Solar and NEM Requirement

Testing & Commissioning

Testing & Commissioning (T&C) shall be performed by the appointed Contractor.

T&C Report shall be submitted to Sarawak Energy Customer Service Counter for the issuance of NEM Contract, and PV Meter Fee.

Contract for Supply of Electricity (for Solar Photovoltaic Installation Under Net Energy Metering Scheme) shall be issued to and signed by the applicant prior to PV Meter Installation and system commissioning.  Refer to 3.2 of MOU Guidelines.

Connection Fees and Charges

All PV metering cost shall be borne by the NEM Customer.

The unit price of smart meters for NEM are as follows:

• Single phase smart meter: RM 500

• Three phase smart meter: RM 1000

All other connection charges shall be borne by the NEM customer.

Solar PV Generation Capacity Limit

• 12 kWp for Single Phase

• 20 kWp for 3 Phase

Conditions:

• • Subject to quota availability (Not more than 75% of the total maximum transformer loading in the area from 11 hrs to 1500 hrs in the past 6 months

  • Applicants shall install the solar PV system with the capacity that generates energy not exceeding 75% of the average consumption for the past 12 months.

  • For system more than the specified capacities, the applicant shall seek approval from the Director of Electricity Supply, Sarawak.
    
    

Connection

PV Systems shall be connected to Sarawak Energy Distribution Network in accordance with the following requirements:

• Voltage:     Single Phase 240V (+5% and -10%)  |  3 Phase 415V (+5% -10%)

• Voltage Fluctuation:   The maximum voltage fluctuation range allowed due to varying solar radiation is 6%. Beyond this, the utility and consumer equipment will be at risk of overheating.

• Power Factor:    PV Systems shall have a leading or lagging power factor greater than 0.9 and 0.85 respectively when the output is greater than 20% of the rated output power. 

LV Penetration Level for Multiple Installations

Multiple installations of PV in a same LV network will increase the current injection to the respective network. Undesirable over voltage in the LV networks might occur if the magnitude of PV current injection is greater than the load of the LV networks.

Recommendation for PV penetration limits are as follows:

• Maximum allowable Solar PV capacity connected to a single LV feeder is 25 kW. This is to ensure that, under worst case scenario without load, the voltage limit of 240V (+5% and -10%) will not be violated.

• Maximum allowable solar capacity connected to LV feeder pillars is 75% of the local transformer loading.

Interconnection Method

• The Interconnection to Sarawak Energy Distribution Grid System shall be done through Direct Connection. Figure 1 shows the diagram of direct connection between the Prosumer’s Solar PV system and the Grid System.

• The Connection shall be made in accordance with MS IEC 1857 and its updated versions.

Metering Scheme

• A meter shall be installed to measure the energy export of the PV system to Sarawak Energy system. This shall be achieved via a dedicated energy meter (PV Meter) installed at the output of the PV system.

• PV Meter shall be installed as near as possible to Sarawak Energy Meter with maximum distance of 1 meter apart and properly labelled as “PV METER”.

• PV Meter connection to the Grid System shall be done via the existing meter cut-out and neutral link. This point shall be identified as the Common Connection Point (CCP).

• The customer shall be responsible for any installations after the meter.

• The Contractor shall provide and install all the materials required for the system interconnection works.

• All live connection and meter installation works shall be carried out by the authorised Sarawak Energy personnel only.

• For looping connection between cut-outs, 16mm²/Cu or 25mm² Al cable should be used if the meter is installed in separate cabinets (with maximum distance of 1 meter).

• Single phase smart meter shall be installed for application up to 12 kWp.

• 3-phase smart meter shall be installed for application more than 12 kWp but less than or equal to 20 kWp

• Existing Sarawak Energy normal meter shall be replaced by the smart meter.

Grid Connected Photovoltaic (GCPV) 

Switching Coordination Operating Practices

NEM adopts Direct Feed approach

Therefore, proper isolation of customers’ PV Systems from Sarawak Energy Grid System shall be carried out to ensure safety during the Grid shutdown for repair and maintenance works. All GCPV related switching practices and caution notice standards shall comply with Sarawak Energy Distribution Operating Practices Manual, 

Section 9: Grid-Connected Photovoltaic (PV) Switching Coordination Operating Practices and its prevailing versions.

Visible Caution Notices shall be affixed at the following locations:

• Pillar Door

• Pillar way

• Dis-connector Switch – Meter Cutout fuse