Emergency solar management applies to all customers with new and upgraded rooftop solar systems with an inverter capacity of 5kW or less and participating in DEBS. These customers include:

•            residential properties that consume < 50MWh/a

•            any customer that is a school, university or other educational institution or a non-profit making organisation

Emergency solar management (also known as ESM, Distributed Photovoltaic Management or DPV management) refers to the management of rooftop solar systems. Put simply, ESM is the ability to turn down or turn off the capability of rooftop solar systems to generate solar energy remotely.

Presently inverters are not technically able to be turned down via remote management and so if ESM measures are required, rooftop solar systems will only be able to be turned off. In the future, technology may also allow inverters to be turned down.

Distributed rooftop solar is an important source of low cost and low emission power. However, WA’s main electricity grid was not designed for the large uptake of renewables that has occurred in recent years. Large amounts of rooftop solar energy are making the electricity system more vulnerable and increasing the risk of electricity supply interruptions.

As a last resort measure, emergency solar management could assist in managing the current risks to the electricity system and allow rooftop solar systems to continue to be installed and connected to the grid as we transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Emergency solar management is not expected to be needed at all until the end of 2022, however Energy Policy WA (EPWA), the State Government's energy policy agency considers it is necessary to introduce the capability now. This is intended to ensure that there is enough rooftop solar capability that can be remotely managed by Synergy (in response to a request by Western Power, the network operator) to help manage future emergency operating conditions in the system and enable rooftop solar systems to continue to be installed.

Depending on the type of system you have, you may be able to see if your rooftop solar system is operating via the system itself or via a third-party app. Synergy will turn rooftop solar systems back on that have been turned off on an ESM low load event day.

Soon after an ESM low load event day, Synergy will also update the yellow banner at the top of this webpage to provide more information to customers. 
Synergy will also periodically test that the onsite hardware for your rooftop solar system can be remotely managed to ensure that appropriate actions can be taken in an emergency solar management event. 

You should contact your solar installer if there are any technical issues with your rooftop solar system. 

Depending on the type of system a customer has, they may be able to see if their rooftop solar system is on or off. Although the solar installer is generally the first point of technical support for customers, a customer might wish to restart their inverter themselves by following the shut-down and start-up procedure noted on the inverter to see if that first corrects the issue. It may take up to an hour for the inverter to revert to usual programming following an event or test. 

A report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has found that risks associated with low load in the network have increased due to the accelerating uptake of rooftop solar systems. In 2020 the installed capacity of rooftop solar increased by over 300 MW (or 24%) in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). The installation rate of rooftop solar in the SWIS has consistently exceeded forecasts, including those from AEMO.

The WA State Government has implemented ESM arrangements so that the electricity system can better manage in periods where there less demand for electricity or 'low load' in the future. ESM (or DPV management) requirements apply to new and upgraded rooftop solar systems with an inverter capacity of 5kW or less from 14 February 2022.  ESM has been introduced following a recommendation from AEMO.

Synergy will periodically test that the onsite hardware for rooftop solar systems can be remotely managed to ensure that appropriate actions can be taken in an emergency solar management event.

For rooftop solar systems using the API cloud solution, Synergy will check that the customer’s inverter is connected to the internet and commissioned on to the inverter manufacturer’s portal. 

For rooftop solar systems using the metering solution, Synergy will check that the customer’s inverter is wired correctly to the meter in line with Western Power’s Basic Embedded Generator Connection Technical Requirements. 

At this stage, this only applies to the Western Power network in the SWIS.

Synergy will turn off rooftop solar systems as advised by Western Power to manage supply and demand in the grid in emergency operating conditions.

Emergency solar management turns off rooftop solar systems to prevent excess solar energy being exported to the grid. Customers will continue to have uninterrupted electricity supply from the grid when emergency solar management measures are being used. Emergency solar management is being introduced to help prevent widespread electricity supply interruptions in the grid.

Customers should contact their solar installer if there are any technical issues with their rooftop solar system. Depending on the type of system you have, you may be able to see if your solar system is on or off.

Rooftop solar system owners will not be compensated when their system is turned off to maintain supply security and avoid the risk of an electricity supply interruption in the grid under emergency solar management measures. Since emergency solar management is intended to only be used as a last resort to avoid the risk of an electricity supply interruption in the grid, it is anticipated the measure will have very little impact on affected customers.

The ESM arrangements are not anticipated to have any significant financial impact on households with rooftop solar systems.

The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS), including the buyback rate for excess electricity exported to the network will, if applicable, continue to apply. DEBS could be impacted if an installation is not compliant with ESM requirements as per the current DEBS Terms and Conditions. 

The customer is responsible for any additional costs incurred as a result of a meter upgrade. The API cloud solution is currently expected to provide the best outcome for most customers – it is generally lower cost and aligned to future opportunities for Distributed Energy Resources DER participation.

This is dependent on the design and capability of your rooftop solar system (and battery system if you have one) and what emergency solar management measures are being used. 

Emergency solar management applies to all customers with new and upgraded rooftop solar systems with an inverter capacity of 5kW or less and participating in DEBS. These customers include:

•            residential properties that consume < 50MWh/a

•            any customer that is a school, university or other educational institution or a non-profit making organisation

All applications made on or after 14 February 2022 for new or upgraded rooftop solar PV systems with an inverter capacity of 5kW or less, and participating in DEBS will need to comply with the emergency solar management requirements. This means they must be able to be managed remotely, enabling them to be turned off under remote instruction.

The rooftop solar system must meet the requirements for emergency solar management if you are:

• Installing a new rooftop solar system with an inverter capacity of 5kW or less on or after 14 February 2022; or
• Upgrading an existing rooftop solar system on or after 14 February 2022 where the inverter capacity will be 5kW or less.

A grace period was provided where the application for a new rooftop solar system was made prior to 14 February 2022 and the system was installed no later than 13 March 2022.

As a solar installer, you will play an important role in the adoption of new technology. 

Solar installers must ensure their installations and upgrades to existing systems meet the Western Power Basic Embedded Generation Connection Technical Requirements.
 
Solar installers will also continue to be responsible and the first point of contact for customers for any technical issues regarding their rooftop solar systems and any warranty claims regarding their rooftop solar systems and inverters under the Australian Consumer Law.

At this stage, this only applies to the Western Power network in the SWIS.

To be registered on Synergy’s Supported Devices List for the API Cloud solution, the inverter manufacturer must complete a self-assessment checklist (or nominate a technology provider to complete it on their behalf) and have an API Agreement in place with Synergy’s Integration Partner.

To be eligible, a renewable energy system must have a generating capacity of 5kW or less. A solar PV system with total solar panel capacity of up to 6.6kW and an inverter capacity of up to 5kW is deemed eligible. There is no eligibility limit in relation to home battery or electric vehicle battery size, but all renewable energy systems and batteries must meet Western Power’s Basic Embedded Generator Connection Technical Requirements for connection to the grid to be eligible for DEBS 

Battery installations from 14 February 2022 will be required to meet the requirements for emergency solar management as per Western Power’s Basic Embedded Generation Connection Technical Requirements.

• In the situation where an existing solar system is being upgraded with a battery installation, where the parts of the existing solar system are unchanged during the new installation process, then the existing solar system is not required to meet the new emergency solar management requirements. For example, when adding an AC coupled battery to an existing solar system. However, the battery system must comply with the requirements for emergency solar management.
• In any other battery installation situations, emergency solar management requirements apply to the entire system.

• Emergency solar management for battery installations can be achieved by meeting the time of operation for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) requirements, where all systems with a BESS shall not discharge the BESS between 10am to 3pm and not charge the BESS between 6pm to 9pm. Therefore these battery installations do not need a cloud API or AMI metering pathway for emergency solar management.

The customer is responsible for any additional costs incurred as a result of a meter upgrade. The API cloud solution is currently expected to provide the best outcome for most customers – it is generally lower cost and aligned to future opportunities for Distributed Energy Resources DER participation.

Households with a solar system capable of export limiting may continue to charge the BESS. However, provision of the export limiting functionality via a cloud API solution varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Please consult your manufacturer to find out more.

Emergency solar management is only applicable to new and upgraded systems due to the current challenges with retrofitting existing installations.

There are two ways to remotely manage and turn off rooftop solar systems to meet the Western Power Basic Embedded Generation (EG) Connection Technical Requirements for emergency solar management.

• The API cloud solution uses a software integration - an API (Application Programming Interface) to remotely manage rooftop solar systems. This requires installing a compatible inverter, and the customer maintains a consistent internet service that the inverter is connected to.
• The metering solution requires a meter with communications capability enabled and the inverter isolated so that it can be remotely managed.

In an emergency solar management event, residential rooftop solar systems that are installed or upgraded after 14 February 2022, with an inverter capacity greater than 5kW, will be subject to export limits to ensure they do not contribute to low load events.

Export limits are set in accordance with Western Power’s Basic Embedded Generator Connection Technical Requirements. Where there is no offtake agreement in place with the Retailer, the export limit will be set to no more than 1.5kW.

You can review the Supported Devices List here for all API cloud solution compliant devices. If you’re still uncertain, please speak to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for further advice.

• Characteristics of the site, such as use of a plug-in meter, or lack of coverage/availability of the mesh network, may make the metering solution unsuitable. 
• The metering solution may incur additional costs.  For example, in some circumstances, a new meter may need to be installed, or extra wiring may be required to connect the switchboard to the meter.

Please refer to the Western Power website  for more details. 

Export limiting will be an option available to customers who can’t meet the API cloud or metering solution requirements but still wish to install a rooftop solar system. Please note that customers who choose this option are not eligible for the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) and would not be affected by an emergency solar management event

Synergy is committed to working with the solar industry to provide timely and easy to understand information about what the new emergency solar management requirements mean in relation to system capability, installation and connection.

Synergy has been working closely with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to support installers through the introduction of emergency solar management and the new Western Power Basic Embedded Generation Connection Technical Requirements. If you have any further questions on the API cloud solution and inverter technical requirements, we encourage you to reach out to your OEM directly for support.

Ongoing updates will be provided by Synergy through planned industry briefing sessions, information fact sheets and content to be made available online. Please register for regular updates and news about emergency solar management by completing the form below.