Technical Solution to Allow More Residential Rooftop Solar
The technical solution introduced by the McGowan Government will enable the continued uptake of rooftop solar panels on Western Australian homes and avoid blackouts.
The number of residential solar panels in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) is so high that the energy collectively generated by these panels is more than the energy generated by WA’s largest power station.
This huge amount of energy puts the residential power supply at risk on mild sunny days when the rooftop solar energy generation is high and the demand from the system is low.
From February 14, 2022, new or upgraded solar panels will be installed with additional features to be remotely turned off for short periods when demand for electricity reaches a critically low level.
Remotely turning off solar panels will only be used as a last resort to prevent widespread power interruptions. It is expected to occur only a few times a year for a few hours and it won’t affect the power supply of the residents.
At first, the power stations will be turned down. The rooftop residential solar will be impacted last. It will not affect the already existing rooftop solar panels.
The guidelines are already released which is outlining export limits for systems larger than 5 kilowatts inverter capacity. Therefore, customers with higher energy usage can install larger systems. More details are available at Low Load Response – Distributed Photovoltaic Management.
Comments attributed to Energy Minister Bill Johnston
“Rooftop solar is integral to the renewable energy future of our State so we’re adapting our system to meet those requirements.”
“This new measure means we can continue supporting the uptake of residential solar while ensuring electricity is secure and affordable.”
“More than 400,000 WA homes and businesses, around 30 percent, now have rooftop solar connected to WA’s main grid with that figure continuing to rapidly grow.”
“The Energy Transformation Strategy is planning for a long-term future where rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles are at the centre of the WA power system.”
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Tags: residential power supply, residential solar, rooftop solar, Solar Energy