Solar Installation and the Australian Standards

Unbeknown to most customers who install solar panels on their homes and businesses, there is a long history of extremely technical work performed by a few of Australia’s electrical experts in writing and continually updating both New Zealand’s and our Standards.

Under the auspice of Standards Australia is a sub-committee known as EL-042 which specialises in the Standards pertaining to renewable energy generators. These Standards are ‘called’ by “The Australian Wiring Rules” (AS/NZS3000), which are legislated, and therefore are enforceable by law.

Electricians who wish to install solar panels used to have to study additional competencies to those of the traditional apprenticeship. Today, apprentices can opt to complete these as an integral part of their course. In addition, electricians need to be accredited by the Clean Energy Council if their customers wish to take advantage of the generous government financial incentives in the form of renewable energy certificates.

Once qualified, the solar panel installers must comply with the Standards written by sub-committee EL-042. These include AS/NZS4509 Stand-alone Power Systems, AS4086 Secondary Batteries, AS/NZS5033 Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays, AS4777 Grid-connection to Inverters and AS1170 Wind Loadings. All works performed by the accredited electricians must be rigorously inspected by an Electrical Inspector prior to connection to the grid.

The solar installer cannot simply walk into their local hardware house and buy the required solar panels, inverters and rails. The Clean Energy Council (CEC) also maintains list of acceptable products that have satisfied all the international and local product standards. Each panel and inverter is rigorously tested to ensure compliance. Once again, if they do not comply, the Clean Energy Regulator will not grant the renewable energy certificate incentives.

Finally, from time to time, funding is provided to independent regulatory bodies to perform random inspections on installed systems. Small teams of experts travel the Country sampling the work of each solar installer and then publish a full report. Rarely, though it has happened, sub-standard work is detected and the inspector may have to shut down the offending system. The solar panel installer is immediately called back to make good the PV system and disciplinary sanctions could be applied with regards to their CEC accreditation.

It’s worth knowing that it may take some time for the commissioned solar system to be connected to the grid. After the mandatory electrical inspection, the electricity distribution business will need to be requested to install a bi-directional meter. This meter has registers (memories) which record the quantity of energy (in kWhs) flowing both from the grid to the premises and vice-versa both for peak and off-peak periods. This meter enables your electricity retailer to send you a bill showing your consumption and feed-in generation.

In most states of Australia, you, the customer are the first to consume your solar generation. If you don’t need all your generation then it will be exported to the grid for the use of your neighbours.
Energis Pty Ltd are experts in the designing and installing of domestic and commercial solar systems. Energis comply with all the above Standards as well as the CEC Guidelines. Please call Energis today on 1300 782 217 for a free solar appraisal of your premises.