SA
Power
Networks
Planning
for Solar PV?
Customer information guide
to network connected solar PV
inverter systems
Contents
Introduction
3
How solar PV power systems work
4
Solar modules
5
Is solar power suitable for your home?
6
Things to consider when choosing solar panels
8
Steps to organising a solar system installation
10
Government incentive schemes
• South Australian Government, PV feed-in incentive scheme
12
12
Where to find a solar provider?
13
Maintenance of solar power systems
13
Frequently asked questions
14
Glossary16
Introduction
Household use of solar
photovoltaic (PV) panel
systems has grown
significantly in Australia
over the past decade due
to the community’s growing
awareness of the implications
of climate change and
the search for ways
to reduce energy costs.
The increasing popularity of this technology
and the support of a range of government
incentives to encourage its use, means solar
power is now a more affordable option for
Australian households. With the ever-increasing
range of products and suppliers in the
market and the constantly changing political
environment and government-endorsed
incentive schemes, being an informed
consumer has never been more important.
It is important to understand that, by installing
solar panels, you are entering a new world
in which you are generating electricity and
exporting any excess into the grid. This means
you have legal and other obligations, different
to those of a customer merely importing
electricity from the grid. These obligations
and requirements are in place to protect you,
other customers, and the electricity network.
Throughout this brochure we have listed
a number of websites as recommended sources
for additional information to ensure you are
fully informed about the legal obligations,
industry conditions and requirements, as well
as potential costs and benefits to you as the
owner of an embedded generator connected
to the SA Power Networks distribution grid.
In addition, this guide contains some useful
information on how to apply to SA Power
Networks for approval to connect a solar
generator to the grid.
As a starting point, the Clean Energy
Council of Australia is a recommended source
of general information about the renewable
energy industry. In particular, their Consumer
guide to buying household solar panels
is a useful resource. This document and
other fact sheets can be downloaded from:
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au.
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
3
How solar PV power
systems work
Solar energy is light or heat that comes from
the sun. Solar power is generated by collecting
this energy and converting it into usable
electricity.
There are various types of solar power
(often called photovoltaic or PV) systems
for you to choose from. They generally
consist of solar panels, an inverter and
a metering system. Solar power systems
(photovoltaic) are often confused with solar
thermal technology, which is usually used
for water heating (solar hot water).
Most solar power systems use PV modules
installed on a rooftop to create and collect
energy from sunlight. An inverter converts the
direct current (DC) generated by solar panels
into alternating current (AC) — the form
of electricity conventionally used in homes
and businesses.
Because you are changing from being
simply an importer of electricity to potentially
generating and exporting any excess electricity
to the grid, you are required to connect to
the network through a special meter, called
an import/export meter. You will be charged
for this meter, which will be supplied and
installed by SA Power Networks.
Grid Connected Solar System
SA Power Networks Low Voltage
Distribution Network
Solar
Panels
Inverter
Home Power
Appliances
4
SA Power Networks
Service Fuse Box
Switchboard
SA Power Networks
Import/Export Meter
SA POWER NETWORKS
Solar modules
Solar cells are produced from thin wafers of
silicon. When light falls on the cells an electric
current is produced. A collection of solar
cells connected together forms a module.
Most homes or commercial buildings will
need around 10 square metres of unshaded,
north-facing roof space to mount the modules
for a 1kW solar system.
Ideally the modules should be located on an
unshaded north-facing roof and be tilted towards
the sun at around 30 degrees to maximise the
solar collection. If the roof’s slope is not at the
right pitch, a suitably qualified and accredited
designer may be able to create a special
mounting frame for the modules. Cloud cover
and shading can dramatically reduce a solar
power system’s output.
Types of solar cells
There are three main types of solar cells.
Monocrystalline silicon is the
most efficient type of solar cell.
It produces the smallest solar cells,
and therefore the smallest panels.
Monocrystalline solar panels are
also the most expensive.
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
Polycrystalline (or multi-crystalline)
silicon produces the next most
efficient type of solar cell and is the
most popular choice as it provides
an excellent balance of performance
and economy. Recent improvements
in polycrystalline panel technology
are bringing these modules
closer to mono-crystalline panels
in size, efficiency and heat tolerance
characteristics.
Amorphous (or thin-film) silicon
uses the least amount of silicon and
also produces the least efficient solar
cells. This means thin film systems
take up more area than the other
two types.
5
Is solar power suitable
for your home?
There are a number of questions you need
to consider before deciding whether to invest
in solar panels.
Is my property suitable for solar power?
You will need an unshaded north-facing roof
to be able to collect enough solar power to
make a system efficient. Do you have the right
site? Consult with your solar provider, as they
should be able to advise you on this issue.
How much money do I want to save?
In the short term the money you save on your
energy bill is unlikely to justify the financial
investment. Many customers who decide
to install solar systems do so to supplement
their long term energy needs and for
environmental reasons.
In choosing a system that is right for you,
your solar provider should be able to help you
assess your potential savings. Every customer’s
situation is different as your day-to-day energy
usage requirements and patterns will impact
on the overall energy savings you may be able
to achieve. In addition, the size of the system
to be installed, the available roof space,
how and where panels are located and installed,
as well as many environmental factors will
impact on the overall efficiency and generating
output of a solar system. These environmental
factors include your geographic location,
the number of unrestricted sunlight hours
available per day, the level of cloud coverage
and exposure to high temperatures, and the
amount of shade that nearby or overhanging
vegetation may cast over the solar panels.
6
Are there other ways to reduce my energy
consumption without investing in solar
power?
Reducing household energy use or installing
solar, gas or heat pump-powered water heating
systems are generally lower-cost ways to reduce
your household greenhouse emissions.
Can I participate in the PV feed-in schemes?
In most cases, excess energy generated by
a solar power system can be sold back into
the grid, thereby reducing your energy bills.
Conditions do apply for eligibility for the State
Government PV feed-in credit scheme and
reference should be made to the Electricity
Act, which is available from the State Government
website, to determine if you meet those criteria.
Not all electricity retailers participate in feed-in
schemes, so it is important to talk to your
particular retailer about their requirements
before you enter into any contractual arrangements.
Whether eligible for the State Government
feed-in scheme or not, a feed-in tariff premium
will be payable for all solar energy exported
to the grid.
SA POWER NETWORKS
Will I have to cover the full cost of
the system until I receive any eligible
incentives?
Check the conditions of the Federal and State
Government incentives for solar power systems.
In addition, your solar provider may have
specific payment conditions stipulated within
their purchase contract that you will need to
comply with. You may have to cover the entire
cost of installing the system before you will
be entitled to receive any applicable rebates.
You should take special note of what costs,
fees and charges are included in your solar
provider’s contract. In addition to the fees
payable to the solar provider, you will
be required to pay for the installation of an
appropriate import/export meter. In all cases,
SA Power Networks will invoice you directly
for the cost of the meter change, not the solar
provider. To find out more about SA Power
Networks fees and charges please refer to
Section 9 of the Network Tariffs and Negotiated
Services Manual on the SA Power Networks
website at: www.sapowernetworks.com.au.
Am I informed enough to manage the
process?
We recommend that you consider engaging
a reputable and experienced solar provider
who is willing and able to manage the process,
including the various applications, for you.
If you inadvertently miss steps in the process
you may lose money or not be able to benefit
immediately from your investment.
Can I be fully self-sufficient?
Because of the nature of solar energy,
you can not generate electricity 24 hours a day.
To be self-sufficient, you would require a large
PV installation and some kind of storage system
(such as batteries). Even then, you would need
to remain connected to the electricity network
if you want to export power back into the
grid and have a back-up if things go wrong
with your PV system.
Which solar PV system is best for me?
There are various brands of solar power systems,
all of which involve solar modules collecting
the sun’s energy and an inverter converting this
energy into 240 volt electricity, which is used
in your home or building. Be prepared to do
some research. The Clean Energy Council (CEC)
maintains a list of accredited designers and
installers who can assist you.
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
7
Things to consider when
choosing solar panels
When choosing solar panels for your solar
power system, there are a number of factors
worth considering.
Cost
The cost of a solar panel is determined in
part by the size (in Watts), the physical size,
the brand, the durability/longevity (or warranty
period) and any certifications the solar panel
might have. Choosing a solar panel on price
alone is not wise, as, for example, it may
not fit the area you wish to install it, may not
have the necessary certifications to qualify
for government incentives, or may not have
a satisfactory warranty.
Warranties and Guarantees
There are a number of warranties and/or
guarantees that may apply to your solar
panel system.
Solar panels usually come with a performance
warranty and a materials warranty.
The performance warranty generally provides
that the power output of the panels will be
of a particular level and the materials warranty
relates to any defects which may arise in the
manufactured components. Solar panels will
also often come with a guarantee relating
to the workmanship of the installer.
8
The warranties will generally be provided
by the manufacturer if the product is made
in Australia or by the importer if the product
is imported. It is important that you carefully
review the terms of the warranties offered
in relation to the products you intend to
purchase and that you are also aware who
is providing the warranty. We recommend
that you make enquiries to determine whether
they are reputable and likely to remain in
business. If the entity responsible for providing
the warranty ceases to trade, the warranty
will be worthless. A system manual that
provides operation, maintenance and safety
information should be provided by your
installer. This should also include a system
energy output (kWh) estimate. We recommend
you check the terms and conditions of your
contract carefully and ensure you obtain
written confirmation of statements made
by your supplier and installer, including
performance claims, guarantees and warranties.
Documentation will be essential if you need
to make warranty or insurance claims
in the future.
Size and Watts
The size of the solar panel in Watts will directly
affect its price, as solar panels are usually priced
(and compared) in dollars per Watt. Watts are
related to the output of each panel; meaning
a 100 Watt panel under ideal conditions will
generate 100 Watt hours (Wh) of electricity,
and a 200 Watt panel will generate 200 Watt
hours. Therefore it is common to pay around
double the price for the 200 Watt panel,
compared with the 100 Watt panel.
SA POWER NETWORKS
The output of a panel also determines its
physical size, meaning the 200 Watt panel
will be larger in size than the 100 Watt panel.
The type of solar cells used in its production
also determines the size of the panel. The key
issues to consider are that your system overall
has enough Watts to power your appliances,
and that the solar panels will physically
fit in the area you wish to install them.
While thin film panels are cheaper than
monocrystalline and polycrystalline, they
do require a great deal more roof space.
If you believe at some stage you might wish
to add more panels, you need to ensure you’ll
have the space to do so. Otherwise you may
find you’ll need to replace thin film panels
well before the end of their serviceable life.
Inverters
You will need an inverter to convert the
direct current (DC) power generated by the
solar modules into alternating current (AC)
power for your home or building, or to send
back to the electricity grid. The inverter can
be placed inside or outside your building,
but should be well ventilated and protected
from the elements.
Meters and the grid
You still need to be connected to the SA Power
Networks electricity grid to ensure you have
electricity at night when no solar energy
is being collected, and when the power output
generated by the solar system is not sufficient
to meet all your energy needs during the day.
An SA Power Networks import/export meter
capable of recording the energy going into
(import energy), or coming out (export energy),
of your home or building is required for all
grid-connected solar systems and to enable you
to export any excess electricity into the grid.
For safety reasons, when your electricity
supply from the grid is interrupted, your solar
PV system must automatically and immediately
turn off. It is possible to have a system that will
provide emergency electricity when the grid
goes down; with the use of a suitable inverter
and battery bank, however this can be expensive.
An inverter for a grid connected solar system
must be approved and must comply with the
Australian Standard AS4777 — Grid connection
of energy systems via inverters (parts 1, 2 & 3).
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
9
Steps to organising
a solar system installation
If your solar system has a generating capacity
of under 30kW and is connected to the electricity
network, it qualifies as a Small Embedded
Generator (SEG). The following is a step-by-step
guide to having your SEG system installed:
1. Do your research
Conduct your own research into the benefits
of having a solar SEG system installed.
In particular, you should understand what
will happen to your meter, your electricity
bill, your contract with your retailer, and any
additional costs (that are above and beyond
the solar provider’s solar system installation
costs), as well as your legal obligations, before
you agree to have a solar system installed.
In some situations property owners may need
to undertake additional upgrade work to their
electrical installation and switchboard before
the solar system and new meter can be installed.
In addition, depending on the output capacity
of the proposed system, the location in the
State and type of electricity distribution network
your property is connected to (especially
in rural and remote areas), your existing service
connection to our infrastructure may need
to be upgraded to enable your system to
be connected to the grid. You should consult
SA Power Networks for advice on this matter,
prior to finalising the purchase of a solar
system, as costs for infrastructure upgrade
work can be significant.
2. Find the right solar provider
We recommend you choose a solar provider
with appropriate accreditation, who can help
you design a solar system that will suit your
household needs. They should also be able
to assess any additional electrical works that
will need to be undertaken.
10
Visit www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au for a list
of accredited solar designers and installers.
3. Apply for relevant incentives
You, or your solar provider, will need to apply
for any applicable government incentives under
the Solar Credits Scheme or other applicable
schemes.
4. Apply for approval to connect
You, or your solar provider, apply to SA Power
Networks for approval to connect your proposed
system to the grid. In some situations you
may be required to enter into a specific Small
Embedded Generator Connection Agreement
with SA Power Networks before approval will
be granted.
5. Is it a SEG or LEG system?
If the generating capacity of the proposed system
is greater than 30kW, ie a Large Embedded
Generator (LEG), SA Power Networks will need
additional information from you to determine
the system’s suitability to be connected to the
grid, and will have additional requirements for
your installation above those of a SEG installation.
Refer to the SA Power Networks Customer
Guide for Large Embedded Generators on the
SA Power Networks website. These systems
can have a significant impact on the network
and neighbouring customers. SA Power Networks
will need to undertake a detailed engineering
investigation, which can take several months
to complete, before a determination can be
made. There is a charge for SA Power Networks
to undertake an investigation and a fee proposal
will be provided to you prior to commencement.
So, if you are planning to install any sort of
embedded generator (large or small), as part
of a new connection, or an upgrade to an
SA POWER NETWORKS
existing installation already connected to
the grid, contact SA Power Networks as early
as possible in your preliminary planning stages.
In some cases our investigation and approvals
processes can take a considerable amount
of time because of the technical complexity
involved, and you may be required to provide
additional control, protection and monitoring
capabilities to enable your generator to be
connected. This process could impact the
viability of your project and could delay the
connection of your installation to the grid
if not undertaken soon enough.
In all situations involving the connection of
a LEG to the grid, you will be required to enter
into a specific Large Embedded Generator
Connection Agreement with SA Power Networks
prior to approval being granted.
6. Finalise approval to connect from
SA Power Networks
Once SA Power Networks approves the connection
of the proposed solar system to the grid,
we will provide you with an approval number.
7. Apply to your retailer for a new meter
Upon receipt of your approval number from SA
Power Networks, you or your solar provider can
apply to your energy retailer for the installation
of a new PV import/export meter. You will need
to provide the approval number to your retailer
before they will process your application.
8. Check any additional requirements
of your retailer
As the installation of a solar SEG or LEG system
enables you to generate electricity back into the
grid, this constitutes a change to your electricity
supply contract with your energy retailer. As
mentioned previously, you should consult your
retailer to determine their requirements prior
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
to committing to purchase a solar system.
Some energy retailers do not accept solar
customers, which means that you might need
to change energy retailers before you can
arrange for an import/export meter installation.
9. Authorisation of meter installation
When you have satisfied your energy retailer’s
requirements they will notify SA Power Networks
and authorise the installation of a new import/
export meter.
10. Book your meter installation
SA Power Networks conducts all meter installation
work on a customer requested appointment
basis. You or your solar provider must book an
appointment with SA Power Networks to have
the new meter installed. This can be booked
any time after SA Power Networks has received
the retailer’s authorisation. To avoid any possible
delays in being able to use your solar system,
we recommend that meter installation
appointments should be booked as early in
the process as possible, even before the solar
system is installed. If your provider is organising
the meter installation on your behalf, speak
to them about booking this appointment early.
11. Get your solar system installed
Your solar provider completes the installation
of your solar system. The installer is required
to provide you with an Electrical Certificate of
Compliance for all the electrical installation and
alteration work undertaken on your installation.
12. Meter installation
SA Power Networks installs your new import/
export meter.
13. You’re up and running!
Your solar system is now ready to generate
electricity.
11
Government
incentive schemes
Installing a PV system is a method of generating
your own electricity by harnessing solar energy
via panels placed on the roof of your house.
The Federal and South Australian State
Governments have introduced various schemes
to help people offset the cost of installing
a solar power system.
South Australian Government,
PV feed-in incentive scheme
On 1 July 2008, the South Australian Government
introduced the first PV feed-in incentive scheme
which guaranteed that qualifying customers of
small solar (PV) embedded generator systems
(SEG) would receive a credit off their electricity
retail bill for any electricity fed back into the
SA Power Networks distribution network.
To qualify for participation in this scheme,
certain specific criteria must be met:
• The qualifying customer must be classified
as a ‘Small Customer’ as defined by the
National Electricity Market (ie must consume
less than 160MWhrs of electrical energy
per annum)
• A qualifying generator must:
–– Be an exclusively photovoltaic (PV) system
with a generating capacity of up to 10kVA
for a single phase connection and up
to 30kVA for a three phase connection
–– Be operated by a qualifying customer
–– Comply with Australian Standard —
AS4777 (as in force from time to time
or as superseded from time to time)
–– Be connected to the SA Power Networks
distribution network via an active energy
consuming connection point
–– Be connected to the distribution network
in such a manner via an appropriate meter
that will allow the ‘net’ energy that is
excess to the installation’s needs, to be
recorded as it is fed back into the network.
12
• The SEG system must be approved by
SA Power Networks for connection to the
SA Power Networks distribution network.
• The qualifying customer may be required
to enter into a specific Embedded Generator
Connection Agreement with SA Power
Networks before approval to connect the SEG
system to the distribution network is granted.
• Generators operated primarily for the
purpose of generating a profit are excluded
from the scheme.
• Rebate bonus payments are limited to
the first 45 kWhrs of energy exported into
the grid per day, calculated based on the
average daily export for the standard energy
billing period.
• Eligibility is limited to one generator
per customer or entity.
• In 2011, the South Australian Government
introduced amendments to the original
2008 feed-in scheme which changed the
criteria for eligibility to participate in the
scheme, changed feed-in credit options and
introduced a future end date for the scheme.
• Customers who qualified for the feed-in
scheme prior to 1 October 2011 will continue
to receive feed-in credits until 30 June 2028. • Customers qualifying for the new feed-in
scheme between 1 October 2011 and 30
September 2013 will receive feed-in credits
until 30 September 2016.
• The feed-in scheme will close to all new
entrants on 30 September 2013.
From more information on the PV feed-in
incentive scheme and the Electricity Act refer
to the following websites:
• www.climatechange.sa.gov.au
• www.legislation.sa.gov.au
SA POWER NETWORKS
Where to find
a solar provider?
Maintenance of
solar power systems
A quality, Clean Energy Council accredited
solar designer and installer can help guide
you through the decision-making process
and help determine whether your home
or building can support solar modules.
After installation, you will be responsible for
ensuring that your equipment is maintained
in good working order. Your installer should
be able to provide appropriate instructions
along with maintenance information in the
system manual.
Check out the following websites
for more information:
Clean Energy Council:
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
Australian Greenhouse Office:
www.greenhouse.gov.au
Yellow Pages:
www.yellowpages.com.au
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
13
Frequently asked
questions
What is the difference between net
metering and gross metering?
What does SA Power Networks approval
to connect mean?
A gross metering arrangement is where the full
output energy produced by the solar generator
is recorded prior to any energy being used within
the household or being exported to the grid.
The SA Power Networks approval to connect
an embedded generator to the network means
that the proposed equipment meets technical
compliance requirements and conditions.
A net metering arrangement is where only
the energy that is excess to the internal needs
of the household and is exported back into
the grid, at any point in time, is recorded.
In South Australia, the PV feed-in credits only
apply to the energy that is excess to a household’s
needs. For example:
• Export Mode (putting energy back into
the grid). If your solar-powered system
generates 1000W and you are using 600W,
then 400W will be put back (exported)
to the grid.
• Import Mode (importing energy from
the grid). If your solar-powered system
generates 1000W and you are using
1200W, then you are using (importing)
200W from the grid.
The approval does not imply that the applicant
meets the eligibility criteria necessary to
receive any government or retailer-sponsored
grants or the PV feed-in credits.
What is a Small Embedded Generator
Connection Agreement?
For safety reasons, when your electricity supply
from the grid is interrupted, your solar PV
system must automatically and immediately
turn off. It is possible to have a system that
will provide emergency electricity when supply
is not available from the grid with the use of
a suitable inverter and battery bank, however
this can be expensive.
The Small Embedded Generator (SEG)
Connection Agreement outlines your obligations
and liabilities and the terms and conditions
for the safe connection of your system to
the SA Power Networks electricity network.
An agreement, when required, must be
in place for your solar power system to be
connected to the network and feed power
back into the electricity grid.
Will the solar system always be connected
to the network grid?
No. Your solar system is connected to the
grid through your household meter and service
connection point. From time to time SA Power
Networks may need to interrupt or disconnect
supply to your premises due to planned
maintenance, or disconnect supply as a
result of a request from your energy retailer.
Our protection equipment may also interrupt
supply in the case of an unplanned fault
on the network.
Refer to the SA Power Networks Customer Guide
to Small Embedded Generation, which can
be found on the SA Power Networks website.
The SEG Connection Agreement has been
approved by the Essential Services Commission
of South Australia (ESCOSA).
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SA POWER NETWORKS
Will my solar system be able to generate
power for use during a power failure
to the area?
No. For safety reasons, when electricity supply
from the grid is interrupted, your solar PV system
must automatically and immediately turn off.
Can I retain my old mechanical
or digital meter?
No. It is a regulatory requirement in South
Australia that any embedded generator
connected to the grid must have an appropriate
meter installed that can accurately measure
both import and net export energy flows
from and into the grid.
The old-style mechanical meters and SA Power
Networks standard electronic meters are not
capable of recording the export energy flows
as required by the legislation. These meters
need to be changed to a special electronic
import/export PV meter. There is a fee payable
to SA Power Networks for the installation
of the new meter.
What type of PV meter will I require?
If your property is supplied by a single phase
low voltage service connection, you will require
a single phase import/export PV meter.
If your property is supplied by a multi-phase
low voltage service connection, you will require
a multi-phase import/export PV meter.
When is the best time to have my import/
export meter installed?
We recommend that once you have approval
to proceed with your proposed PV installation,
you or your solar provider make the appointment
for the new meter to be installed. This can
happen even before the solar system is installed.
Do I have to arrange everything myself?
No, you may engage a solar provider to manage
all aspects of the process for you if you wish.
Due to the complexity of the process, many
people find it useful to do this.
Some older models of digital meters may
add the net exported energy generated
by your system to the energy consumption
register of the meter, as they were not designed
or intended to be used in situations needing
to measure reverse energy flows. If this
occurs, your energy retailer will not be able
to distinguish between what is normal energy
consumption and what may have been added
by your solar system. Under the conditions
of your energy contract, the retailer is entitled
to charge you for all the energy recorded
as consumption. As a safeguard, SA Power
Networks recommends that solar systems
are not turned on until the new import/
export PV meter is installed.
PLANNING FOR SOLAR PV?
15
Glossary
AC
Alternating current (the type of current used in South Australian homes and businesses)
CEC
Clean Energy Council
DC
Direct current (generated by solar systems)
ESCOSA Essential Services Commission of South Australia
Inverter Converts direct current to alternating current for use
kVKilovolt
kVA
Kilovolt Amp
LEG
Large Embedded Generator
MW
Mega Watt
MWh
Mega Watt hour
PVPhotovoltaic
REC
Renewable Energy Certificate
SEG
Small Embedded Generator
VVolt
WWatt
Wh
Watt hour
For more information, please contact:
SA Power Networks solar enquiries 1300 665 913
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SA POWER NETWORKS
2600
www.sapowernetworks.com.au