Queensland has implemented a dynamic connection offering with equipment compliance requirements and dynamic export limits.

Solar Victoria recently announced in a notice to market that from March 2024 PV inverters installed through its solar homes program must be dynamic export capable and certified for CSIP-AUS and IEEE 2030.5.

Any site which applied for a small embedded generator (SEG) prior to 1 July 2023 can avoid the need for dynamic export compliance if it is installed and commissioned prior to 1 September 2023 (a 2 month window).

Any installation with a SEG application prior to 1 July 2023 can be installed without dynamic exports compliant equipment until 1 September 2023.

The commissioning of the installed equipment is the responsibility of the solar installer, once commissioned the owner of that site is responsible for maintaining communications.

SA Power Networks have indicated that they will monitor dynamic/flexible sites and provide warnings to the homeowner if communications are lost for extended periods of time.

A compliant system will be restricted to 1.5 kW export limit if the communications are not restored within a reasonable timeframe.

Wind, hydroelectric, diesel and gas fired generators connected to the grid via a low voltage inverter are exempt from Dynamic Export compliance requirements.

From 1 July 2023, newly installed solar that can export energy to the grid must be dynamic export capable (unless otherwise exempt).

Some system owners may opt-in to a flexible connection arrangement with SA Power Networks to utilise this capability, however this is voluntary.

There is no penalty for installation of a Dynamic Export capable system that is not connected under a flexible connection arrangement – these sites can utilise a static export limit.

Prior to 1 July 2023, flexible export zones were set up by SA Power Networks as part of their trial arrangements.

From 1 July 2023, those zones will continue to offer a flexible connection agreement that can be used for Dynamic Export compliant installations.

SA Power Networks are also planning to expand the areas where these flexible connections are offered over the next 12 to 24 months in order to manage the rollout.

Yes, any site on a zero-export connection can change to a flexible connection by ensuring that the installed inverter is compliant and any required gateway or monitoring equipment is installed.

Flexible connection offerings are being gradually rolled out by SA Power Networks from 1 July 2023. It is expected that these will become available throughout South Australia with time.

Medium embedded generators (MEG) sized plants (>30 kW to 200 kW) are exempt from dynamic export compliance until 1 July 2023.

MEG plants over 200 kW are already required by SA Power Networks to install SCADA equipment, which is recognised as deemed-to-comply with dynamic exports requirements.

No, the SmartInstall commissioning test is only required for those sites that have chosen to connect through a flexible export connection.

Some modern inverters may have Dynamic Export compliance enabled through firmware updates in future. Specific inverter manufacturers should be able to advise where this may apply.

Any existing system will also require the necessary monitoring or gateway equipment installed to achieve compliance at that site.

A Dynamic Export capable system will automatically self-restrict site exports to the agreed value (1.5 kW) if communications are lost for an extended period.

This will be automatically corrected as soon as communications are restored and the site can receive a valid export limit.

For extended outages, SA Power Networks are planning a notification system to alert customer to their inverters communication status.

The Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) is willing to receive and consider exemption application outside those cases already addressed in the Dynamic Export guidelines on a case by case basis.

If a customer needs to replace an inverter outside of warranty, it must comply with all technical regulator guidelines. If that site stays on a fixed export connection, only the new inverter will need to be Dynamic Export compliant. If the customer opts to take up a flexible export connection then the entire site must be made compliant.

SA Power Networks have made tools publicly available to homeowners to self-check their connection, offering options and availability of flexible/Dynamic Exports at their address.

CSIP-AUS/IEEE 2030.5 allows for a ‘fallback’ export level to be set for a participating site. Should communications be lost the inverter will automatically apply this lower export level to ensure exports do not exceed safe levels until communication is restored.

SA Power Networks have indicated that flexible export connections will allow for 1.5 to 10 kW per phase, and there are currently no exemptions offered by the Technical Regulator for two-phase sites. The CSIPAUS/IEEE 2030.5 standards allow for coordination of multiple inverters on one site, further details regarding the availability of this functionality should be sought directly from the equipment manufacturers.

SwitchDin have been available as part of flexible export trial activities (which are separate from South Australian government dynamic export requirements) in the last few years, but is still required to seek certification and listing for the full CSIP-AUS standard to be dynamic export compliant.

SwitchDin are now listed as deemed-to-comply under the transitional arrangements. You can find more information at SA Power Networks.

MEG systems with generation greater than 30 kW are exempted from Dynamic Export requirements until 1 July 2024.

Flexible export systems communicate from a CSIP-AUS software client located either in the inverter or a gateway device (or the cloud) connected to the inverter.

There are currently no exemptions for sub-boards on solar PV sites. Several methods are available to solar installers for such installations including wireless relays, or extended cable runs.

Details on appropriate equipment should be sought from equipment manufacturers to determine a compatible solution.

The site requires a certified compliant inverter or gateway device and any required monitoring equipment to be installed.

It also requires a new SEG application for that site to provide the flexible agreement.

A correctly configured and commissioned dynamic exports compliant installation should then be able to update from 1.5 kW to a flexible connection by successfully completing the dynamic exports capability test completed during SmartInstall.

The export limit in both static and flexible connection agreements is for the site, not for individual equipment, so that site must be able to comply with its agreed export limit.

Exemptions from dynamic export compliance exist in the guidelines for certain types of battery installations until 1 March 2023 – refer to the guidelines for determining if that impacts your particular site installation.

SA Power Networks is developing a public web tool to review expected export limits at an address.

Further information regarding export limit publication should be requested from SA Power Networks who are running the export limit calculations and communications systems.

Dynamic exports compliance is allowing for some changes to current ‘cluster’ sites.

Dynamic export compliant installations will allow for changes to cluster connection offerings.

SA Power Networks is trialling flexible exports for clustered SEG, overriding the need for a MEG application in some situations. For more information visit SA Power Networks Cluster Rule for generators