For Solar Retailers and Installers
Learn more about Flexible Exports.
Installer information for Flexible Exports
An overview of the Flexible Exports installation process for installers.
Relevant Agent - Smarter Homes
Find out more about how Flexible Exports fits in with the Government's Smarter Homes Program.
Empowering the solar industry
South Australia continues to lead the world in the take-up of consumer energy resources (CER) such as rooftop solar and home batteries. SA Power Networks is committed to ensuring that our distribution network can continue to support the growth of rooftop solar in the State for years to come.
The network can only accommodate so much surplus energy, and this isn’t just a problem in South Australia - it’s becoming an issue everywhere.
We want as many South Australians to enjoy the benefits of solar as possible, so we had to find a way to continue to support the uptake of renewable energy and support our state’s target of 100% net-renewables by 2030.
Read more information on how we are enabling the distributed energy transition.
The challenge and how we are responding
Some parts of our electricity distribution network are reaching their maximum capacity to host solar exports. We already have several initiatives underway to increase the capacity of our network to support solar. One of the changes is the introduction of “Flexible Exports”, enabled by modern, smart, internet-connected inverters. This innovative new connection option will be offered to new or upgrading solar customers as an alternative to reduced fixed export limits.
We have created infographics to help explain Flexible Exports.
The connection options available by area are summarised as follows:
Within Flexible Exports eligible suburbs
- Choice between:
- Fixed Export limit
- Fixed export option of 1.5kW per phase
- Permanent and fixed limit, all year round.
- Flexible Export limit
- Enabled by compatible smart internet-connected inverters – these receive regular export limit updates from SA Power Networks, and match exports to available grid capacity.
- Variable export limit that automatically adjusts between 1.5kW up to 10kW per phase (subject to available network capacity at the customer’s location throughout the day, installed inverter capacity and the reliability of the customer’s internet connection)
- Fixed Export limit
For customers within Flexible Exports areas, you can view past Flexible Exports performance which can be used as part of the discussion about what to install. This information is available in the Flexible Exports Eligibility Checker.
Outside of Flexible Exports eligible suburbs:
- Existing 5kW per phase export limit applies.
For further information please read our Notices to Industry and Industry news and visit our FAQs.
Related articles
- Relevant Agent information and articles
- Lessons learnt during the initial trial
- Find out which properties are eligible for Flexible Exports
Contact us
- Use our online form
- Call 13 12 61 during business hours