Our world-first smart solar technology gives you more
- South Australia leads the world when it comes to solar energy.
- SA Power Networks wants even more South Australians to be able to share in the benefits of solar.
What is the Flexible Exports option?
The Flexible Exports option is world-first smart solar technology giving South Australians the potential to make the most out of their solar systems.
When you install a new solar inverter, you can opt to have a fixed export limit (a static export of 1.5kW or 0kW exports, depending on your area of the network), or you can choose flexible exports. When you choose to opt in to or switch to Flexible Exports, an internet-connected inverter lets you export up to 10kW back to the grid per phase.
How the technology works: Fixed vs Flexible Exports
Fixed Exports |
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| ON — sending back a fixed and limited amount of energy to the grid 100% the time, up to 1.5kW per phase OR OFF, no export into the grid. |
Flexible Exports |
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| The dynamic Flexible Exports option is adjustable, meaning exports can be turned up or down, depending on the need of the State at the time. Exports will be turned down when there is an excess of energy on the grid, and will be turned up to the systems full export capacity, up to 10kW, at all other times. |
Get more information and check if your property is currently eligible for Flexible Exports
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Flexible Exports brochure |
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Flexible Exports Service Performance |
Why Flexible Exports?
Click to expand the sections below for more information on how and why we create the Flexible Exports option.
It turns out you can have too much of a good thing. The network can only accommodate so much surplus energy, so when there is a sunny but mild spring day, this excess solar energy is generated but not used.
And this isn’t just a problem in South Australia - it’s becoming an issue in many other places too.
We want as many South Australians to enjoy the benefits of solar as possible, so we found a way to continue to support customers up taking renewable energy across the state.
Until Flexible Exports was introduced, the solution was to place low or zero limits on solar exports — so each home could only export small amounts of solar, if at all, to accommodate more solar on the network.
This is the option is called fixed exports.
Fixed exports waste valuable solar energy. They don’t give you the best value for money and reduce the broader benefits of solar.
SA Power Networks has developed world-leading technology to stretch solar further. We’ve called this option Flexible Exports.
It’s an option that’s:
- New, smart and innovative
- Designed to positively impact the future of energy worldwide and
- Developed right here in South Australia.
How can Flexible Exports give us all more energy from the sun without changes to the network?
It’s sometimes easier to think of these different kinds of solar energy options like light switches.
The fixed export limit option is like a regular light switch:
It’s either on (sending back a fixed and limited amount of energy to the grid all the time) or it’s completely off.
The new Flexible Exports option is more like a dimmer switch:
The Flexible Exports option is adjustable — so think of a dimmer switch that can be smartly turned up or down according to need.
This adjustable ‘dimmer switch’ allows more solar to be connected to the network, with direct benefits for you and a brighter future for South Australia.
What customers have to say
During the Flexible Exports trial period we asked some of our early users what they thought of Flexible Exports.
What do I need to get started?
A compatible inverter
Compliant to SA Government dynamic exports requirements from 1 July 2023, Making Flexible Exports best suited to customers who are upgrading or installing new solar systems.
Reliable internet connection
Compatible Flexible Exports systems are required to be connected to the internet to allow for automatic adjustments to optimise the amount of solar energy that can be exported to the grid.
Check the historical performance of exports in your area
Being able to access the full capacity of Flexible Exports is dependent on the size of the system installed at your site, electricity usage patterns at the address, the volume of solar installations within a particular area, and other factors that can effect the capacity of the network. Some sites may never be able to reach the full capacity export limit of 10kW, and some sites may not be able to export at all. To check the historical performance of export capacity within your area, we recommended using the Eligibility Checker.
The Flexible Exports Offer is available to customers supplied by SWER networks
Customer supplied single-wire earth-return networks (SWER) can now install 10kW of solar and 10kW of batteries, and may also be able to export up to 10kW from their systems on a Flexible Exports plan. Please note that some areas will be more limited in their export capacity than others and customers in certain regions may not be able to export at all
There are special requirements for installing solar and battery systems on SWER networks, which SA Power Networks is advising to installers operating in these areas.
Who should I contact?
SA Power Networks works with your solar retailers or installers during the installation process to ensure that your new or upgraded solar system is compliant with the latest SA Government Dynamic Export Guidelines.
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Your local Solar Retailer or Installer |
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| Speaking to a local solar retailer or installer is the best first step, they will fully explain the Flexible Exports options to you and will be able to tailor a solution which will work best for your requirements and property configuration. | |
| Customer Services Team | |
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| If you require further support, you can also reach out to our Customer Services Team by email . | |
Need more information?
Please review the below Frequently Asked Questions for more information. If you still have further questions please speak to your solar retailer or contact us.
To coincide with the SA Government Dynamic Export requirements that went live on 1 July 2023, SA Power Networks has Flexible Exports as a standard connection option across the state.
The Flexible Exports option is available to new or upgrading solar customers in South Australia, however if you are an existing solar customer and wish to check if your current inverter is eligible to switch your connection agreement to Flexible Exports, speak to your solar installer.
Speak to your solar installer – they can help you to understand your options and how Flexible Exports could benefit you.
No. If you do not wish to opt-in to Flexible Exports, you can choose to have a fixed export limit (either 0kw or 1.5kw dependant on your area).
New regulations introduced by the South Australian Government mean that any exporting solar system installed from 1 July 2023 must be compatible with Flexible Exports. Talk to your installer to ensure they set up your system correctly at time of installation.
In the event of an internet outage, the solar exports will ramp down to 1.5kW until the internet connection comes back online. Ensuring to set up and maintain a reliable internet connection will maximise the benefits you receive. Your solar installer will advise on the best method of internet connection when they discuss the options with you.
With the Flexible Exports option, you should be able to export more than on a fixed export option. Outcomes will vary with the network location, inverter capacity, and reliability of your internet connection. Past performance of Flexible Exports at your location will be available in the Eligibility Checker.
The export limits are automatically adjusted to match the capacity of the network in your area at any given time and the maximum capacity of your inverter. Check your address on the Eligibility Checker for historical performance of Flexible Exports in your area.
Most electricity retailers offer different feed-in tariffs as part of their energy plans. Go to Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy website to find the best offer for you.
Customer supplied single-wire earth-return networks (SWER) have historically only been able to install up to 5kW of solar capacity and 5kW of battery capacity. These networks have only a single wire running to a property and are typically used to supply electricity over long-distances in regional areas.
SA Power Networks has now released our Flexible Exports offer to customers supplied by SWER networks. This means that customers can now install twice the amount of solar and batteries that they could before – 10kW of solar and 10kW of batteries. Customers supplied by SWERs may also be able to export up to 10kW from their systems, however we note that some areas will be more limited in their export capacity than others and customers in certain regions may not be able to export at all.
There are special requirements for installing solar and battery systems on SWER networks, which SA Power Networks is advising to installers operating in these areas. Please contact our Customer Services team for more information.
Service Performance Disclaimer
- The eligibility checker shows the historical flexible export limits at the specified address. It should not be relied upon in making a decision to invest in or upgrade a solar system.
- The historical data is not a reliable indicator of future flexible export capacity that will be available over the expected life of a solar system. 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. This is because the amount of electricity which may be exported into the distribution network from your solar at any given time will be determined by SA Power Networks having regard to a range of factors impacting the distribution system.
- 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 assumptions and modelling).
- A fee/tariff will apply to the amount of electricity you export to the SA Power Networks' network, and any revenue you may earn is subject to your arrangements with your electricity retailer.
- 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.
- Your export capacity at any time is 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.