[Guide] Solar Power Residential Consumers.pdfhttps://www.spgroup.com.sg/dam/jcr:f9c85889-9b43-4312-a3fc-5a5bcc55aaa6/%5BGuide%5D%20Solar%20Power%20Residential%20Consumers.pdfSolar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Electricity Generation Licence ..................................................................................................... 3 3. Electrical Installation ...................................................................................................................... 3 4. Connection Requirements ........................................................................................................... 5 5. Market Settlement ......................................................................................................................... 7 6. Monitoring Requirements ............................................................................................................ 8 7. AMI Meter Charges ....................................................................................................................... 8 8. Decommissioning Requirements .............................................................................................. 10 9. PV Directory ................................................................................................................................. 11 December 2022 1 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers 1. Introduction This section provides information applicable for residential consumers with embedded solar PV systems (i.e. consumers who install solar PV systems on their rooftops to reduce their electricity consumption). A brief summary of the relevant processes can be found in the flow chart below. Please refer to the following sections for more information. For more information on the policy and regulatory framework for solar, please refer to EMA’s website. Figure 1: Overview Process for Residential Consumers with Embedded Solar PV Systems Start Solar PV owner to engage Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) to be responsible for the electrical works associated with the solar PV system Appointed LEW to submit the required documents to SP Services (SPS) (refer to Connection Requirements section for more details) No SP PowerGrid (SPPG) to evaluate and discuss with LEW on the technical requirements and specifications of the solar PV system Comply with technical requirements? SPS to inform LEW to proceed with Turn-On application • For those register under the “Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme”, SPS will arrange for opening of account after Turn-On. • For those register under the “Simplified Credit Scheme”, SPS will arrange to effect the scheme after Turn-On. End Yes End Note: Residential consumers refer to residential consumers not under master-sub arrangement December 2022 2 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers 2. Electricity Generation Licence The electricity licensing requirements for solar PV systems will be based on the aggregate of the Alternating Current (AC) inverter capacities (“installed generation capacity”) at the point of connection 1 to the grid. Any person who engages in the generation of electricity with a solar PV system with installed generation capacity of 1 MWac or more but less than 10 MWac is required to apply to EMA for a Wholesaler (Generation) Licence. For installed generation capacity of 10 MWac or more, he has to apply for a Generation Licence. All relevant licences should be obtained before any turn-on of solar PV installations. A summary of the licensing requirements is shown in the table below. Table 1: Licensing Requirements for Solar PV Systems Installed Capacity of Solar PV System Connected to the Power Grid? Type of Licence* Below 1 MWac 1 MWac or more but less than 10 MWac Yes No Yes No Yes 10 MWac or more No * An Electrical Installation Licence may still be required. Exempted Wholesaler (Generation) Licence Exempted Generation Licence Application for the wholesaler or generation licence can be made on EMA’s website: http://www.ema.gov.sg/Licensees_Electricity_Licences.aspx 3. Electrical Installation An electrical installation refers to any electrical wiring, fitting or apparatus used for the conveyance and control of electricity in any premises. A solar PV system installed within such premises forms part of the consumer’s electrical installation and should comply with the requirements stipulated in the Electricity Act (Cap. 89A), the Electricity (Electrical Installations) Regulations and the Singapore Standard CP5 Code of Practice for Electrical Installations. 1 The point of connection refers to the point at which the solar PV system is connected directly or indirectly to SP PowerAsset’s substation. December 2022 3 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers All electrical work for an electrical installation, including a solar PV system, must be undertaken or carried out by a Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs). Such electrical work includes new wiring, rewiring and extensions which have to be tested before the supply is turned on. When consumer needs any electrical work to be done at his premises, he is advised to check that the person whom he intends to engage to undertake or perform the electrical work has a valid electrical worker licence issued by the Authority. It is an offence for a person: i. To carry out or caused to be carried out any electrical work unless he holds a valid electrical worker licence; or ii. To engage knowingly any person who is not a licensed electrical worker to carry out any electrical work. For more details, you may wish to refer to ELISE website for the list of LEW. Electrical Installation Licence All electrical installations used exclusively for domestic purposes except multi-metered premises are exempted from this requirement. Safety requirements Solar PV system requires regular inspection and maintenance to ensure that the system remains efficient and safe for operation. In most cases, equipment manufacturers will provide maintenance guidelines for their specific components. It is important to ensure that the maintenance requirement is carried out according to the recommendation and certified by a LEW. December 2022 4 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers 4. Connection Requirements If you intend to connect and operate your solar PV system in parallel to the power grid, your appointed LEW will have to complete the online Application Form and submit the following documents to SPS via Singapore Power (SP) eBusiness Portal: • Document Checklist and Declaration of Compliance to SP Powergrid’s (SPPG) Technical Requirements • Application for Net Export Rebate Form • Letter of Consent • PQ Compliance Report • Inverter(s) Specifications • Solar panel(s) Specifications • Inverter(s) Type Test Reports (Harmonics, Flicker, DC Injection) • Single Line Diagram (from PV system to Point of Common Coupling (PCC) • PSO Data Form (only applicable for solar PV system 1 MWac and above) Thereafter, your appointed LEW will have to consult SPPG on the connection scheme and technical requirements. The simplified connection and turn-on application process for solar PV systems are illustrated in Figure 2 and 3. December 2022 5 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers Figure 2: Application Process for Solar PV System Connection Start Appointed LEW to submit relevant documents to SPS SPS to inform LEW (via Letter) to proceed with Turn-On Application SPPG to evaluate technical specifications of the solar PV system pertaining to PQ requirements Compliance with technical requirements? Yes No LEW to re-submit technical requirements after clarification LEW to proceed with Turn-On Application (refer to Fig 3 for Turn-On application process) End SPPG sends technical assessment completion letter to LEW End December 2022 6 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers Figure 3: Turn-On Application Process for Solar PV System Start LEW to submit Turn-On application to SPS LEW to arrange with Meters Section to install meters SPS to witness the commissioning of solar PV system on the scheduled Turn-On date End 5. Market Settlement An overview of the available payment schemes can be found on EMA’s website. Non-contestable consumers (NCCs) Currently for residential NCCs with solar PV system, the solar energy produced is first offset by their consumption of that premise. Should there be excess solar energy to be exported back to the grid, they will receive payment (the prevailing low-tension electricity tariff minus grid charge) from SP Services (SPS) by way of credit adjustment to the monthly electricity bill. The quarterly revised low-tension electricity tariff can be found at the SP Group website (www.spgroup.com.sg). Contestable consumers (CCs) With the introduction of the Open Electricity Market “OEM”, residential CCs with solar PV system less than 10 MWac, is eligible to sell his excess output through SPS under the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme (ECIS). SPS will act as a central intermediary, by passing through the payment and relevant market charges to consumers. Excess solar electricity sold back to the grid will be paid the weighted average nodal price. December 2022 7 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers Such consumers can either choose (a) to install a meter to accurately measure the solar electricity generated, or (b) to estimate their solar generation. For option (a), consumers will need to install the relevant metering arrangement at each generation point. More details on the meters can be found in Section 7, AMI Meter Charges. For option (b), the solar generation will be estimated based on the Solar Generation Profile (SGP) 2 for the calculations of the relevant payment and market charges. Consumers need not install any meters. 6. Monitoring Requirements With the expected increase in solar PV systems in Singapore, the Power System Operator (PSO) would need to manage the intermittent nature of such sources to ensure that the security and reliability of the power system is not compromised. Most importantly, PSO also needs to ensure that sufficient reserve capacity is available to respond to sudden fluctuations in solar output. Hence, PSO shall require solar PV systems with an installed capacity of 1 MWac and above at each site/facility to provide the Active Power output (AC-side) of its solar PV system(s), sampled at one-minute intervals and solar irradiance from sensor installed in close proximity to the PV panels. For more detailed technical requirement, please contact EMA at EMA_PSO_EMA@ema.gov.sg. 7. AMI Meter Charges This section is only applicable to residential consumers who register their embedded solar PV systems under the ECIS and chose to install an AMI meter. The owner of the generation facility (i.e. solar PV system) is the Meter Equipment Service Provider (MESP) for the meter installation associated with it. However, consumers with embedded generation facility (with installed capacity of less than 10 MWac) may choose to engage SPPG to provide, install and maintain the generation meter. The fees applicable for providing such services by SPPG are shown in the table below: 2 The SGP is approved by the Energy Market Authority (“EMA”) and is based on factors such as Singapore's historical average solar irradiance from 7am to 7pm. This is standardised for all consumers with embedded solar PV systems and will be updated by EMA as new information becomes available. December 2022 8 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers Table 2.1: Metering Charges for Generation Meters (inclusive of 7% GST before 1 st Jan 2023) Main & Check Meters Main & Check Meters Main & Check Meters Main Meters Only Per Generation Unit / Metering Point At 66kV and above At 6.6kV / 22kV At Low Tension At Low Tension Upfront charge (One time) $5,938.50 $5,938.50 $2,247.00 $1,498.00 Monthly charge (Recurring) $214.00 $85.60 $42.80 $21.40 Miscellaneous charge a) Attending to request for site enquiry during office hours (minimum 3 hours per request). b) Attending to communication / meter failure during office hour. Charges will be waived if it is due to equipment failure. c) Attending to adhoc request by customer for meter accuracy test with SAC- SINGLAS test report. $42.80 per hour $42.80 per hour $42.80 per hour $42.80 per hour $85.60 per trip $85.60 per trip $85.60 per trip $85.60 per trip $1,926.00 per meter $1,926.00 per meter $706.20 per meter $706.20 per meter Table 2.2: Metering Charges for Generation Meters (inclusive of 8% GST with effect from 1 st Jan 2023) Main & Check Meters Main & Check Meters Main & Check Meters Main Meters Only Per Generation Unit / Metering Point At 66kV and above At 6.6kV / 22kV At Low Tension At Low Tension Upfront charge (One time) $5,994.00 $5,994.00 $2,268.00 $1,512.00 Monthly charge (Recurring) $216.00 $86.40 $43.20 $21.60 Miscellaneous charge d) Attending to request for site enquiry during office hours (minimum 3 hours per request). e) Attending to communication / meter failure during office hour. Charges will be waived if it is due to equipment failure. f) Attending to adhoc request by customer for meter accuracy test with SAC- SINGLAS test report. $43.20 per hour $43.20 per hour $43.20 per hour $43.20 per hour $86.40 per trip $86.40 per trip $86.40 per trip $86.40 per trip $1,944.00 per meter $1,944.00 per meter $712.80 per meter $712.80 per meter December 2022 9 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers 8. Decommissioning Requirements If you intend to decommission the entire solar PV system installed in your premises any time after they have been connected to the Transmission System, your appointed LEW will have to complete the decommissioning form and submit to SP Powergrid Ltd at least 30 days in advance before the intended decommission commences. However, if the intent is to revise the solar PV capacity installed in your premises any time after they have been connected to the Transmission System, your appointed LEW will have to complete the online Application Form and submit the following documents to SPS via Singapore Power (SP) eBusiness Portal: • Document Checklist and Declaration of Compliance to SP Powergrid’s (SPPG) Technical Requirements • Application for Net Export Rebate Form • Letter of Consent • PQ Compliance Report • Inverter(s) Specifications • Solar panel(s) Specifications • Inverter(s) Type Test Reports (Harmonics, Flicker, DC Injection) • Single Line Diagram (from PV system to Point of Common Coupling (PCC) • PSO Data Form (only applicable for solar PV system 1 MWac and above) December 2022 10 Solar PV – User Guide for Residential Consumers 9. PV Directory For enquiries on the following matters pertaining to solar PV systems, you may wish to contact the following: Energy Market Authority (EMA) Matters on: Electricity Licences Electrical Installation Licence Licensed Electrical Workers (LEWs) Policy and Regulatory Framework Monitoring Requirements Contact Information Economic Regulation & Licensing Department Email: ema_enquiry@ema.gov.sg Tel: 6835 8000 Electricity Resilience & Regulation Department Email: lei_ema@ema.gov.sg Tel: 6835 8000 Policy Department Email: ema_ppd@ema.gov.sg Tel: 6835 8000 Energy Management Systems Department Email: EMA_PSO_EMS@ema.gov.sg Tel: 6835 8000 Energy Market Company (EMC) Matters on: Market Registration Market Payment / Charges Contact Information Market Administration Email: MPRegistration@emcsg.com Tel: 6779 3000 SP PowerGrid (SPPG) Matters on: Technical Clarification regarding Connection to the Grid Contact Information Asset Management & Projects Department Email: DERenquiries@spgroup.com.sg Tel: 6916 8888 SP Services (SPS) Matters on: Application for Connection to the Grid and Market Settlement with SPS Contact Information Electrical Installation Section Email: install@spgroup.com.sg Tel: 6916 7200 December 2022 11