Minimum system load emergencies are rare but have the potential to lead to local or state-wide blackouts. The emergency backstop addresses this risk by providing a last-resort safety net, to remotely dial down excess energy and restore the system to a secure state.
To ensure we can keep safely installing rooftop solar and support the renewable energy transition, new, upgrading and replacement solar systems in Victoria will need to be installed to comply with the emergency backstop requirements.
On this page are links to resources to step solar installers through the emergency backstop requirements and how to comply.
Update: emergency backstop for small and medium solar systems
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is aware that distribution businesses are experiencing challenges in implementing certain processes necessary for the operation of the incoming emergency backstop for small and medium solar systems (up to 200 kW). DEECA has reviewed the industry’s readiness to meet a 1 July 2024 commencement date.
To support a smooth transition to the new requirements, the emergency backstop for small and medium systems will now commence on 1 October 2024.
The requirement for distribution businesses to implement utility servers remains at 1 July 2024 to support certified solar system testing.
eLearning for installers
This eLearning course is designed to guide solar installers through the new obligations for solar installations to be capable of being remotely turned off during system security emergencies.
It is offered free of charge to accredited installers and designers and solar businesses working in Victoria and covers the following in a self-paced, structured and flexible format:
- introduction to the new requirements for solar installations in Victoria
- industry compliance with CSIP-AUS (Common Smart Inverter Profile Australia) compliant inverters
- how the emergency backstop will enable solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to be remotely turned down or switched off during system security emergencies, as a last resort
- how the requirements apply to different types of PV systems.
Click below to access the eLearning course in LearnLAB, the Clean Energy Council’s Learning Management System, then select ‘CPD Elective’ (20 CPD points are available).
Guidance for installers
For a summary of the steps involved in each stage of the installation journey and helpful links to more detailed information, see Industry guidance.
You can also download a detailed Emergency backstop industry guide. This guidance is intended to support solar installers to navigate a solar system installation in Victoria.
The emergency backstop mechanism
Victoria's emergency backstop mechanism for solar will make sure that solar exports can be safely managed and enable more households to get the benefits and annual bill savings associated with solar. It will help to avoid blackouts by enabling rooftop solar systems to be turned down or switched off when there is too much power in the grid.
Rooftop solar installers will need to install new, upgrading or replacement solar systems (less than or equal to 200kVA) to comply with Victoria’s emergency backstop requirements.
Typically, this will involve:
- selecting CSIP-AUS compliant equipment (or combination of equipment) connecting the inverter(s) to the internet – a requirement under section 4.2.1 of the Notice to Market, effective 1 March 2024
- connecting the inverter(s) to the internet, and
- configuring the installation to communicate with the relevant distribution business’ utility server.
To be emergency backstop enabled, a solar system must be able to communicate using CSIP-AUS and be connected to the internet.
The use of CSIP-AUS technology aligns with existing mechanisms in other states. Victoria is implementing CSIP-AUS technology so that our approach maximises national consistency, including through the use of a single national product list of inverters with software communication channels compliant to CSIP-AUS.
For more information, see Victoria's emergency backstop mechanism for solar.
Solar industry guidance
Use this guidance to help keep workers and customers safe and put industry leading standards into practice.
Notice to Market to lift standards and quality across Victoria’s solar industry
Solar Victoria has released its Notice to Market for 2024–25, to ensure all clean energy systems are installed safely, are fit-for-purpose and future-ready under the Solar Homes Program.
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