Solar Engineering & Western Power Solar Exemptions

Western Power Solar Exemptions – 30 kVA to 200 kVA

Commercial solar installations with an aggregate inverter capacity greater than 30 kVA and up to 200 kVA may be eligible for exemptions from certain Western Power Technical Rules requirements, subject to the system configuration, protection arrangements and applicable approval conditions.

Western Power's technical requirements for commercial solar installations can include interface protection, generator protection, protection duplication, export control and network connection compliance.

PEEC WA assists clients with assessing eligibility for Western Power solar exemptions and preparing the supporting electrical engineering documentation required for submission.

Our solar exemption engineering services include:

• Western Power Technical Rules exemption assessments.

• Review of existing solar inverter and interface protection arrangements.

• Assessment of protection duplication requirements under Western Power Technical Rules Clause 3.6.10.1(d).

• Review of inverter compliance with AS/NZS 4777.2.

• Assessment of external interface protection relays and IEC 60255 compliance where applicable.

• Preparation of electrical single line diagrams and protection schematics.

• Protection grading and discrimination assessments.

• Preparation of Design Conformance Statements and engineering certification where required.

• Liaison with Western Power throughout the application and technical assessment process.

Our objective is to identify practical, compliant engineering solutions that minimise unnecessary equipment upgrades and installation costs while satisfying Western Power's network connection requirements.

Western Power Commercial Solar Applications

Connecting a commercial solar system to the Western Power network requires more than simply selecting compliant solar inverters.

Depending on the inverter capacity, existing electrical infrastructure, proposed export capacity and network conditions, Western Power may require detailed engineering assessments and supporting technical documentation.

PEEC WA provides engineering assistance for new and existing commercial solar installations, including:

• Western Power DER connection applications.

• Commercial solar connection enquiries and feasibility assessments.

• New and existing commercial solar system assessments.

• Solar inverter upgrades and capacity increases.

• Solar export limitation and zero-export system assessments.

• Existing switchboard and electrical infrastructure reviews.

• Western Power network connection requirements.

• Technical responses to Western Power requests for additional information.

We work alongside solar installers and electrical contractors to ensure the proposed solar installation is appropriately designed, documented and coordinated with the existing electrical infrastructure.

Solar Protection Grading & Interface Protection

Commercial solar installations must incorporate appropriate electrical protection to ensure the safe operation of the solar generation system, existing electrical installation and electricity network.

PEEC WA provides protection grading and discrimination assessments for commercial solar installations, including the coordination of generator protection, main switchboard protection and upstream electrical protection devices.

Our services include:

• Protection grading studies using PowerCAD.

• Circuit breaker coordination and discrimination assessments.

• Solar generator main switch protection assessments.

• Interface protection relay reviews.

• Protection relay settings and trip circuit assessments.

• Anti-islanding protection assessments.

• Current transformer (CT) and voltage transformer (VT) connection reviews.

• Solar protection wiring diagrams and schematics.

We assess the interaction between the solar generation system and the existing electrical infrastructure to support compliance with applicable standards and Western Power connection requirements.

Solar Single Line Diagrams & Electrical Engineering Documentation

PEEC WA prepares professional electrical engineering drawings and technical documentation for commercial solar installations.

Our documentation services include:

• Solar electrical single line diagrams (SLDs).

• Main switchboard and distribution board schematics.

• Solar inverter connection arrangements.

• Interface protection wiring diagrams.

• Smart meter and current transformer connection diagrams.

• Export control and monitoring arrangements.

• Emergency Solar Management (ESM) integration assessments, where applicable.

• Solar site plans and equipment layouts.

• Engineering calculation reports and compliance documentation.

Our drawings and reports are prepared to support Western Power applications, electrical contractors, solar installers and commercial property owners throughout the design, approval and installation process.

Solar Engineering Certification & Commissioning Support

PEEC WA provides electrical engineering design reviews and commissioning support for commercial solar PV installations.

Our engineering services can include reviewing protection settings, inverter configuration, export limitation systems, commissioning records and installed electrical equipment against the approved design and applicable connection requirements.

Where required, we coordinate engineering certification and Design Conformance Statements with appropriately qualified and registered electrical engineering professionals.

We work with licensed electrical contractors and solar installers to support the commissioning process, including protection testing, anti-islanding verification, interface protection operation and preparation of documentation for Western Power's Request to Operate process.

Commercial Solar Projects Across Perth & Western Australia

PEEC WA provides solar electrical engineering services for a wide range of commercial and industrial developments, including:

• Commercial warehouses and industrial facilities.

• Shopping centres and retail developments.

• Office buildings and commercial tenancies.

• Schools and educational facilities.

• Local government and community buildings.

• Apartment developments and strata properties.

• Existing commercial buildings undergoing solar upgrades.

• Multi-building sites with multiple solar inverter systems.

Our Perth-based electrical engineering consultancy supports projects throughout Western Australia, with specialist experience in Western Power network connection applications, electrical infrastructure design and commercial solar engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions – Western Power Solar Engineering

Do I need an electrical engineer for a commercial solar system over 30 kVA?

Commercial solar systems greater than 30 kVA may require additional electrical engineering assessments, protection documentation and design certification to satisfy Western Power connection requirements. PEEC WA can assess your proposed installation and determine the engineering documentation required.

What information is required for a commercial solar engineering assessment?

Typically, we require the site address, NMI, Western Power meter details, proposed inverter capacity and model, existing electrical single line diagrams, switchboard details, cable sizes and lengths, and details of the proposed solar protection and export control arrangements. If you can not provide these we can come out to site.