Guide to Connecting a Distributed Generator - Sustainability Victoria

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5. Five steps to obtain a connection agreementThere are five steps to obtain a connection agreement. To achieve these steps will require time, effort and robustnegotiation.Consider engaging an electrical engineering consultant with expertise in grid connections to manage much of whatis outlined in this section.The five steps to grid connection need to occur in parallel with the design and development of your generatorand negotiation of construction contracts. You should integrate the timeline of these five steps with your project.The success of a generator project is contingent on obtaining a connection agreement.Contracts for the site development and installation of the generator should align with the connection process. Your goal isto reach a connection agreement with your DNSP, by which time you should be ready to finalise all other contracts.Step 1: Pre-feasibilityInitial discussions with DNSP.Step 2: Connection studies and enquiryConnection feasibility study and written enquiry to your DNSP to seekindicative terms and a cost estimate.Step 3: Application to connectFormal submission and application to your DNSP for approvalto connect.Step 4: Connection agreement and generatorinstallationTerms of your agreement to connect including costs negotiatedwith your DNSP.Step 5: Inspection and commissioningGenerator installation, final inspection by ESV and live connectionmade in the presence of your DNSP.Figure 3: Five steps to grid connection16 - Guide to Connecting a Distributed Generator in Victoria
5.1 National Electricity Rules and your connectionSection 5 of the National Electricity Rules addresses new or modified electricity network connections. Schedule 5.2of the Rules covers conditions for the connection of generators.National Electricity (Retail Connection) Amendment Rules 2010 provides more detail including an outline of the expectedprocess for a negotiated connection.The Rules expect both you and the DNSP to use all reasonable endeavours to agree upon relevant technical mattersin respect of a new or altered connection of a generating system to the network including 6 :• Design at the connection point• Physical layout adjacent to the connection point• Primary protection and backup protection• Control characteristics• Communications facilities• Insulation co-ordination and lightning protection• Fault levels and fault clearance• Switching and isolation facilities• Interlocking and synchronising arrangements• Metering installationsThe Rules also note that:“A distributor must use its best endeavours to make a negotiated connection offer to the connectionapplicant within 65 business days after the date of the application for connection (but the time taken bythe applicant to provide information reasonably sought by the distributor will not be counted) 7 .”5.2 Steps to connectionStep 1: Pre-feasibilityThe first step is to identify your DNSP and gather information from their website about their requirements for newconnections. You should know the type, size and mode of operation of the proposed generator, your preferred connectionpoint on the network and the timeframe for the installation.Arrange a face-to-face meeting with the DNSP to discuss their technical requirements and the information needed for aconnection feasibility study. The study will support your written connection enquiry. At this meeting ask questions on allthe issues or concerns you have connecting your generator to the network.Use this meeting to clearly identify what information is required by the DNSP in the written connection enquiry (Step 2).You will need to provide the following information to the DNSP:• Type of generator proposed (e.g. synchronous / asynchronous, see Appendix 4)• Size of generator proposed, in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW)• Connection mode (grid-parallel, island or stand-by)• Geographical location of the proposed generator• Proposed connection point to the electricity distribution network, preferably the nearest zone substation6. National Electricity Rules, Schedule 5.1, Section 5.2.37. National Electricity (Retail Connection) Amendment Rules 2010, Section 5A.F.4Guide to Connecting a Distributed Generator in Victoria - 17
Page 2 and 3: AcknowledgementsSustainability Vict
Page 5 and 6: 1. IntroductionThis guide aims to h
Page 7: Figure 1: Victorian DNSP operationa
Page 11 and 12: Power FactorPower factor is a measu
Page 13 and 14: 4.5 Generator size or power outputT
Page 15: 4.7 Connection voltageThe generator
Page 19 and 20: Step 2: Connection studies and enqu
Page 21 and 22: CHECKLIST - Step 2: Connection enqu
Page 23 and 24: Step 4: Connection agreement and ge
Page 25 and 26: Applicant tasks and milestonesDNSP
Page 27 and 28: Appendix 1: GlossaryTechnical terms
Page 29 and 30: Appendix 2: Setting the contextThe
Page 31 and 32: Environmental considerationsConnect
Page 33 and 34: Protective systemsProtective device
Page 35: Guide to Connecting a Distributed G

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