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Technical requirements

 

Technical requirements for renewable energy connections

The Basic Micro EG Connection Technical Requirements or Low Voltage EG Connection Technical Requirements specify the minimum technical requirements for customers connecting renewable energy to our networks. You cannot proceed with any installation until you have received approval from Horizon Power in writing.

Included in the technical requirements are specifications for energy management - to help maintain the reliability of power supply to all our customers. Larger-sized systems that are energy managed, may require energy smoothing, feed-in management (FIM) or export limits. They will also need a System Impact Study to identify the need for network augmentation - for which a fee applies (for both).

 

 

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Technical assessments

Renewable energy systems are categorised as follows:

  • Basic EG Connection: Single phase, up to and including 10 kVA
  • Basic EG Connection: Three phase, up to and including 30 kVA
  • LV EG Connection: Over 30 kVA but less than or equal to 200 kVA
  • LV EG Connection: Over 200 kVA but less than or equal to 1,000 kVA

These categories are further defined by whether your system is located in a Standard or Non-standard network. Horizon Power currently defines these as:

  • Standard networks: Towns located in the North-West Interconnected System (NWIS) which include Karratha, Roebourne, Port Hedland, South Hedland, Cossack and Point Samson.
  • Non-standard networks: All other towns located in Horizon Power’s service area

For all applications seeking to install over 1,000 kVA please contact renewables@horizonpower.com.au

     
Prosumers If your intent is to connect a renewable energy system to a Horizon Power network to partially generate your own electricity and potentially export excess electricity to the Horizon Power network, then you are a Prosumer.

Prosumers are offered the Renewable Energy Buyback contract or the Renewable Energy Commercial Buyback contract.		 For larger, non-residential systems, the total estimated annual renewable energy generation (kWh) should be no more than 20 per cent above the customers’ total annual consumption (kWh) prior to installing the renewable energy generation.
Independent Power Producer If your intent is to supply the renewable energy generated back to Horizon Power as a power producer, then you are an Independent Power Producer (IPP).

A Power Purchase Agreement is negotiated with each IPP.		 If you don't meet the Prosumer rule above, you are deemed to be an Independent Power Producer (IPP).

 

Fees and charges

For systems greater than 5kW, there are fees associated with conducting technical assessments to ensure connecting the system won't impact the stability of the network. More information will be provided to you during the application process. 

View pricing

Schedules, checklists and diagrams

Please complete and attach the relevant schedules to you application, as required for your system size.

Schedule 1

Proponent Compliance Checklist

This is a checklist comprising the key elements that need to be satisfied in order to comply.

Basic Micro EG Customer Compliance Checklist

LV EG Customer Compliance Checklist

Complete the checklist and enter any relevant comments. The checklist must be attached to all applications

Schedule 2

System Diagram

This is a conceptual diagram that illustrates the functional relationships between key subsystems using solid lines. The Customer’s System Diagram shall be in accordance with Appendix B ‘Connection Arrangement Requirements’ of the Basic Micro EG or Low Voltage EG Connection Technical Requirements.

View a sample diagram

A system diagram must be attached to all applications

Schedule 3

Circuit Diagram

This includes one or more diagrams detailing the electrical connections from the point of connection through to the renewable energy source. The Customer’s Circuit Diagram shall be in accordance with Appendix B and the other requirements of the Technical Requirements.

View a sample diagram

A circuit diagram must be attached to all applications

Schedule 4

Cable Data

This is the data associated with power cables connecting the Customer’s grid connected inverter to Horizon Power’s electricity distribution system. This includes the consumer mains cable.

Note that it is the Installer’s responsibility to ensure that voltage rise within the customer’s premises is in accordance with AS/NZS 4777.1

View sample data

Cable data must be attached to all applications.

Schedule 5

System Parameters

The key parameters that are to be implemented in the system are to be captured in this schedule. This will include information on power quality response modes, protection functions etc.

Basic Micro EG System Parameters

LV EG System Parameters

The System Parameters schedule must be attached to all applications.

Schedule 6

Registered Professional Engineer (NER or equivalent) sign-off letter

For all installations that require Generation Management, a registered Professional Engineer shall validate that the design is in accordance with the Connection Technical Requirements and provide supporting documentation. An installer may reuse a NER (or equivalent) declaration for multiple installations providing the installations do not differ with the NER (or equivalent) validated reference design in certain elements.

The National Engineering Register provides a directory of Chartered Professional Engineers.

To avoid any conflict of interest, Chartered Professional Engineers in the employ of Horizon Power are unable to provide NER sign-off letters.

A registered Professional Engineer sign-off must be attached to the application for all systems requiring generation management.

 

Latest industry updates

We'll keep you updated on any changes to our Technical Requirements, training and information sessions.

February 2024

Updates to Horizon Power Technical Requirements

We updated our DER Technical Requirements to remove hosting capacity restraints across most of our networks. To facilitate this change, all new connections will need to be energy managed - with the introduction of Smart Connect Solar. 
If you missed our webinar about the changes to our Technical Requirements, view the links below:

 

October 2023

Inverter configuration update

All systems must be configured with Australia Region C settings in accordance with AS4777.2:2020.

Horizon Power has been made aware of an issue with the connect and reconnect over-frequency setting in AS4777.2:2020 (Section 4.7 in our DER Technical Requirements). For new Basic and LV EG connections, this setting is required to be updated to 50.5Hz to comply with the new Technical Requirements.

Horizon Power is working with Standards Australia to have this updated in AS4777.2:2020. However, in the interim, a manual update to this setting is recommended to ensure inverters operating in our service area work correctly.

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