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AS 4777.2-2015
The Grid's Solar Problem — Voltage Rise
When a solar system exports power to the grid, it pushes current backwards through the distribution feeder. If many houses in the same street export simultaneously on a sunny day, the feeder voltage at the end of the street can rise above the permitted supply voltage limit (253 V in Australia). Network distributors manage this with "smart inverter" requirements built into AS 4777.2.
Volt-Watt Response (Mandatory in Most States)
Volt-Watt response requires the inverter to automatically reduce its output power when the local grid voltage exceeds a set threshold, preventing further voltage rise.
Grid Voltage (Vnom = 230 V) | Inverter Response |
|---|---|
Below 235 V (1.02 pu) | Full rated output — no curtailment |
235–253 V (1.02–1.10 pu) | Linear reduction of output power |
Above 253 V (1.10 pu) | Cease export — inverter trips per AS 4777.3 |
Volt-Watt response is mandatory in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and is being adopted nationally. The parameters above are illustrative — each DNSP publishes its specific settings in the network connection requirements.
Volt-VAR Response (Required in SA and Expanding)
Volt-VAR response requires the inverter to absorb or generate reactive power (VAr) to regulate local voltage — without curtailing active power (watts). This is more effective than Volt-Watt alone but requires inverter capacity headroom. When operating at unity power factor, a 5 kW inverter produces 5 kW and 0 kVAr. In Volt-VAR mode, it might produce 4.8 kW and absorb 1.4 kVAr — slightly reducing active power but strongly supporting voltage.
What This Means for System Owners
Systems installed with Volt-Watt enabled may be curtailed on hot, sunny, low-load days — typically 10 am to 2 pm in summer
Annual curtailment loss is typically 1–5% of total yield in high-penetration areas
Inverter must be configured correctly at commissioning — default factory settings may not match DNSP requirements
Some DNSPs now verify Volt-Watt settings remotely via the smart meter before approving the connection
Engr. Jason Morales — Founder, SolarEnergyPH
