Flexible Exports

There are a very small number of properties that have a low hosting capacity (LHCS), and therefore the Fixed Export limit and minimum Flexible Export limit will be set to 0kW instead of 1.5kW.

We have flagged these customers in the Portal and the application will move to Under Review status if you are selecting Flexible Exports.

Our Customer Solutions team will review the application and arrange for a phone call to the installer to confirm the LHCS details. As the installer, you can opt to maintain the provided 0kW-10kW export limit or pause the installation process and request a further site assessment to be completed by SA Power Networks to increase the lower bound limit.  

All other SEG sites that are not a LHCS or on a SWER line will still be able to receive a 1.5kW export lower bound limit and 10kW upper bound limit* (dependant on inverter capacity and network area), and this will be evident upon application. The application process remains unchanged for standard SEG sites, and the installer can submit the application through the Portal. 

*The 10kW Flexible Export limit is a maximum limit and the actual amount of electricity which may be exported into the network may be less than this limit. Future export capacity will fall as more PV customers export into the SA Power Networks’ network and more customers select Flexible Exports. We anticipate that for the majority of customers, the capacity for Flexible exports will fall gradually, however there will be a small group of customers whose ability to export will drop significantly (this forecast is based on numerous assumptions and modelling). Your export capacity is at any time limited to the size of the system installed at your site, electricity usage patterns at the address, the volume of solar installations within the particular area, and other factors affecting the capacity of SA Power Networks’ network. Flexible Exports are subject to the terms and conditions in your connection agreement with SA Power Networks and your retailer, and maintaining suitable equipment, and connection to the internet.  

For existing customers there will be no change. New and upgrading solar customers in Flexible Exports eligible areas will be given a choice between a fixed export limit of 1.5kW or 0kW per phase, or Flexible Exports. 

Any existing solar systems will need to be configured to stay within the 1.5-10kW site export limit. This may be achieved by: 

• Bringing the existing system(s) under the site-wide export limit. This may be achieved with native support or through the use of a gateway device. Speak to your inverter manufacturer to learn what configurations are possible. 
• Export limiting any existing inverters to 1.5kW. 

The Government of South Australia’s Dynamic Export requirements require all new exporting generation systems to be capable of remotely updating their export limits from 1 July 2023.  

This regulatory changes means that every exporting system applied for installation from 1 July 2023 must be dynamic exports capable and are compatible with SA Power Networks Flexible Exports connection option. 

To be considered dynamic exports capable, a site: 

• must only include certified dynamic exports capable inverters. These will be listed in the Portal. 
• may require a gateway device or additional hardware to achieve dynamic exports communications. 
• May require the capability to monitor the site-wide export (usually achieved through an export monitoring device or CT clamp). This requirement will be listed in the Portal. 

Refer to the manufacturer’s guide to understand the commissioning process. Customers may not be able to export if the equipment is not commissioned correctly. 

For Flexible Exports sites, make sure that you register the system with SA Power Networks. Refer to the manufacturer's guides for the specific process on how to do this.

Remember to close out the installation in the Portal once installed. For Flexible Exports sites, you will need to complete the onsite capability test within Portal, noting the capability test cannot be completed until the system has been registered. 

If the customer is not able to provide reliable internet access, you can recommend a compatible technology that includes its own means of communication or select the fixed export option. 

As part of the South Australian Government’s Smarter Homes Regulations, applicable from 28 September 2020, all new and upgrading solar systems with exporting capability need to have remote disconnection and connection functionality, and so internet access is already required for most installations. 

If you are only installing a new battery or upgrading by adding a battery, there will be no change to your export limit, and the Flexible Exports connection option will not apply unless requested. If you are upgrading or installing a new battery and PV, then you will need to choose between the fixed 1.5kW or 0kW export, or the flexible (0KW to 10kW) site wide export limits per phase.  

Building on the success of the Flexible Exports trial for small embedded generation (SEG) customers, we will be introducing Flexible Exports for MEG customers, and expect this to be rolled out in 2026. 

For Flexible Exports sites the Relevant Agent defaults to SA Power Networks. A correctly commissioned flexible exports site meets and complies with the Government's Smarter Homes requirements for remote disconnection. If you wish to change the Relevant Agent you can do so within the Portal application. Follow the inverter manufacturers commissioning guides to ensure the system is commissioned correctly. 

From 1 July 2023, SA Government’s Dynamic Export requirements came into effect, requiring all new exporting generation systems to be capable of remotely updating their export limits. These regulatory changes mean that all exporting systems applied for installation after this date are able to enrol in SA Power Networks’ Flexible Exports connection option as it becomes available.    
  
Any inverter manufacturer who wishes to get their inverters certified to Dynamic Exports requirements, please contact the Customer Services Team on 13 12 61  for more information. 

Support for multi-inverter configurations varies between manufacturers. Consult with your manufacturer to understand specific equipment capabilities. All inverters (new and legacy) will need to be brought under the site-wide export limit. 

To change the customers connection approval from Fixed to Flexible, you will need to complete a new application in the Portal.  

• To complete the application, ensure that equipment on the “Current Installation” page matches what is currently installed on site. If you sold or installed the system that is on site, confirming it is closed out in the Portal before commencing the application will make this step easier. 
• Once you are on the “Proposed Installation” page, click the pencil icon in the green Export arrow and select Flexible Export from the pop up. If required, you will then need to select an export limiting device from the available list. If the inverter is not compatible to Flexible Export, the Portal will not let you to proceed.  
• Once approval is received, installations will need to be done for Flexible Exports site.  

In partnership with Clean Energy Council, we have developed free training courses. Log into the Clean Energy Council’s Learning Hub to access (enrolment key ‘SAPNtraining’): 

• What you need to know about Flexible Exports – South Australia – this course will ensure that you have the knowledge you need about the changes, the technical requirements, and the impact on your customers. 
• The updated Embedded Generation Compliance for SA – this course covers the importance of compliance related to embedded generation installations and the issues that non-compliance creates.  

There is also an online training recording which covers: 

• The end-to-end process of commissioning, device registration (new), closing out and testing a Flexible Exports system (new) 
• How these new requirements impacts on your compliance rates 
• Presentations from eight major inverter brands on how to set up their equipment for Flexible Exports.