Solar Export Limit

What it means

When you connect a solar system, your distribution network operator (DNO) - the company that owns the poles and wires in your area - sets a limit on how much power your system can export to the grid. For most single-phase residential connections in Australia, this is currently 5 kW.

This limit exists because the local network infrastructure has limited capacity. Too many households exporting simultaneously can cause voltage rise on low-voltage feeders, potentially damaging appliances and destabilising the local network.

State and network variations

Export limits vary by network operator:

• Ausgrid (NSW/ACT): 5 kW single-phase, 15 kW three-phase
• Endeavour Energy (NSW): 5 kW single-phase
• Ergon/Energex (QLD): 5 kW single-phase; some areas zero export depending on local network capacity
• SA Power Networks: 5 kW single-phase, with some high-solar areas having zero export
• Jemena/CitiPower/Powercor (VIC): Typically 5 kW, though network approval required above certain sizes
• Synergy (WA): 5 kW single-phase under the standard process

Some networks in areas with very high solar penetration have reduced this to 1.5 kW or even zero-export in specific streets - where approval requires a custom assessment and sometimes equipment upgrades.

Why this matters for system sizing

A 10 kW solar system with a 5 kW export limit will frequently hit the cap on sunny days. The energy above 5 kW that isn’t being consumed in the home is either curtailed (wasted) or, with a smart inverter, throttled back to exactly 5 kW export plus whatever the home is consuming.

This changes the economics of large systems. A 10 kW system without battery storage wastes generation above the export cap + house load every sunny midday. The same 10 kW system with a battery can store that surplus for evening use instead.

Many CEC-accredited designers now recommend sizing systems to match the export limit plus anticipated daytime self-consumption rather than maximising panel count, unless battery storage is part of the plan.

Dynamic export

Some networks and inverters now support dynamic export - the inverter communicates with a smart meter in real time and adjusts the export rate based on actual local conditions rather than a fixed cap. This is still emerging in Australia and requires compatible infrastructure on both sides.