Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) is a key policy driving the transition to a cleaner, greener energy system. By incentivising renewable energy generation, the RET has played a pivotal role in reducing emissions and increasing the share of renewables in Australia’s energy mix. At the heart of this transition lies metering, which provides the data needed to track progress, optimise performance and ensure compliance with RET objectives.
The Importance of Metering in Renewable Energy
Accurate and reliable metering systems are essential for:
Measuring Generation:
Ensuring renewable energy systems, such as solar PV and wind farms, generate the expected output to meet RET requirements.
Facilitating Incentives:
Enabling generators to claim Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) by verifying energy production.
Monitoring Grid Impact:
Tracking the performance of renewable systems to ensure grid stability and efficiency.
Driving Optimisation:
Providing insights for operators to improve energy generation and reduce downtime.
Key Standards for Renewable Energy Metering
Metering systems supporting the RET must adhere to strict standards to ensure accuracy and reliability. These include:
IEC 62053-22:
Specifies the requirements for Class 0.2S and 0.5S meters, ensuring high-precision energy measurement.
AS/NZS 4777.1:
Covers the installation of grid-connected inverters, critical for solar PV systems.
National Electricity Rules (NER):
Define metering requirements for systems participating in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Compliance with these standards ensures that renewable energy systems contribute effectively to RET objectives.
Challenges in Meeting RET Objectives
Ensuring Data Accuracy – Accurate metering is vital for verifying renewable energy production and ensuring RECs are allocated correctly. Errors in data collection can undermine the integrity of the RET.
Integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) – The rapid growth of DER, such as rooftop solar and battery storage, presents challenges for metering systems. Advanced metering infrastructure is needed to capture data from these decentralised resources.
Managing Grid Stability – As renewable energy becomes a larger share of the energy mix, metering data plays a crucial role in balancing supply and demand, maintaining grid stability and avoiding disruptions.
SATEC's Solutions for RET Compliance
SATEC’s cutting-edge metering solutions provide the accuracy, reliability and scalability required to support RET objectives. Key products include:
PM180:
A robust platform for monitoring large-scale renewable energy systems, ensuring compliance with Class 0.2S standards and IEC 61000-4-30 Class A.
EM133-XM:
Perfect for smaller-scale installations, providing high-accuracy Class 0.5S energy data for solar PV and DER systems.
PRO Series Meters:
Designed for advanced energy measurement and grid integration, ideal for complex renewable projects.
eXpertPRO™ DIN EM235 Power Quality Analyser
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eXpertPRO™ DIN EM235 Power Quality Analyser
power quality analysers smart grid
eXpertPRO™ DIN EM235 Power Quality Analyser
power quality analysers smart grid
eXpertPRO™ PM335 Power Quality Analyser
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eXpertPRO™ PM335 Power Quality Analyser
power quality analysers
eXpertPRO™ PM335 Power Quality Analyser
power quality analysers
EM133-XM Smart Energy Meter
electrical power meters nmi approved smart meters
EM133-XM Smart Energy Meter
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EM133-XM Smart Energy Meter
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PM180 PQ Analyser, Automation Controller, PMU
pmu power quality analysers smart grid
PM180 PQ Analyser, Automation Controller, PMU
pmu power quality analysers smart grid
PM180 PQ Analyser, Automation Controller, PMU
pmu power quality analysers smart grid
These solutions align with international standards like IEC 62053-22 and Australian regulations, ensuring that stakeholders can trust the data driving RET compliance.
Metering plays an indispensable role in achieving Australia’s Renewable Energy Target. By enabling accurate measurement, facilitating incentives and ensuring grid stability, metering systems are fundamental to advancing the renewable energy transition.
SATEC’s advanced metering solutions empower renewable energy stakeholders to meet RET requirements with confidence. With products like the PM180, PRO Series, EM133-XM, SATEC supports the accurate tracking and optimisation of renewable energy systems, ensuring Australia stays on track to meet its ambitious renewable energy goals. As the nation moves towards a sustainable energy future, reliable metering will remain a cornerstone of success.
Contact our team to discuss our range of RET compliant meters today.
