SA Power Networks builds, maintains and upgrade the poles, wires and substations that deliver power to homes and businesses in South Australia.

Project: Flexible Exports

Premier's Awards category: Innovation and collaboration - Energy

South Australia leads the world in the uptake of rooftop solar. Integrating this abundant renewable energy resource into the network comes with significant challenges including exceeding the capacity of the distribution network, as well as risks to broader power system security.

SA Power Networks has responded to these emerging challenges with the implementation of Flexible Exports - a world-first connection offer that allows customers who install smart inverters to double their solar exports up to 10 kW per phase back into the electricity grid, reduced only in rare instances and locations of genuine network constraint. This innovation allows customers to export and share more low-cost renewable energy and is projected to save South Australian customers more than $100M in avoided network upgrades over the next decade.

SA Power Networks leadership, innovation and industry collaboration was pivotal in the successful implementation of Flexible Exports and the project has delivered a critical foundation for South Australia's clean, reliable and affordable energy future, allowing customers to feed in the maximum amount of unused energy from their rooftop solar system that the grid can safely accommodate.

Flexible Exports provides innovative 'flexible' connection offers enabled by new systems, technical standards, enhanced inverter technology, regulatory reform, collaborative partnerships, and the development of training and support to equip industry with the tools or success.

More information

• Stakeholder endorsement from Energy Networks Australia
  (PDF, 740.4 KB)
• Industry impact and project outcomes
  (PDF, 807.4 KB)
• Support tools and applications
  (PDF, 349.5 KB)

Watch the video: Find out more about SA Power Networks Flexible Exports

Other awards

• Shortlisted for Energy Networks Australia (ENA) Awards 2023: Innovation for Flexible exports program (awaiting outcome)
• Application for Australian Energy Institute SA Awards 2023: Energy project of the year for Flexible exports program (awaiting judging)
• Premier's Awards 2021: Innovation and colloboration (Energy sector) for Enhanced Voltage Management program

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