Information for Industry - Emergency Solar Management

All new and upgraded systems will now need to meet Emergency Solar Management requirements.

This means they must be able to be managed remotely, enabling them to be turned off or down in response to a signal from Synergy, when the Australian Energy Market Operator requires a response to help prevent power system emergencies.

Synergy will provide information and support for installers on how to ensure installations meet these new requirements. More information is provided here. The full requirements are specified in the Western Power Basic Embedded Generator Connection Technical Requirements.

Western Power will update its website portal from 14-15 February, with applications reflecting the new Emergency Solar Management requirements able to be submitted via the portal from 16 February.

A short grace period has been provided for applications made prior to 14 February 2022 – installations for these systems must be completed by 14 March 2022. 

Under the requirements for Emergency Solar Management, new and upgraded systems (with inverter capacity of 5kW and below) must have the ability to be remotely disconnect from and reconnect to the grid.

There are currently two ways to remotely manage and turn off residential rooftop solar systems with an inverter capacity of 5kVA or less. 

The API cloud solution uses a software integration - an API (Application Programming Interface) to remotely manage rooftop solar systems. This solution requires installing a compatible inverter and maintaining a consistent internet service that the inverter is connected to.  Synergy has contracted with technology provider Greensync to streamline this process.

The metering solution requires a meter with Western Power’s in-built communications capability enabled and the inverter isolated so that it can be remotely managed.

For most households, the API cloud solution is likely to be the simplest, least cost and provide the best long-term capability for future participation opportunities. 

In future, there may also be the option for installing a ‘gateway’ box that can send instructions directly to an inverter, without the requirement for a customer internet connection.  The approved solutions align with the those applied in South Australia through its Smarter Homes regulatory changes, which enable a mechanism similar to Emergency Solar Management.  

Technology that provides the flexibility to turn rooftop solar output down, rather than just switch it off, is preferred, as it paves the way for more options for customers and future participation in virtual power plants.

Synergy is working closely with installers to make sure that they have all the information that they need to explain the requirements to consumers.

Synergy is providing installers with all the information they need on how to install in accordance with the new requirements. Information can be found on the Synergy website. Installers can register for updates from Synergy here.

Western Power has developed a Validation Procedure that Synergy will use to demonstrate compliance. This will involve performing remote testing on all participating systems, where possible at times of low solar production to minimise the impact on consumers. Synergy will work with installers to ensure technical requirements are met and that newly installed systems can be validated.

South Australia introduced similar capabilities to Emergency Solar Management through its Smarter Homes regulatory package in 2020.

Our approach to Emergency Solar Management has adapted the South Australian approach, and ensures arrangements here are suitable for Western Australian installers and customers. 

The technology requirements to implement Emergency Solar Management in Western Power’s network closely align with those used in South Australia.

The choice of installation methods will assist households meet the requirements in the lowest cost way and choose the solution that best meets their needs. 

In South Australia, ‘enhanced voltage management’ (where the voltage on feeders is increased to trip off all solar systems) was added as an option to manage low load. This approach is not currently included in these requirements, and existing solar customers will not be impacted.

If a customer is adding a battery to an existing rooftop solar system without changing it, then the rooftop solar system will not be required to meet the new emergency solar management requirements. However, the battery system must comply with Western Power’s Basic Embedded Generation Connection Technical Requirements.

The relevant system capacity and export limits, including with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), are outlined in the table below (see the Western Power Basic Embedded Generator Connection Technical Requirements for further information).

^{1. DC coupled refers to multiple energy sources (including Energy Storage systems) into the DC side of a single inverter.}

^{2. AC coupled refers to systems with multiple inverters for various energy sources (commonly PV) and energy storage systems. AC coupled systems may also have generation limit control requirements.}

^{3. For systems where export limit is equal to or greater than the system capacity no control based on external measurement is required.}

^{4. Where a User does not have an off-take agreement with their energy retailer their basic EG system shall have an export limit setting of no more than 1.5 kW in total}

Product replacements undertaken under warranty will not automatically trigger the requirement for the rooftop solar system to be remotely managed, providing the inverter remains the same capacity and complies with Australian Standard AS4777.2.

If a ‘like-for-like’ inverter replacement (i.e. the same make, model, and capacity) is not possible, or the capacity of the inverter is increased, a new application is required and the new system will need to comply with the new requirements for Emergency Solar Management.

Solar inverters with a capacity of 5kVA and less will be subject to a 5kW export limit – this is also the maximum export allowed under the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme.

Systems larger than 5kVA will be subject to an export limit of 1.5kW, unless there is an off-take agreement with the customer’s retailer. This is considered the lowest practical limit from a technical perspective, to ensure these systems are right-sized for customer self-consumption and limit their contribution to low load events.

These changes will enable households to install larger systems for self-consumption with an improved, streamlined connection process.

In the longer-term, when aggregation of customer devices (being piloted through Project Symphony) is rolled out, households with larger systems will be able to benefit from participation in virtual power plants.

The export limits can be found in Western Power’s Basic Embedded Generator Connection Technical Requirements and are summarised in the table below.

^{1. DC coupled refers to multiple energy sources (including Energy Storage systems) into the DC side of a single inverter.}

^{2. AC coupled refers to systems with multiple inverters for various energy sources (commonly PV) and energy storage systems. AC coupled systems may also have generation limit control requirements.}

^{3. For systems where export limit is equal to or greater than the system capacity no control based on external measurement is required.}

^{4. Where a User does not have an off-take agreement with their energy retailer their basic EG system shall have an export limit setting of no more than 1.5 kW in total}