Keeping your rooftop solar connected to the internet

Your solar system needs a reliable, ongoing internet connection to communicate securely with your distribution network. This connection allows your inverter to receive signals that support:

• monitoring through your inverter manufacturer’s solar app, so you can remotely check your solar system’s performance
• the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Emergency Backstop Mechanism, which helps protect the grid in rare emergency conditions
• access to higher flexible export limits if you have selected them, enabling customers to export more of their excess solar back to the grid. 

When your solar system is installed, your installer will connect the inverter to the internet connection at your home or business. This may be done using Wi-Fi, a plug-in Wi-Fi device, or a wired ethernet connection (cable).

If the internet connection is weak where the inverter is located, your installer can talk to you about ways to improve it. A temporary connection may be used to complete the initial setup, but a reliable, ongoing internet connection at the property is still needed so the inverter stays connected after installation. 

If there is no internet connection at the property, your solar system can still be installed. However, your solar exports will automatically be limited to 1.5 kilowatts (kW). This does not affect how much solar you can use in your home or business. If an internet connection later becomes available, you can talk to your distribution network about moving to a higher flexible export limit.

Before they leave, ask your installer to:

• confirm the internet connection is working
• tell you what details to keep in case you need help later
• help you set up your inverter manufacturer’s solar app, so you can remotely check your solar system’s connection and performance.

Your inverter will usually stay connected to the internet without you needing to do anything. Following these simple steps can help prevent common connection issues:

• Ask your installer about the most reliable connection option at your property (e.g. stable Wi-Fi or wired connection) at installation time.
• Keep your internet modem and router powered on at all times.
• If you change internet provider, modem, Wi-Fi name or password, check whether your inverter also needs to be reconnected.
• Make sure the internet at your new home or business is set up before or soon after moving in.
• Keep a record of your solar retailer, installer, inverter manufacturer and solar app details.

Internet connection issues can occur for everyday reasons, including:

• your modem and/or router is switched off or unplugged
• you changed internet providers or modem equipment
• you changed Wi-Fi names or passwords
• power outages that affect internet devices
• you moved into a new property before internet is connected.

If you think your inverter has lost its internet connection:

1. Check that the internet at your property is working, your modem and router are both switched on, and any cables are properly plugged in.
2. Check whether your inverter is still connected by opening your manufacturer’s solar app, if you have one.
3. If your inverter is disconnected, reconnect it to the internet at your property as soon as possible by following the instructions from your inverter manufacturer. These may be in your solar app, the documents provided at installation, or on the manufacturer’s website.

If you still cannot reconnect your inverter:

Try searching online for instructions on how to reconnect it. You may need your inverter brand and model number, which is usually shown in your solar app, on the inverter label or in the documents provided when your system was installed.

Search online for: “[your inverter brand and model number] Wi-Fi internet connection setup”.

If your new home or business already has rooftop solar, you will need to connect the solar inverter to your new internet connection.

Once your internet is set up:

• find the inverter brand and model number
• download the inverter manufacturer’s solar app, if one is available
• follow the manufacturer’s instructions to connect the inverter to your internet
• check that the inverter is online and the solar app is updating
• keep any solar system documents, warranties and installer details for future reference.

You can usually find the inverter details in the manufacturer’s solar app, on the inverter label, or in documents left at the property. 

If your inverter loses internet connection, you may notice that your solar app stops updating or working properly.

If the connection is lost for an extended period, your solar exports will automatically be limited to 1.5 kilowatts (kW) as a protective measure to keep the electricity network secure. Your system will still generate solar power for use in your home or business, but exports to the grid will be reduced, which may reduce what you earn in feed-in tariffs from your electricity retailer. 

Once your inverter is reconnected to the internet, your system can return to normal export operation.

A reliable, ongoing internet connection allows your solar system to communicate securely with your distribution network. This is important to ensure your system continues to work as expected, responds to network signals that help the grid operate safely, and maintains access to higher flexible export limits if you have selected them. 

If your inverter loses internet connection, you may notice that your inverter manufacturer’s solar app stops updating or working properly.

If your inverter remains offline for an extended period, your solar exports will automatically be limited to 1.5 kilowatts (kW). Your system will still generate solar power for use in your home or business, but exports to the grid will be reduced, which may reduce what you earn in feed-in tariffs from your electricity retailer.

Check whether your inverter is still connected by opening your manufacturer’s solar app, if you have one. 

If your inverter is disconnected, reconnect it using your new internet details as soon as possible by following the instructions from your inverter manufacturer. These may be in your solar app, the documents provided at installation, or on the manufacturer’s website.

If you move into a new property with an existing rooftop solar system, you will need to connect the solar inverter to your new internet connection when it is available by following the guidance above.