Response to the Technical Guidelines for Basic Micro and Low Voltage Embedded Generation Connections

The latest draft of the Energy Network Australia's (ENA) proposed National Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Grid Connection Guidelines outlines potential changes to grid connection rules, including:

• 5 kW static export limitation
• 5 kVA connection limit for solar PV arrays on single phase connections
• compliance with IEC 62116, the international anti-islanding standard
• Volt-Watt and Volt-VAr capability.

Our response to the ENA draft Guidelines calls for better communication with industry, consumer groups and the public to explain what the various grid connection rules currently are and why they are changing.

Some key issues for the Clean Energy Council are:

• There is no clearly articulated reason for limiting solar generation if the system is also required to incorporate export limitation.
• DER systems with dynamic export control should not be subject to static export limitations.
• The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) should decide which network services can be mandated through grid connection rules and which should be paid for.
• There is a need for a web portal where information on grid connection rules is accessible.