Renewable energy
Generate your own energy and sell back to the grid
Alternative energy – also known as distributed generation – refers to a variety of technologies that generate electricity at or near where it will be used, like solar, wind, hydro, gas or biomass energy.
Your location or conditions may suit generating your own energy – such as lots of sun or wind, or a running stream of water.
Generating your own electricity can contribute towards better sustainability. You may even generate more electricity than you use, which you can store in a battery or sell back to an energy retailer through the grid.
It can be complex however, and it pays to look at the cost versus benefits over the life of the electricity system to ensure it’s worth doing.
Learn more about using renewable energy at your place
Going off-grid
Selling electricity back to the grid
Any excess power that you generate can be sold back to an energy retailer. You’ll need to connect to the Northpower network to do this.
Connection to our network also lets you use power provided by Northpower and your energy retailer when your system isn’t operating or producing enough energy for your electricity needs.
Connecting to Northpower's network
There’s a detailed process for connecting any system to our network because we need to consider:
- electrical safety and compliance
- our network capacity to handle excess electricity coming into it
- any adverse effects from a new connection that could interrupt the electricity supply
If you’re considering installing new or additional small-scale generation it’s very important to follow the processes in clauses 4.3 and 6 of Northpower’s Technical Requirements for Small Scale Distributed Generation before committing to the purchase of new generation.
Connection of large-scale generation (1MW or above) is always engineered on a case-by-case basis. You’ll find the charges for assessing the initial application of large-scale generation systems outlined below.
You’ll need to develop your design outlining electricity capacity, energy production and electrical system specifications.
At this point you might want to contact your energy retailer to discuss your proposal and complete any commercial arrangements they require.
If your proposed generation is 10kW or larger please download and complete this form, then attach it to your online application.
If your proposed generation is less than 10kW please complete our application form.
Application fees for distributed generation above 10kW
Maximum output
0 kW to 10 kW
10 kW to less than 100 kW
100 kW to less than 1 MW
1 MW or over
All fees exclude GST
Please note: You’ll need to pay our application fee invoice, before we process your application
Fee
$100
$500
$1,000
$5,000
Connection and operation standards
Our connection requirements for distributed generation can be found here:
Technical requirements for small scale distributed generation (<10kW)
Technical requirements for large scale distributed generation (>10kW)
List of inverters approved for connection to the Northpower network
We'll take it from here
Once your application has been submitted, we’ll check that our network has capacity and ensure there’ll be no adverse effects for our users.
We’ll advise if any changes (including additional support) are needed and when completed we’ll approve your application.
The approval notice will include any relevant technical conditions like maximum net power and power factor.
You can then arrange installation, inspection and livening. Your installer and retailer will need a copy of our approval form.
When the system is connected, the installer/electrician needs to complete a CoC (Certificate of Certification) and the inspector needs to complete a RoI (Record of Inspection). Both need to complete a Livening Form.
The Livening Form and RoI must be returned to Northpower within five days of the system being connected to our network to comply with Part 6 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code.
Unless a connection contract has been entered into, distributed generation is on the regulated terms in accordance with Schedule 6.2 of Part 6 of the Electricity Industry Participation Code.
There’s currently no specific locations on the Northpower network that we’re aware of:
- export congestion for small-scale generation connected to the low voltage network, or
- export congestion for small-scale generation to occur within the next 12 months
It’s highly likely for export congestion to occur as more generation is connected to our network. These maps show congestion and potential congestion based on current applications in progress and is subject to change as further applications are lodged.
Network congestion
Thinking about an electric vehicle?
If you’re considering purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), you can find some helpful advice on what to look for and charging considerations.