ACT Evoenergy Small Generator Connection Technical Requirements Guide

Key Takeaways

• Evoenergy, as the ACT's Distribution Network Service Provider, sets specific technical requirements for connecting small embedded generators to its network.
• All new embedded generation systems, and any alterations including warranty replacements of inverters, require a Special Connection Request (SCR) submitted via the Evoenergy DER Portal.
• Export limits apply: 5 kW for single-phase connections and 10 kW (or 5 kW per phase) for three-phase connections.
• A lockable AC isolation point, safely accessible to Evoenergy personnel at all times, is mandatory for all residential and commercial systems.
• Inverter settings for grid protection, such as Volt-Watt and Volt-Var response, must be configured by an accredited installer according to Evoenergy's specifications.

How to Connect a Small Generator to the Evoenergy Network in the ACT

Connecting a small embedded generator, such as a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, to the electricity network in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) requires adherence to specific technical requirements set by Evoenergy. Evoenergy is the ACT's principal Distribution Network Service Provider (DNSP) and is responsible for ensuring the safety and stability of the electricity grid. These requirements apply to systems with a total capacity of up to 30 kVA (excluding Energy Storage Systems) and up to 60 kVA (including Energy Storage Systems).

The process begins with your accredited solar installer submitting a Special Connection Request (SCR) through the Evoenergy Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Portal. This application ensures that your system's design and proposed operation comply with Evoenergy's Service and Installation Rules and technical specifications before connection.

What is Actually Going On

Evoenergy manages the connection of over 60,000 embedded generation systems, predominantly solar PV, to its network. To maintain grid stability, power quality, and safety, Evoenergy mandates specific technical requirements for all new and modified installations. These requirements ensure that embedded generators operate harmoniously with the wider electricity network and can respond appropriately to grid conditions.

The core of this process is the Special Connection Request (SCR) submitted by your installer via the Evoenergy DER Portal. This portal serves as the central point for managing applications, tracking progress, and submitting commissioning data. The information collected includes detailed system specifications, inverter settings, and operational modes. Even minor changes, such as a warranty replacement of an inverter, necessitate a new SCR application to ensure ongoing compliance.

Evoenergy categorises small embedded generation systems based on their connection type and capacity:

• Small - Single Phase: For sites with a single-phase network connection, the maximum capacity for inverters with connected PV is 10 kVA, and the total of all inverters (including PV, Energy Storage Systems, and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) is 20 kVA. The export limit for these systems is 5 kW.
• Small - Three Phase: For sites with a three-phase network connection, the maximum capacity for inverters with connected PV is 30 kVA, and the total of all inverters is 60 kVA. The export limit for these systems is 10 kW total or 5 kW per phase.

These limits and requirements are designed to manage the impact of distributed generation on the local network infrastructure.

Inverter Settings and Grid Protection Parameters

Inverters for small embedded generation systems connected to the Evoenergy network must be configured with specific settings to ensure grid stability and safety. These settings are critical for managing voltage fluctuations, reactive power, and preventing islanding (where the generator continues to power a section of the grid after the main supply has been disconnected). Your accredited installer is responsible for configuring these parameters according to Evoenergy's technical requirements and AS/NZS 4777.2.

In addition to these specific parameters, inverters must be certified compliant with AS/NZS 4777.2 by an authorised testing laboratory and registered with the Clean Energy Council (CEC) as approved grid-connect or multiple mode inverters.

For three-phase connections, phase balancing is also crucial. Evoenergy requires installers to limit the capacity of single-phase inverters on each phase to 5 kVA or less. If a single-phase inverter exceeds 5 kVA per phase, current balance protection must be implemented across all available phases. Export controls must also prevent more than 5 kW of export on any individual phase at all times. Single-phase inverters with PV connected should be installed on the phase with the lowest recorded voltage.

What You Can Check Yourself, and What You Cannot

As a homeowner, your primary role is to ensure that your accredited installer adheres to Evoenergy's technical requirements. You should not attempt to change inverter settings yourself. Grid-protection settings are configured by an accredited installer, and altering them can breach your connection agreement with Evoenergy and potentially compromise grid safety.

What you can check yourself:

1. Lockable AC Isolation Point: Verify that a lockable AC isolation point is installed and is safely accessible to Evoenergy personnel at all times. This means it should not be behind fences (unless an access gate with an Evoenergy padlock is provided and documented), inside residential buildings or garages, and must always be kept clear. This isolation point must be clearly identified with permanent weatherproof labelling.
2. Switchboard Labelling: Check that your switchboard and any external isolation switches are clearly labelled. If the external isolation switch is not adjacent to the main switchboard or metering location, signage must be placed at the metering or main switchboard indicating its location. If there are multiple external isolation switches, they should be labelled with the total number of switches and the locations of the others (e.g., "EG isolation point 1 of 3").
3. Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES): Ensure your installer provides you with a completed Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES). This document, required by Access Canberra, verifies that the electrical work meets safety standards and is completed by a licensed electrician. A copy of the CES must be included in your system's manual and submitted to Evoenergy as part of the commissioning data.
4. Inverter Serial Numbers: Confirm that inverter serial numbers are visible. If they are not visible without exposing live parts, a label indicating the serial number must be attached to the outside of the inverter where it can be easily read.

What you cannot do yourself:

• Change Inverter Settings: Do not attempt to adjust any inverter settings related to grid connection, voltage, frequency, or power quality response modes. These are configured by accredited installers to comply with Evoenergy's network requirements.
• Modify Wiring or Equipment: Any modifications to your embedded generation system's wiring or equipment must be performed by a licensed electrician and may require a new Special Connection Request (SCR) with Evoenergy.
• Bypass Safety Devices: Never bypass or tamper with safety devices such as the lockable AC isolation switch or circuit breakers.

Systems found to be non-compliant with Evoenergy requirements or Australian Standards may be disconnected from the network for safety reasons. Non-compliance includes operating a system without Evoenergy approval, altering it without approval, or not configuring it to the specified technical requirements.

What the Published Sources Do Not Tell You

While Evoenergy provides comprehensive technical requirements for small embedded generation, there are certain details that are not explicitly covered in the publicly available documents or require further clarification:

• AS/NZS 4777.2 Standard Details: The technical requirements frequently reference AS/NZS 4777.2, the Australian and New Zealand standard for grid connection of energy systems via inverters. However, the full content of this standard is a paid document and is not provided by Evoenergy. Specific inverter trip thresholds are set in this standard, and while Evoenergy specifies the behaviour, the exact numbers are not always listed in the public documents. Your installer or inverter distributor can confirm what is configured on your inverter.
• Full Service and Installation Rules: Evoenergy's "Service and Installation Rules (Version 12)" are mentioned as setting out requirements for connecting equipment to their networks. However, the full text of these rules is not provided Under network connection rules, only references to them. The embedded generation technical requirements are to be read in conjunction with these broader rules.
• Specific Feed-in Tariffs: While network documentation mentions that new PV systems not requiring an export limit and like-for-like replacements may not incur a fee, specific details on solar feed-in tariffs from retailers like ActewAGL were not directly sourced from the provided URLs, as one URL returned a "Page Not Found" error. Feed-in tariffs are typically determined by electricity retailers rather than the network distributor.
• Detailed Switchboard Labelling Beyond Isolation: While requirements for labelling isolation points and remote isolation signage are clear, highly granular details on general switchboard labelling beyond these specific safety aspects are not extensively detailed as a separate section in the provided documents.