About Dynamic Connections
Queensland has one of the highest rates of solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations in the world. This only looks set to increase as people embrace renewable energy alternatives for their homes and businesses. In fact, solar PV installations have been so successful in Queensland, that some areas of our network have reached the limit of its ability to safely receive exported electricity during the day.
Our aim is to support Queenslanders who want to install solar PV solar, battery or other renewable generation on our network. To achieve this, we need smarter interaction between solar PV systems and our electricity network.
A smarter way to connect
To support more solar on our network we are offering dynamic connections, as an alternative to the basic connection option.
With a dynamic connection, signals are sent from our network to your solar PV system. Signals are sent in 5-minute intervals, using Wi-Fi or a hard-wired internet connection, and are referred to as Dynamic Operating Envelopes (DOE). The signals will tell your solar PV system how much exported generation our network can accept at that point in time.
This means, instead of potentially having fixed limits on how much electricity a solar PV system can export, the limits are flexible and respond to network conditions to enable more generation to be exported, more often. This diagram explains how a dynamic connection works in practice:
How it works
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1 Monitor
we monitor the capacity of your local electricity network, and
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2 Calculate
we calculate how much of your excess energy can be exported to the grid, and
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3 Signal
your inverter receives a signal via a WIFI communications link with our network, and
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4 Maximise export
the signal allows your system to maximise the export of your excess energy, based on available network capacity.
Dynamic Connections for energy exports
Skip to descriptionWe've introduced a new, smarter dynamic connection option on our network that allows more solar PV to be exported back to the grid.
Queensland has one of the highest rates of solar PV installations in the world. In fact, solar PV installations have been so popular, some areas of our network have reached their limit for receiving solar PV exports from customers during certain times of the day.
To support more solar PV on our network, we are now offering dynamic connections as an alternative to the fixed connection option.
This new technology allows us to talk to your solar PV inverter, to maximize your exports when the local grid can accept them.
When electricity being exported is greater than what can be safely managed, we instruct participating solar PV inverters on the local grid to temporarily reduce exports
Currently, new solar PV systems with inverter capacity up to 30 kVA are limited to export 5 kWs of solar PV electricity per phase, or no exports at all, in areas where too much solar PV exports could cause network issues.
With a dynamic connection, exports up to 10 kW per phase are allowed when the network has spare capacity. This means customers with a dynamic connection can earn more from their exports.
A dynamic connection also allows you to install larger combined solar PV and battery storage systems on a single-phase connection.
Under a fixed export connection, this set up is limited to 10kVA of inverter capacity in total for both solar PV and battery storage.
With a dynamic connection, you are allowed to install 10kVA of solar PV, plus an additional 10kVA of battery storage inverter capacity, on a single-phase connection. This reduces the need to upgrade to 3 phase power, which can be expensive.
Installing a dynamic connection is similar to installing a standard solar PV system. You need an inverter, or other supporting hardware, that allows us to talk to your solar PV system, and a Wi-Fi or ethernet link to the internet.
If the connection to the internet is lost for an extended period, the export limit will revert to 1.5kW until the internet connection is restored.
Your solar PV installer will submit a dynamic connection application to us, and once approved, they will register your solar PV system with our dynamic management system.
Dynamic connections allow more people to put solar PV on their homes and businesses, more solar PV to be exported back to the grid, and support for our transition to a renewable energy future.
Make the smart move and speak to your solar PV installer today to see if your new solar PV system is compatible for a dynamic connection.
Watch our dynamic connections video
This video provides an overview of dynamic connections and the benefits for customers with solar PV.
More options for new or upgraded solar connections
Before we had dynamic connections, when an installer submitted an application to connect a solar PV and/or battery system to our network, we would assess our network and determine if you could connect a solar PV system and how much solar could be exported. In some cases, where the local network already had large amounts of rooftop solar installed, to ensure a safe and secure network, solar exports were limited to zero and customers were unable to export any electricity to the network.
Now we can offer a dynamic connection which has the following main advantages:
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1 Customers can export more
Dynamic connections can export up to 10 kW per phase, compared to a maximum of 5kW per phase on a basic connection (or 2 kW for premises connected to our regional single wire network), and most customers will experience minimal or no restrictions on that limit, most of the time.
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2 Minimum export limit
Even when there is a need to reduce solar export, customers are still allowed to export 1.5 kW, unless there is a significant emergency event requiring all solar PV generation to stop.
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3 Customers can install a larger system
You can install a larger combined solar PV and battery system up to 20 kVA with a dynamic connection on single-phase - up to 10 kVA solar PV inverter and 10kVA battery inverter capacity - without the need to upgrade to three-phase power (which would be required for a fixed connection).
Note: For sites that use a hybrid inverter under a dynamic connection on single-phase, you can only install a system up 10 kVA total inverter capacity. So the combined capacity limits of each technology (eg. solar and battery) cannot exceed 10 kVA in total.
Frequently asked questions
Any of our customers can apply. We now offer our customers a Dynamic Connection for any Low Voltage Embedded Generation (like solar PV and battery) connection across Queensland.
However, reduced dynamic export levels may apply in locations where there are very high levels of solar PV already installed in your neighbourhood, or where we have limited monitoring of the network.
Your installer can submit a connection application for you.
The process for selecting a Dynamic Connection is much the same as applying for a fixed export connection. You buy a compliant system, your installer ensures it has an approved inverter or other gateway device, and will then submit your connection application to us.
Across our electricity networks in Queensland to approved customers. You gain approval by submitting a connection application.
With a Dynamic Connection, on average the amount of excess energy you will export is likely to be higher than with a fixed export system, depending on the capacity of your local electricity network and other local factors.
The major benefit to you of installing solar is self-consumption - using the energy generated by the system to provide power to your house or business - so it is important your system size meets your needs.
Your solar installer will help you to determine the most cost-effective solution from the range of options and equipment available.
Supported systems may include solar, batteries and Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers.
These products that are capable of generating energy will need to be listed with the Clean Energy Council as well as connected to our utility server via WIFI internet.
Alternating Current (AC) EV chargers and other dynamic loads, which have been certified, may also become available in the future.
Exports will depend on the amount of excess energy you produce and the capacity of the local electricity network, which is influenced by the number of solar PV systems nearby.
Solar PV and other Inverter Energy Systems with a Dynamic Connection will communicate with our “utility server”, via a WiFi internet connection. Regular signals will be sent to your inverter about the export limits that the network can accept. Your inverter will then control your excess energy exports within these limits.
Your system is likely to receive a higher export limit on hot days when electricity usage is high. Your energy exports will also depend on the available excess generation from your solar PV system.
If the connection to our utility server is lost, your system will default to a pre-determined varying export limit. After a day without a communication connection, your system export will be limited to a default export limit of 1.5kW typically.
Maintaining the connection between your system and our utility server via a WiFi internet connection is important to ensure your exports are maximised.
Most electricity retailers offer different feed-in tariffs as part of their energy plans. Go to the Australian Government’s Energy Made Easy website to find the best offer for you.
New Energy Tech, also known as Distributed Energy Resources (DER) or Consumer Energy Resources (CER), includes technologies such as solar PV systems, batteries, electric vehicles and home energy management solutions.
We are introducing Dynamic Connections for solar PV systems and battery storage and will include other types of New Energy Tech in the future.
There is a New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) for providers, to help protect you. It sets good practice standards for providing Residential and Small Business customers with New Energy Tech products, systems and services. A copy of the Code can be found on the New Energy Tech website.
Questions if you already have solar
Ask local solar installers for advice on what is required to enable your solar system for a Dynamic Connection. They can also help you with the connection application process.
Installers can contact a company on the Dynamic Connections Compliant Providers list (PDF 232.0 kb), who can guide them through the process. The number of providers will continue to grow over time as more systems become certified with our utility server.
We also encourage any inverter manufacturers that have not yet gained certification with our utility server to refer to the Smart Energy Profile (SEP2) Client Handbook (PDF 1.2 mb) and get certified.
You should contact your installer to confirm your system is Dynamic Connection compliant and submit an application for a connection alteration to us.
Speak to your solar installer, they can help you to understand your options and how a Dynamic Connection could benefit you.
We must be notified via a connection application if inverters or batteries are being replaced.
Installers must not connect additional inverters, make modifications, or install additional small units including batteries, unless a connection application has been submitted and a connection offer accepted.
Not all inverters currently support Dynamic Connections, however many manufacturers are working on adding this functionality to their products. It may be possible to install an additional gateway device to an existing inverter to provide the same functionality.
Installers can contact a company on the Dynamic Connections Compliant Providers list (PDF 232.0 kb) for advice on this. The number of providers will continue to grow over time as more systems become certified with our utility server.
Inverter manufacturers can refer to the Smart Energy Profile (SEP2) Client Handbook (PDF 1.2 mb) to organise certification.
You should contact your installer to confirm your new system is Dynamic Connection compliant and have them submit a connection application for your new premises to us.
Questions about equipment and technology
Yes. You will need to have a compliant inverter or gateway device installed with your system. Your installer will help you to determine the most cost-effective solution from the range of options and equipment available.
Installers can contact a company on the Dynamic Connections Compliant Providers list (PDF 232.0 kb) to enquire about the current approved inverters and devices for Dynamic Connections. The number of providers will continue to grow over time as more systems become certified with our utility server.
Yes – but you will need to confirm with your installer to ensure the system will be compliant with the connection standard.
If you are installing a new DC coupled battery only, or upgrading by only adding a DC coupled battery, your export capacity will not be impacted. However, as the battery is storing excess energy produced by the solar PV system, there may be less excess energy to export.
We recommend you contact your installer to update the inverter/gateway device settings to enable reconnection to your home network and the internet.
We recommend you contact your installer to help fix any communication issues. Your Dynamic Connection with no communications or internet connection will be reduced to the default export limit of 1.5kW typically.
Want more information?
For more information on how to decide if a dynamic connection is best for you and how to choose a dynamic connection for your home or small, business, visit our Dynamic connections for homeowners & small business web page.
If you are an installer, visit our Dynamic connections for installers web page for key technical information and how to install and connect a solar PV system under a dynamic connection.