Emergency backstop excess energy events

Solar is booming in Victoria. Tens of thousands of customers have installed rooftop solar and are able to export their surplus energy into the network. On rare occasions when solar generation is high and demand for energy is low, we can experience an excess of energy in our networks. These excess energy events can risk instability across the network, so we are developing a new way to temporarily reduce or stop exports from solar homes.

The changes will help to manage rare occasions when solar generation is high and demand for energy is low, which can result in excess energy destabilising the power network. This will ensure we can provide a reliable, stable supply of power to all customers and connect more renewable energy to the network.

Excess energy events are more likely to occur on mild, sunny weekend days or public holidays. This is because solar generation is high, but the demand for electricity is low because people aren't heating or cooling their homes, and other energy intensive processes are powered down.

AEMO determines when the emergency backstop needs to be activated. If they do, they will direct us to reduce solar exports, then if the network is still not secure, turn off solar generation for short periods of time.

With more control over exports from solar households, we can ensure our customers have access to stable and reliable power supplies. The new system will also allow more renewable energy to connect to our network to achieve our emissions reduction goals.

Eventually, the technology supporting the emergency backstop will enable more cost-effective and smarter connections for customer energy resources (eg solar and batteries).

The change will only apply to new solar inverters (with a capacity of less than 200kW) connected to systems after 1 July 2024. This includes newly installed solar systems, upgraded systems and some existing systems that have a new inverter installed.

Applications to connect solar that are made before 1 July 2024 will be unaffected.

Impacts will vary for different households, but the Victorian Government predicts the changes will cost households with solar between $4 and $7 per year.

Yes, there will some changes to the way rooftop solar is installed and configured. From July 1 2024, new solar installers must ensure:

• A compatible inverter is installed: this allows the export and generation from the inverter to be remotely managed.
• There is a reliable internet connection: this ensures the distribution businesses can communicate with the inverter.
• They undertake a commissioning process: this will ensure the solar generation can be turned down or switched off in an emergency.

Information and training will be available to solar installers before the new requirements are activated. We are currently updating our systems and will provide information about how to access these resources in the weeks ahead.

Yes. We are currently working closely with solar equipment manufacturers and installer representative groups to prepare for the changes. We are updating our list of compliant solar hardware and will provide detail about the equipment approved for installation on our network prior to 1 July 2024.

Applications to connect solar that are approved prior to 1 July are not subject to the new requirements. All new, upgrading and replacement solar connections (with a capacity of 200kW or less) approved after 1 July must comply with the Victorian Government mandate.

The Victorian Government has published information about the new requirements on its [website].

We will also be providing information and training to solar installers before the new requirements are activated. More information on this will be released soon.

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