Rooftop solar has played a significant role in reducing household energy bills, with over 3.7 million Australians having installed it on their homes and businesses.
Almost 40 per cent of electricity in Australia already comes from renewables. Rooftop solar has been a huge part of that, contributing over 11 per cent of electricity in 2023. As the transition to clean energy continues, some states are introducing requirements to enhance the integration of rooftop solar systems to the grid. These changes aim to make rooftop solar generation more valuable to the consumer and to the wider system.
A success story of rooftop solar has been that households with excess generation in the middle of the day have received payments through solar feed-in tariffs when feeding this excess back into the grid. This additional generation has reduced the cost of wholesale electricity prices.
On the flip side, excessive solar generation in the middle of the day has led to what is colloquially referred to as the ‘duck curve’. This is when increased solar generation displaces central generation, which needs to be retained at or above a minimum operating level to ensure the whole network remains reliable.
To combat the ‘duck curve’ as rooftop solar uptake increases, distribution businesses and state governments have looked at new ways to maximise solar generation while protecting the integrity of the grid.
Distributors have begun to introduce dynamic connection agreements, replacing static connection agreements. These dynamic agreements allow distribution businesses to manage solar generation through inverter settings, shifting some solar exports to times of the day or night when the network can best accommodate it.
In Queensland, which boasts one of the highest rates of rooftop solar installations globally, dynamic connections are being used, allowing panels to adjust the amount of energy they produce and send to the grid. With flexible export and import options, they enable customers to optimise their use of solar generation while preventing overloading during peak production times: a win for both consumers and the network.
In Victoria, the introduction of emergency backstop mechanisms will better support grid stability and safety. From 1 October, all new, upgraded, or replacement rooftop solar systems in Victoria must comply with the state’s new requirements. Overseen by the Australian Electricity Market Operator, Victoria’s emergency backstop mechanism will enable the remote adjustment or disconnection of rooftop solar systems by distribution businesses, such as Ausnet or CitiPower.
While it won’t interrupt the supply of grid power to households, this measure will play a critical role during periods of minimum system load when the influx of solar energy could destabilise the power grid. The backstop will be deployed only when necessary and for the shortest time required, to ensure the network remains safe and reliable.
To support designers, installers and solar retailers in keeping up with these changes and providing consumers with the best possible advice, the Clean Energy Council provides a range of courses and training materials, including two essential courses for solar professionals: ‘Victorian Emergency Backstop’ and ‘Queensland Dynamic Connections’.
These courses are offered free of charge and participants can accrue continuous professional development points. Courses can be accessed through LearnLAB, the Clean Energy Council’s education platform, which offers a comprehensive collection of courses and supporting materials and is available to all.
As Australia progresses towards a greener future, the integration of renewable energy sources like rooftop solar systems is playing a pivotal role. The new requirements in Queensland and Victoria are steps toward a more resilient and efficient energy grid. For the solar industry, staying informed and prepared is key to thriving in this evolving market.
If you are looking for up-to-date information on rooftop solar and consumer energy resources (CER) more broadly, particularly from a consumer-first perspective, earlier this year we published a national roadmap for CER: Powering homes, empowering people. The report outlines just how important CER is and what industry and policymakers need to focus on to ensure consumers are brought along on the CER journey.
By embracing upcoming changes and equipping themselves with knowledge, installers and retailers will continue to drive the growth of renewable energy in Australia, ensuring a sustainable and reliable energy future for all.
This article featured in the August edition of ecogeneration.
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