Solar Export Limiting: Why You Should Know About It
As the demand for solar across Australia increases, new rules and limits are set by energy providers, government bodies and installation overseers to ensure everything is kept safe.
This is exactly where the solar export limit comes in. Love it or hate it, the export limit might be your only option for installing solar at your property. Now, if you have been given an export limit try not to stress. There are different options you can take and it’s certainly not the end of the world.
I’m going to run you through the best options you can take to maximise on a solar export limit. Sometimes it isn’t really as bad as you think.
However, It is really important to know what you are dealing with here. First of all I’m going to take you back to basics to find out exactly what a solar export is and why you should know about them.
Now if you are interested in solar but unsure if you are going to require a solar export limit, speak to one of my design engineers who can give you a free energy assessment here.
Table Of Contents
What Is Solar Export Limiting?
Solar export limiting is where your local electricity provider sets a limit on the amount of energy your solar system can export into the grid. Typically, this is around 5KW. You have a set limit on how much energy you can export (‘sell/send back’) to the grid.
A lot of Australian homes are not allowed to ‘send back’ more than 5KW of their energy to the grid. This may only really affect you at peak times e.g.during the middle of the day when energy consumption is lowest and production is highest.
So if you are looking for a system that is bigger than 5KW, then you may get hardware installed that limits your solar inverter from over exporting to the grid.
The reason why solar export limiting is in place is due to so many homeowners being able to produce their own energy. This means on a very sunny day lots of homes are producing a surplus of excess energy the power will get sent to the grid and electricity lines.
When too much energy gets sent at one time it results in power surges and issues. There is also a drop in the quality of the electricity as well. Not only this, but some of the power lines are old and it could result in power cuts.
Is solar export limiting good or bad?
We will go into much more detail below but in short, there are arguments for both good and bad. It does mean for some that the feed in tariffs are lost. However, we could argue that feed-in tariffs really don’t matter as much as you think.
Unless you’re exporting a significant amount of energy to the grid then you’re not really going to make much or take advantage of the feed in tariffs.
With solar export limiting your excess energy is capped. Any power that cannot get through is usually lost or wasted in the inverter (usually through heat). However, like I mentioned above… There are a few ways to get around this.
Let’s run through the positive and negative impacts of solar export limiting.
The Negative Impacts Of Solar Export Limits
Reports False Data
Severely impact the data from your solar system so you are unable to see if your system is performing or underperforming. All the data will ever show is your cap at 5KW.
If your system is capable of producing more than this, you will never know… It would also be hard to see if there are any issues with the system at peak performance as well.
One way to look at it is like a car. You are capped at going 50kms, therefore you never know the true potential of what the car (your system) can reach. It might be that you are able to produce a whole lot more energy than you think.
This is probably the biggest issue for me. However, the only plus side is this only occurs when you begin to export. So, if you self consume all of your energy and don’t let it get to this point you can really maximise your savings.
Lose/Waste Energy
If your system produces more than 5KW but has an export limit, then energy is going to get lost or wasted. What’s more, it’s impossible to find out the amount of energy you are losing each day. It could be something really small or it could be a huge amount that’s wasted.
Without having knowledge or data, it’s hard to say really how much energy is being lost. Of course, if it’s a great amount surely you would want to put that energy into storage for use at a later date.
Again, even systems such as SolarEdge panel optimisers or monitoring can’t overcome this issue. The same applies for Enphase full visibility micro inverters.
May have an export limit of 0
It could turn out that your home may even be excluded from exporting excess energy to the grid. If this happens, you are allowed to install a solar system to your home but won’t receive any feed-in tariff at all.
Any energy that you export will get lost or wasted immediately. For anyone who has a 0 export limit, please keep scrolling as we do have some easy to fix solutions to overcome your issues below. It’s definitely not the end of the world.
The Positive Impacts Of Solar Export Limits
Solar export limits allow for you to install a bigger system
For me, this is something that is becoming more and more important as we move into a digital age. I cannot stress this enough, future-proofing your home with a big enough system should be a massive point to consider. Here’s why…
We have been ripping off 7-8 year old systems from our old customers to install a much bigger 10+kW system. This is because the average 4-5kW system we installed back then simply isn’t producing enough energy to make a difference anymore.
Only one thing has changed. Our customers’ energy consumption is much higher compared to 8 years ago. Now think about the way we consume energy today vs in 10 more years. We already have smart phones with big batteries, laptops, air fryers, smart TV’s and smart fridges all plugged in at once.
In 10 years time we will have a much bigger energy consumption as I imagine we move further into a digital and renewable age. Especially with the huge increase in demand for electric cars and EV chargers.
Future-proof your home. 6.6kW might be enough now, but it’s not going to be enough in 10 years. Make sure you are buying a system that’s going to generate enough energy for as long as the warranty lasts.
Protects the grid from issues
The reasons why these limits are in place is to prevent power shortages and issues. If everyone were able to sell their energy at the same time it can cause stress to the power lines. This will result in long/short term issues.
This is the biggest reason why solar export limits are in place today. It would cause more trouble if we kept having power cuts when it gets really sunny and everyone begins to export.
Just remember, exports are most common in areas where a lot of homeowners have all installed solar. If you know your neighbours are all reaping the benefits of lower energy bills then you might need to consider if you’re going to get capped.
Limited export means more power for home
If your system has a limit on how much it can export then it means more power will get used in your home instead. Long term benefits would be a more energy efficient system. It also allows you to focus on increasing your self consumption which in turn provides a better return on investment.
How Does Solar Export Limiting Work?
Solar export limiting works by installing a smart energy meter to your switchboard. When the energy passes through signals are sent to the inverter from the smart meter. Once your export limit has been reached, the smart meter will block any more energy from being sent to the grid.
This energy then gets wasted or lost usually as thermal energy (heat). The smart meter may cost you a little bit extra to your system as well.
Other ways may include software that is set up to block your inverter from exporting your limited amount.
How Much Power Can I Export To The Grid?
Depending on whether or not you have an export limit, you should be able to export as much power to the grid as you can.
However, some areas won’t allow this and will instead cap you using solar export limiting. If you live in an area with a strong grid connection and not many people have solar then your limit will be less.
Homeowners who live in built up areas where solar is popular may have stronger solar limiting. Additionally, if you live regionally and the grid network is old, fragile and has a lot of issues you may have a solar export limit. Here are areas with the best and work export limits.
Some areas with little or no solar export limiting:
- Tasmania
- NSW AusGrid network – East side of Sydney, Newcastle and Merriwa areas
- VIC United Energy Network – East Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and Bayside Peninsula
Areas with some solar limiting but can still see good feed-in tariffs
- South Australia Power Networks
- Jemena Network (North & West Melbourne)
- Ergon Network (South East Queensland)
- Horizon Power (Western Australia)
- Endeavour Energy (West Sydney)
- AusNet Network (Eastern 3rd Of Victoria)
- EvoEnergy Network (ACT)
Locations with high export limiting
- Western Power In Western Australia (Perth & South WA)
- Powercor Victoria (Western Vic & West Melbourne)
- Essential Energy NSW (Regional NSW)
- NT PowerWater (Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine)
- CitiPower Victoria (CBD & Metro Area)
How To Overcome The Solar Export Limit
Ok, so pretty much the only way around export limits is to increase your self consumption (the amount of energy you use whilst its being generated) during the peak hours of solar generation from your system.
For most homeowners, you might find you use most of your energy in the mornings or evenings when your system production and the sun is at its lowest. During the day, when the sun peaks to its highest and your system begins to produce a lot more, your self consumption is at its lowest.
So essentially, we need a solution to overcome this problem. Fortunately, we’ve got a few.
Invest in an EV car charger and power your vehicle when you begin to export
Electric vehicles have significantly increased in demand over the past 2-3 years. This is because they come with a wide range of benefits for the homeowner and are also affordable. With this, they provide a return on investment meaning you can make your money back.
One solution is to install an EV charger at your home. The best EV charger we’ve found in Australia is the Zappi V2 home charger which has an awesome feature. When your solar system begins to export to the grid, Zappi will switch on and automatically start charging your car.
This means, before you reach your solar export limit, you are putting that excess power into your car for you to use at a later date. It’s an excellent feature and can help increase the return on investment from your solar and your electric vehicle.
Install a solar battery like Sonnen or Tesla Powerwall 2
Another solution to overcome solar export limiting and similar to an EV charger is to store the energy in a battery for use during those peak evening and morning hours. Homeowners that already have a battery know it gives you full control over your power and allows you to maximise your savings.
Some of the best solar batteries available in Australia are Sonnen and Tesla Powerwall 2. Both of these batteries can overcome any solar export limits you face. Simply because instead of exporting the energy to the grid, it will get stored in your solar battery instead.
I’ve written a review on Tesla Powerwall 2 here and a full Sonnen battery review here. Please feel free to give them a read if you are considering a solar battery.
Conclusion
Well, there are both sides of the arguments for and against solar export limiting. I think it’s definitely something to consider when you are choosing the right solar system for your home.
Export limiting can also help you get a bigger system signed off for your home, so you can use it in your favour. However it may negatively impact some homeowners who aren’t allowed to export any excess energy to the grid. Especially when it comes to the reporting or data of your systems performance.
Well you might think this is horrible but it doesn’t actually matter that much. Most homeowners don’t even have a system big enough to produce a significant amount of excess energy. However, this is soon to change in the next 5 years as we move into a more digital and renewable age.
Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have an export limit, let us know what it’s done for you 👇 .
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Written By:
Luke Cove
Managing Director
Lightning Solar & Electrical
26 thoughts on “Solar Export Limiting”
Quick question / statement…
My understanding is the power back to the grid is capped to 5Kw per phase.
Therefore, with a three phase system the total max power back to the grid would be 15Kw as there are three phases.
I like to keep things simple and balanced.
Your understanding is not quite right. The limit capped is based on who owns that section of the grid and how much power that grid can handle an influx of during peak solar production The power has to go somewhere, if its not been consumed, it has to go into batteries, or its limited, whether they cap you at 5, 10, 15 for single phase, and 15, 22, 30 for three phase, or higher for commercial, its not a multiplication of 5 from a single phase. Ie in Melbourne in the east they are all capped at 5kw single phase systems, yet here in the north west on Jemena, we can install a 10kw system, however regardless of your size, ultimately its the wholesale network that decides if you application will be allowed and whether you can export to the grid. It depends on a saturation point. they may decide they have too much solar in your area and give you an export limit of 0. If you look at the aemo website for realtime grid. When the sun is shining solar only accounts for a small chunk of Vic’s power, yet when its windy, wind generation accounts for 22 percent and dramatically drops the whole sale power, most of the time we still rely on gas and brown coal. So in the peak of the day when demand is low, there is a flood of solar with no where to go, so they scale down other generators, and install big battery projects, currently there is 22 planned for Vic alone, to soak up some of this extra power. Yet in SA solar accounts for 90% of there grid when the sun is at its peak, yet at night its gas and batteries. Look up who owns the poles and wires connected to your home, and you will be able to find out their limits on your area. If you install a battery as part of your system with limiting on export, you can install quite a large array that exports to your battery, to your house and then to the grid if any is left, which will get you around some of your export limits.
Thank you so must for your information
That your shared . It gives me the understanding on how solar system work.
Especially on the export and import
If my excess energy production (I have a 10kw system) over the 5kw allowed to be exported to the grid, is apparently still exported to the grid and I am being charged a service fee for every kw – does this mean that I am effectively being charged for power I supply to the grid for free? Ergon will not give me a straight answer.
Hi there
Can you clarify for me the terminology ‘5kw limit’?
I am assuming that this value is not the total amount I can pass to the grid but the transfer rate. That is I can transfer only up to 5kw even if my array shows at a given time it is generating, say, 6kw? The reason I ask, and assume this is the case, is due to my supplier, ActewAGL, allowing feed in tariffs of 12c for first 8kw then 7c for any remaining amount transferred each day. Thank you.
Can they control your Pv array too ..I notice my pV 1 is shutdown PV 2 does all the work ..my inverter status is all green go ..no faults just I notice on readings parameters ..PV 1 is basically shut down only produces 5 volts ..I’m not happy ..I have 5 kw H system growatt new
No they can’t control your PV. You should still be getting voltages on PV-1, the wire of your PV-1 (string) is broken from somewhere. If not so get your Charge Controller checked for damages. Since your system is new, it should all be under warranty.
I had the same problem with my only growatt inverter. Was fixed by a software download to reset some parameters – originated through a software bug as they tried to comply with a New Western Power generation limit……. Happened unknown to me and took a month of toing and froing to fix. In the meantime I was buying all my power ???
I had the same problem with my only growatt inverter. Was fixed by a software download to reset some parameters – originated through a software bug as they tried to comply with a New Western Power generation limit……. Happened unknown to me and took a month of toing and froing to fix. In the meantime I was buying all my power ???
The above has helped considerably with all you have explained. But this 5Kw max export is that a day, month, quarter. I am still learning about this as we have just installed 3 x 6.3kw units to cope with all our electrical stuff. I live in an area where if a cyclone comes, I am flooded and could be land locked for 3 – 6 weeks and there are 5 of us, so 2 freezers, and 2 fridges are required. Also have 4 air cons too but not all on at once.
Hi Barb, I’m so confident to say its Kilo watt per hour (kwh) I don’t know why everyone drop the h after kw !!?.
I exported 795 kw? per 90 days for $0.067 per kw? (6.7 cents per kw?). so if you divide 795/5kw? if its per day=159 days but i’m only exporting that in 90 days so that will tell me for sure its 5kwh.
Corrections. Hi everyone. After more investigation the truth is yes some electricity providers has a limitation to how much you can export per day in single phase only yes your system may produce 5kwh so with full sun of 5 hours equal to 25kwh per day but they only pay you for to 5kw/day and some others they have no limit to how much they pay you for exporting your extra kw especially on 3 phase connections like what I have.
You’re still confusing the issue – the 5kW is usually the inverter rating on a single phase, not how much it produces.
This appears incorrect.
Based on analysis of my power bill, the 5kw export limit in my area is an hourly limit. So, for five hours of full sun, I would export 5kw per hour for five hours = 25kw. Multiply that by your local retailer’s tariff to get how much you are paid. My retailer in Western Vic (Sumo) is paying 10.2 cents per kw (Jan 2023) so they pay me 25kw x $0.102 = $2.55 (less grid supply cost) for respective five hours.
However, my 10kW system is exposed to more sun. I am currently being capped at 5kWh for 8 hours (paid 40kw x $0.102 = $4.08 for those 8 hours of export). My system exported 814kw for last bill = $83 pay back
Hi Luke
I have installed an 11Kw system with a 19kw battery.
I have a Tesla car which I charge at home, all good so far, except.
I have found that I cannot consume more than 5Kw/ hr from my system.
ie after 5 kW I then start drawing from the grid as a top up, this is what happens
7.9Kw solar generation
5Kw goes into the house which I draw into charging my car, which is set to draw 7Kw.
2.9Kw excess from solar generation goes into battery 19KW
I then draw from the grid 3Kw for my EV charging.
I asked for my EV charger to be wired directly into my Battery 19Kw they informed me that they can’t and it must go through the inverter so that any consumption over 5Kw is then drawn from the grid.
So when I boil the kettle and make some toast I am now buying Kw from the grid.
The question can I wire directly into my Battery to circumvent the situation or do I need to go off-grid?
Rob
Hi Rob
The default charge current on your Tesla home charger is 30 Amp which will result in a drawdown on the system of 7kw. If you reduce the charge current to 20 Amp (say) this will reduce the drawdown to 5kW and the charging will take longer but you are less likely to end up drawing from the grid. You can adjust this on the charging menu in the car and also on the Tesla App
Hello!! Love the blog. Thanks for sharing. At Astral Solar, we believe and promote using natural solar energy to enlighten residential and commercial space.
You say “This energy then gets wasted or lost usually as thermal energy (heat)” Do you mean excess energy not converted by the inverter is heat in panels?? I don not believe it.
In other way, my question is. When limiting injection to grid inverter works better than when inyect all production?
When limiting injection, temperature and current goes lower. This is good for interter live… In other way, MPPT has to limit productio. My question is if this is good or bad -or nothing- for inverter life.
I was wondering if energy retailers had a limit when injecting energy on the grid ? (Is it 5kW ? Does it depend on the location/contract that the energy retailer has? For exemple Telstra has a injection limit ?
From what I understand, the root of the problem is the grid was designed and constructed (decades before residential rooftop solar PV was conceived) as a one-way system, meaning 100% of households consume power, 0% export. Advisory boards, such as “Infrastructure Victoria”, started warning power companies 10+ years ago that an exponential uptake of residential solar PV risked destabilising the grid. But power distributors did not heed respective warnings. It seems now that a lack of corporate foresight and lack of corporate investment has brought about a reactive band-aid response of capping PV exports, undermining substantial public/government subsidies. Residential PV was heralded as being part of the solution (hence huge public investment) but now we’re part of a new, albeit completely foreseeable, problem. Due to a lack of forward planning (perhaps intentional, on the basis that privatisation of energy has taken decision making away from public interest into the lap of corporate interest), outcomes/realisation of public & private investment into green energy have been unnecessarily delayed/hamstrung.
Are the limits changed automatically by the wholesaler if their systems are upgraded or are you stuck with a limit forever
Hi, I live in a retirement village and power is supplied by the village owners. We cannot export solar. I have 12 panels but the system always imports some amount even with only the fridge running on a sunny day. Is there some kind of trigger before solar
cuts in?
Thanks very much for the article. It helps. You alluded to my question but I want to be clear. I’m about to install a solar system and I’d like to make it large so that I can use it to charge an electric vehicle. I’m in an area that allows a 10kw system (+33% = 13.3kw). I would very much like to install even more solar panels on the roof (more than 13.3kw) so that I get better performance in winter and also for the car charging. Does this “Solar Export Limiting” mean that I can install more panels (let’s say 20kw) on the roof but force a limit as to how much energy I can feed back into the grid? If I did this, are the power companies likely to approve my design?
The Government havn’t yet allowed or approved DC EV chargers directly from the solar panels just yet. However it is being looked into being introduced into Australia within the next couple of years as 60% of car sales is expected to be Electric by 2026. China have chargers designed for this already that they use there. There will be a big price drop in EV vehicles to make more available including government grants to help make the switch. Currently batteries aren’t particularly that economical.
I am researching upgrading my existing solar in Western Australia – on a single phase property. As I understand it, Western Power doesn’t apply an export limit – they just apply a blanket cap on inverter capacity. This seems ludicrous to me, and I would love to be contradicted here…
I would be perfectly happy to export limit my installation to 5kVA (or even 1.5kVA, which is possible for 3-phase). I want to be energy self-sufficient (using a combination of solar and battery), but when I am limited to 5kVA, that is impossible when I run my reverse cycle A/C. The fact that AC coupled batteries also count to this limit is another black mark for Western Power…
I would love to hear from anyone with knowledge of ways around the 5kVA limit in WA, but I feel that changing the rules is the only way (and it doesn’t seem that Western Power are big on listening…)
Hi Chris,
Western power may be doing this but our newest article about flexible export limiting is making it seem that the REA’s decision will be across the whole country, given that the inverter you have supports the set-up, the sweeping change may make everything more of a pain for some but may benefit others, I recommend giving it a read!