static export limits remain available. Signing up to receive updated export limits is voluntary. You can find out more on the technical standards at: energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports
Q : So if I don’t want to participate in this scheme why do I need the feature?
A : Any solar owner who doesn’t wish to use Dynamic Export compliant equipment can do so by having their system configured to permanently export zero solar power. Any zero-export system is exempt from these guidelines. To safely manage solar exports for all South Australians now and into the future, dynamic exports compliance is required. For many homeowners, Dynamic Exports will offer improved solar export outcomes overall.
Department for Energy and Mining
Office of the Technical Regulator
Level 4, 11 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
(08) 8226 2108 (during office hours)
otr.smarterhomes@sa.gov.au
energymining.sa.gov.au
Acknowledgement of Country
As guests here on Kaurna land, the Department for
Energy and Mining (DEM) acknowledges everything this
department does impacts on Aboriginal country, the
sea, the sky, its people, and the spiritual and cultural
connections which have existed since the first sunrise.
Our responsibility is to share our collective knowledge,
recognise a difficult history, respect the relationships
made over time, and create a stronger future. We are
ready to walk, learn and work together.
03/07/2023-205770
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
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