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, including technical standards, available at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports.

A range of exemptions and deemed-to-comply arrangements exist covering battery installs, zero and static-export scenarios, sites with >30 kW generation and other specific cases.

Solar connections which had connection applications submitted prior to 1 July 2023 can be installed without meeting dynamic export compliance until 1 September 2023.

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 about the technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports

Customers won't be 'penalised' for not taking up a Dynamic Export (DE) connection agreement, but they will be able to export less.

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 mid-2024.

You can find out if the offer is available at your address in the SA Power Networks Flexible Exports Eligibility checker

You can find out more about the technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports

The public listing of fully certified Dynamic Export compliant inverters is available from the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Any inverter included on that list is certified to be Dynamic Export capable.

• Clean Energy Council list of inverters with Software Communication Clients

A second list, hosted by SA Power Networks is also publicly available. This list of 'deemed-to-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.

• SA Power Networks flexible exports compatible equipment

Finally, the Office of the Technical Regulator has provided exemptions to a specific list of manufacturers and models available. 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 about the technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports

Battery systems are partially exempt for Dynamic Export compliance requirements, with further information on which systems require compliance and technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports.

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.

• Find out more about South Australia's Virtual Power Plant

Community batteries are currently being explored around Australia, including in South Australia, but the South Australian government's general plan is to absorb solar exports or cheap grid power to try and lower overall energy costs.

Dynamic Export regulations do not contain any measures to charge solar system owners for exports to the grid.

For solar systems over 5 kW in size, a solar owner participating in dynamic export capable connections will be able to export more solar power. Note that not all customers will be able to export at 10 kW for the majority of the time.

Incoming Australian Energy Regulator (AER) rules have happened recently and are administered at the federal level which will allow for Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) such as SA Power Networks to charge high-exporting solar users to export to the grid. More information is available on the AER website.

You can find out more about the technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports.

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 about the technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports.

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 about the technical standards at energymining.sa.gov.au/dynamicexports.

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.