Fronius Quick Guide - How to set up Export Limiting using the Fronius Smart Meter AU Technical Article [EN]

How to set up Export Limiting

Using the Fronius Smart Meter*

*Single phase or 3-phase Energy Meter

(c) Fronius Australia Pty. Ltd, 01/2015 1/10

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© Fronius Australia Pty Ltd., VH
Version 1.0/2015

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(c) Fronius Australia Pty. Ltd, 01/2015 2/10

Grid

Fronius
Smart Meter

Loads

PV System

Site

switch

1. GENERAL

So called “export limiting” is where the Utility or network operator restricts the amount of energy from PV system

that goes into the grid. I.e. excess energy that is not consumed on the site. In order for the end user to gain the
maximum amount of energy from the system without exceeding the export limit, the inverter output needs to be
able to follow the site load.

The Fronius Datamanager 2.0 is able to limit the inverter output power dynamically and therefore to control and
limit the amount of energy which is export into the grid in accordance to the consumption of the loads.

The Datamanager Card 2.0 offers the following options to control the power output of the inverter:

- Modbus RTU

- Modbus TCP

- 8-bit binary input

- Dynamic Power Reduction using the Fronius Smart Meter

Therefore there are two possible ways to achieve export limiting with Fronius Inverters:

- Using the Fronius Smart Meter. Datamanager controls the inverter as a Master

- 3rd party controller issuing commands to the Datamanager.

The simplest and most cost effective way to achieve export control with Fronius inverters is to use the Fronius
Smart Meter. The meter measures the amount of energy imported or exported to the grid and the Datamanager
uses these values to calculate the appropriate output power of the inverter to limit the export to the grid.

This document describes how to set up export control using the single phase or 3-phase Fronius Smart Meter.

1.1 Location of the Fronius Smart Meter

With the Fronius Smart Meter there are 2 possible energy paths / locations where it can be installed.
The feed-in path or the consumption path.

Feed-in path – bi-directional energy measurement. Load = Meter reading + Inverter power
Consumption path – single direction energy measurement. Load is measured directly.

Due to NET metering and the common way installations are done in Australia, in almost all cases, the Fronius
Smart Meter will be installed in the feed-in path. This is also the default setting on the Datamanager METER
tab.

/ Feed-in point

In this position the solar & the loads are in parallel. The solar is connected to the “load” side of the Fronius

Smart Meter.

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(c) Fronius Australia Pty. Ltd, 01/2015 3/10