Changes to the Australian Standards for inverters (AS/NZS4777.2) impact the commissioning process for installations now and into the future. Solar and battery inverters connecting to the Western Power grid must be installed with AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 ‘Australia Region B’ settings.
As a solar installation professional, it's your legal obligation to be aware of and to comply with these new industry requirements which came into effect on 18 December 2021.
AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 is the Australian Standard for inverters and applies to the grid connection of both solar PV and battery systems. It specifies the performance and behaviour of inverters at low voltages and the necessary tests for compliance. AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 changes are focused on improving grid integration and solar grid hosting capacity within the SWIS while also improving safety.
Residential solar systems are connected to the electricity grid via inverters. Inverters manage how the system interacts with the grid, including how the equipment performs under different grid conditions (such as during voltage or frequency disturbances).
Correct performance of the inverter is critical for both the power system and improved customer experience, as appropriate equipment responses to system events help prevent extended outages.
How to correctly configure inverter settings
To correctly configure solar inverters setting, simply:
- Check if the inverter firmware needs to be updated to the latest available.
- Select your country/region. Some manufacturers may have this pre-selected. Check the manual for details and instructions.
- Select the AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 ‘Australia Region B’ setting via the appropriate menu items on the display screen or app.
- Turn on the device.
The benefits of correctly configuring inverters settings
Correctly configured inverter settings help customers to get the best performance out of their solar systems and prevent inverter nuisance tripping. The correct settings allow the PV system to contribute to manage solar generation when needed to ensure secure power system operation. This also improves the ability for the grid to support the continued addition of solar PV systems.
What happens if you don’t configure to the updated standard?
It is a mandatory requirement to ensure the inverter setting is correctly selected during the installation. If an installation is identified to be non-compliant to the AS/NZS 4777.2:2020 setting requirements, WA Electrical Inspectors may notify the relevant electrical contractor, who will be instructed to rectify the installation.
How does the country code/grid code affect commissioning?
The country code/grid code needs to be correct before commissioning. If incorrect it will need to be changed by the installer via a site visit. In some cases, it may be able to be updated in the inverter manufacturers nominated management platform. Refer to inverter manufacturers information for setting the grid code on how to do this.
The AS/NZS4777.2:2020 Standard can be accessed via Techstreet or SAI Global.
Ensuring the right inverter settings will help towards a decarbonised future for West Australians, enabling the connection of more solar PV and battery systems and improving grid integration, stability and customer experience.