Export

limitation
Table of contents

03 Terms and definitions

04 Requirements

05 Export limitation overview

08 Meter configuration

13 Export limitation configuration

14 Export limitation control setup

17 Export limitation control monitoring

18 Troubleshooting

19 Annex
3

Terms and definitions

Installer for solar inverters Fallback activation time

Mobile app, available for Android and iOS, required to configure The amount of time allowed, where the output power measured
the export limitation control. or evaluated at the Point of Connection can continuously exceed
the export limit, before triggering the fallback plan.
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, a protocol where a DHCP Fallback set-point
server automatically configures the IP settings of the client The amount of active power provided by the inverter when a
devices with DHCP enabled. fallback plan is ongoing.

Consumer reference system Fixed IP private address

A power reference system where the current absorbed from the An IP address not assigned by DHCP where the IP settings
grid assumes a positive sign, opposite to the generator reference (IP Address, IP Gateway, Subnet Mask, DNS) are manually
system. configured by the user.

Control set-point Generator reference system

The active power target of the export limitation control, A power reference system where the current generated by the PV
calculated as the export limit minus a guard band. It cannot plant and injected into the grid assumes a positive sign, opposite
exceed the export limit. to the consumer reference system. The export limitation function
requires the measurement instruments to be aligned with this
Export limit reference system.
The maximum amount of active power that is permitted to be
injected by the generators into the grid at the Point of Guard band
Connection. The amount of active power used to guarantee an operating
margin for the export limitation control. The guard band also
Export limitation control includes the accuracy of the measurement equipment to ensure
The set of export limitation settings and functionality to a reliable export limit at the Point of Connection.
guarantee that the export limit is not exceeded.
Operative re-entry time
Fallback The amount of time the inverter will wait before leaving the
An operative mode, with its own settings, that is activated when fallback when there is no communication with the energy meter.
the PV plant cannot meet the export limit requirement. Any event that can trigger the fallback must be continuously
The fallback must be enabled and properly configured for a inactive during the waiting time to permit to the export limitation
fail-safe design. control to leave a fallback condition.

Fail-safe operations Point of Connection (PoC)

The capability of the export limitation control to satisfy the The contractual electrical point where export limitation must be
export limit requirement also in case of one or more failure ensured.
scenarios.
Control Method
Defines if Export Limitation shall control the output power
according to the overall active net power across all phases or the
power on each phase.

Aurora Vision
FIMER cloud solution for PV plant monitoring and management.
4

Requirements

Before enabling the export limitation control the following

requirements must be met:
Requirements for export
limitation control
Requirements for the
Installer for solar inverters 1. Any inverter involved in export limitation control must be
Ethernet connected. However, it is not strictly mandatory
to have a direct connection among inverters and
1. A mobile device, smartphone or tablet, with the following networking devices can be installed between inverters.
minimum requirements must be available on site: In case of a firewall, this must not block TCP port 5556 or
• Android release 6.0.1 or higher the multicast IP group 239.192.1.1.
• iOS release 11.0 or higher.
2. Any Ethernet IP addresses of inverters involved with the
2. Installer for solar inverters must be correctly installed on export limitation control must be configured within the
the above smartphone. same LAN and subnet mask.

3. A valid Aurora Vision account must be available. This can 3. Energy meter and inverter firmware release must support
be created directly within the app if an Internet connection is the export limitation according to Annex 1.
available on the mobile device.
4. A compatible energy meter must be properly installed
4. The above smartphone must be connected to the Internet and configured at the Point of Connection according to
to perform the login using the Installer for solar inverters. It is meter manual and the Meter configuration chapter.
possible to log in at an earlier stage.
5. A generator reference system must be used according to
Points 3 and 4 are required for the login process from the Reference system chapter. However, in case of a different
Installer for solar inverters app reference system, it is possible to align it as described in
Step 3: verify the reference system and meter data
acquisition.
NOTE: The Installer for solar inverters mobile app is
not compatible with Huawei smartphones or tablets. NOTE: If an inverter is replaced with an already
used spare, a connectivity factory reset must be
performed before connecting the Ethernet cable
to the inverter.

NOTE: The energy meter requires to be the only

device acquired by the inverter when a RS-485
direct connection is in place. In case another
device should be added through RS-485, this
should be connected to another inverter or
through Modbus TCP/IP protocol.
5

Export limitation overview

Many distribution network operators (DNOs) limit the generator A communication channel between the inverters and meter
size or the amount of power allowed to be exported. must be set up. Communication between the inverter and meter
Export limitation is a control function that limits the overall power can be realized in three different ways:
exported into the grid and meets the grid code requirements. • a direct serial RS-485 connection between the inverter and
When a grid code requires an export limit to be set, it is possible energy meter
to satisfy the requirement with FIMER inverters and a meter, • a direct Ethernet connection between inverter and energy
without the need for external controllers or additional devices. meter
An example of an export limitation with no injection is provided in • through or an existing network infrastructure
Figure 1 - Export limitation example, where the inverters follow
the load consumption to guarantee that no power is exported at Connection between inverters is always realized by an Ethernet
the Point of Connection. connection. Refer to the inverter manuals for details on the
Any time the PV power available on the inverters is greater than possible Ethernet connection options.
the load profile (red line), the inverter will reduce its own output
power to satisfy the export limit requirement, while the exceeding
power will be lost.
Any time the PV power available on the inverters is lower than the
load profile (yellow line), the export limit requirement is
Exported
automatically satisfied, and the inverter will provide the full power power
available from the solar source.
Consumed Generated Network
power power infrastructure

Lost energy

P available Load profile

Inverter output Load profile

Exported energy

Power@PoC Imported energy

Exported Direct connection

Figure 1 - Export limitation example power

NOTE: As shown in Figure 1 - Export Limitation Consumed Generated

example, it is not possible to completely avoid power power
exceeding the export limit in case of a sudden
change in the load but the time the power exceeds
the export limit is constrained by the control.

Connection diagram
Export limitation curtails the overall power exported from
the PV site into the grid as the net power flowing measured
Serial connection
at the Point of Connection. To achieve this control it is Ethernet connection
Electrical connection
required to install a compatible energy meter according to
Annex 1.
Figure 2 - Export limitation diagram
6

Distributed control
algorithm
The export limitation control adopts a distributed control Consumer reference system
algorithm to manage exported power. Each inverter involved in
the control decides on its own how much power to generate in
order to meet the export limit without the presence of any
defined master of the control.
The distributed algorithm avoids any issue regarding the status
of the controller and allows each inverter to define the best
solution to achieve the target.
Continuous communication between the inverters is always
required to the share meter and inverter details. To establish this
communication, there must be no firewall restrictions on TCP
port 5556 or the multicast IP group 239.192.1.1.

Reference System
Export limitation requires a generator reference system for all
measures and control architecture. A meter must be installed to
Exported power: negative
be compliant with this reference system. If the generator Imported power: positive
reference system is not applied to the meter, faulty behavior of Generated power: negative
Consumed power: positive
the control system will occur.
If an energy meter is installed according to the consumer
reference system, it is not necessary to modify the meter Figure 3.2 - Generator VS consumer reference systems

configuration or CT direction. In this case the reference system

can be automatically fixed through the Installer for solar inverters
mobile app as described in Step 3: verify the reference system Export limitation control
overview
and meter data acquisition.

Refer to Figures 3.1 and 3.2 - Generator VS consumer

reference systems for details about the signs for the required Export limitation applies a control algorithm to limit the power fed
reference system. into the grid below a user-defined export limit. The control algorithm
will stabilize the power exported to the grid at a lower value defined
as a control set point to ensure the required export limitation is
Generator reference system satisfied.
Room for maneuver of the control algorithm is implemented by
setting a guard band, which is an adjustable value defined as the
difference between export limit and the control set point as shown in
the following figure.
The guard band therefore represents a safety margin for the control
system to avoid exceeding the export limit. This parameter may
include the accuracy of the measuring instruments to
implement a true and guaranteed export limitation.

Generated power (PoC)

Power (PoC)

Export limit
Control set-point
Guard band

Exported power: positive

Imported power: negative
Generated power: positive
Consumed power: negative
Time
Figure 3.1 - Generator VS consumer reference systems Figure 4 - Export limitation control example
 7

Fail-safe operations
The export limitation control design includes a fallback plan to When a fallback plan is active, each inverter will independently
guarantee failsafe operations: when a critical event happens, enter a fallback state providing an output power equal to the
each inverter applies a fallback plan to avoid exceeding the fallback set point.
export limit. The inverter will keep the output power at the fallback set point
The export limitation control activates a fallback plan when one until the triggering conditions are persistently unmet for a time
of the following triggering conditions are satisfied: greater than the operating re-entry time.
• Communication loss with the energy meter used for export The fallback plan can be enabled and configured by using the
limitation. Installer for solar inverters app within the export limitation control
• The export limitation is not reachable and the triggering event setup.
persists for a time greater of fallback activation time.

Exported power (PoC)

Export limit
Power (PoC)

Fallback activation Time

Fallback set-point

Fault clearance

Operating re-entry time

Time
Figure 5 - Fallback example

Control method
P out
Control method shall be selected to configure which active power
measure is used as reference for the control.
In case single phase method is selected the control will avoid to
exceed the Export Limit for each phase, for example with an Ex-
P1
port Limit of 9kW the control will avoid to exceed 3kW per phase. P2
In case Total power method is selected the control will avoid to ex- P3
ceed the Export Limit for the whole total active power, for example
P tot
with an Export Limit of 9kW the control will avoid to exceed 9kW of
total power across the three phases.
The configuration of the Control method shall be chosen to satisfy
P load P inv
the requirements of the grid standard, just for example Spanish
grid code requires a Power per phase control method whereas
Australia requires to apply Total power method.

Figure 6: Control method diagram

8

Meter configuration

Before activating the export limitation function, at least one PVS-50/60 and B24 connection diagram
meter must be properly configured and acquired by the inverters.
The meter selected must be compliant with the export limit
function according to the compatibility list in Annex 1:
compatibility matrix and must be installed at the Point of
Connection. -T/R
+T/R
RTN
Refer to the meter manual for the meter installation
procedure. 60
50 35 36 37
NOTE: The meter current transformer must be installed
to be complaint with the generator reference system.
J5 3 1

NOTE: Inverters can monitor only a single device

through RS-485 connection.

Figure 7 - B24 and PVS-50/60 serial connection diagram

Once the electrical installation and serial configuration of the
meter is completed, a serial line must connect the meter to an
inverter involved in the control. Any inverter compatible with the
Annex 1: compatibility matrix can be selected for the
communication with the energy meter, but it is suggested to NOTE: The port RS-485 main is used to acquire
choose the inverter next to the Ethernet switch or gateway if the the meter.
inverters are directly connected to the Internet.
X2

Configuration of the meter PVS-100/120 and B24 connection diagram ZGN.V2Q15.2

through Serial Line

S4 S5

Serial line settings can be left as default but must be noted for
2 8

1 7

J5 J7 J6

the meter configuration procedure with the Installer for solar

J2 X1
1 2 3 4

J1

485+ 485- RTN

inverters mobile app as described in the section titled Meter
data acquisition through the Installer for solar inverters.
The following paragraphs provides the pin-out for the serial line 35 36 37
connections.
Refer to the following diagrams for further details on connections 485+ 485- RTN

between energy meter and the inverters.

NOTE: The following pictures show the connection

diagram between ABB B24 meter and inverters, the
other ABB meters A43/A44/B23 could have the Figure 8 - B24 and PVS-100/120 serial connection diagram
terminal block in a different position but the pinout is
the same as B24.
9

PVS-20-30-33 and meter EM133 connection diagram PVS-10-12.5-15 and meter EM133 connection diagram

Figure 9 - PVS-20-30-33 and meter EM133 connection diagram Figure 10 - PVS-10-12.5-15 and meter EM133 connection diagram

Note: Satec meter can be used only in LV systems Note: Export Limitation require to use measures at high
with a PT/VT ratio equal to one. resolution. Resolution can be configured through
EM133 display on user-configurable device options.

Device -TX/RX (A) +TX/RX (B) RTN

Energy Meter ABB A44/B24 37 36 35

PVS-50/60 (Main) - Connector J5 -T/R (3) +T/R (2) RTN (1)
PVS-100/120 - Connector J6 485- 485+ RTN
PVS-175 - Connector J3 485- 485+ RTN
Energy Meter SATEC EM133 X- (15) X+ (14) -
PVS-10/12.5/15 -RT +RT RN
PVS-20/30/33 – CCB -RT +RT RN

Table 1 - Serial line connections

10

NOTE: CT and VT must be properly chosen and

configured on the meter. An incorrect configuration
will lead to failures and issues with the export
limitation control.

NOTE: The meter must be installed at Point of the

meter Connection, an incorrect position will lead to
fail and issues on export limitation control. Figure 12 - M2M display Communication menu

The Ethernet configuration of an ABB M2M meter can be done

Configuration of the meter through the display in the Communication menu section or

through Ethernet
through the internal web server of the meter according to the
M2M-Ethernet manual.

The connection between an Ethernet energy meter and inverter In case of web server configuration, the meter login should apply
can be established directly by using an existing network as the following default settings:
described in the paragraph Connection diagram. The energy • DHCP = Disabled
meter LAN port should be connected to the inverter daisy chain • Default IP = 192.168.1.239
or to a switch or router within the existing network. • Host name = ANALYZER-001
Inverters and meter must be connected and configured for the • Login Account
same LAN. IP settings must be defined by the customer or site IT o Password = admin
manager to avoid conflicts or communication issues. o Username = admin

NOTE: The export limitation requires a fixed IP address

NOTE: Export limitation requires a fixed IP address for for meter to continuously acquire meter measures. For
meter to continuously acquire meter measures. For this purpose DHCP must be disabled and a reachable
this purpose DHCP must be disabled and a reachable IP address assigned to the meter.
IP address assigned to the meter.

NOTE: The Modbus TCP protocol must be enabled on

Configuration for ABB M2M-Ethernet M2M meter before activating the export limitation
control.

To properly configure and enable the communication channel

between the inverter and meter it is required to adjust the IP
settings on the Network page and check the Modbus Protocol
configuration on the Modbus TCP page.
The IP settings must be defined by the customer or site IT
manager to avoid conflicts or communication issues.

The configuration of the meter requires enabling data

representation of the active power with negative values.
Daisy chain configuration It is mandatory to enable the generation mode on the
configuration menu before proceeding further according to the
following figure or ABB M2M-Ethernet manual.

Switch/Gateway
Figure 13 - Generation mode on M2M-Ethernet meter

Figure 11 - M2M-Ethernet connection scheme

NOTE: Generation mode allows the exported power and
energy to be read. If not enabled the export limitation will
not properly control the exported power.
11

Configuration for ABB M4M-Ethernet Configuration for Satec EM133 meter with TCP communica-
tion module

The Ethernet configuration of a Satec EM133 energy meter can

be done through the display. To enter programming mode from
the display, press and hold the SELECT/ENTER button for more
than 5 seconds, then Ethernet setting s are available on Net
menù

EM133 energy meter should apply the following default settings:

• Default IP Address = 192.168.0.203

• Default Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0
• Default Gateway = 192.168.0.1
Daisy chain configuration • Default TCP Port = 502

Adjust Lan settings (Ip address, Subnet Mask and Gateway)

according to the inverter and existing network configuration

Switch/Gateway

Figure 14 - M4M-Ethernet connection scheme

The Ethernet configuration of an ABB M4M meter can be done

through the display in the Home:
> Configuration
> Communication Figura 15 - EM 133 connection scheme
> Modbus
> TCP/IP section or through the internal web server of the meter
according to the M2M-Ethernet manual. Note: Satec meter can be used only in LV systems with a
PT/VT ratio equal to one.
M4M energy meter should apply the following default settings:
• DHCP = Disabled
• Default IP = 192.168.1.12 Note: Export Limitation require to use measures at high
• Default Subnet mask = 255.255.255.0 resolution. Resolution can be configured through EM133
• Default Gateway = 192.168.1.1 display on user-configurable device options.
• Default TCP Port = 502
12

Meter data acquisition Click on Add Monitored Device and proceed with the meter

through the Installer for

settings:
Name: the meter name is an open field used to identify a certain

solar inverters meter, if more are available on the same plant.

Type: select the meter model compatible with the export limita-
tion and to be used for control purpose.
The export limitation control function requires continuously Connection: select the available connection mode for the meter,
acquiring meter data to keep the output power below the export according to Annex 1.
limit. To achieve integration between the meter and inverter it is IP Address (in case of Modbus TCP/IP): provide the IP address
necessary to use the Installer for solar inverters app. configured on the meter to the inverter.
On Monitored Devices it is possible to add the data acquisition Port (in case of Modbus TCP/IP): the Modbus TCP/IP default
of an external device, a meter in this case, to the inverter. port is 502. Use a different value only if the meter TCP/IP port is
Select just the inverter that shall acquire the meter. Do this by modified to a different value.
opening Monitored Device on the Settings tab. Slave ID: provide the Modbus Slave ID configured on the meter
to the inverter.
Baud Rate (in case of Modbus/RS-485): provide the baud rate
configured on the meter to the inverter.
Parity (in case of Modbus/RS-485): provide the parity check
configured on the meter to the inverter.

Figure 16 - Single device selection

NOTE: It is suggested to monitor the meter with the

inverter directly via Ethernet connected to the
router/switch. Figure 17 - Device acquisition with the Installer for solar inverters mobile app

NOTE: A44 selection could be not available on the type

list, to configure the A44 meter select the B24 option and
apply the A44 serial line settings.
13

Press Save to apply the settings. If the meter communication is

up and data is acquired, the status of the meter will become
active.

Figure 18 - Monitored device status page

The default settings for energy meters and proposed values

are shown in the following table.

Monitored Device parameter A43/A44/B23/B24 EM133 EM 133 + TCP module M2M-Ethernet M4M-Ethernet

Connection protocol Modbus RTU Modbus TCP/IP Modbus TCP/IP Modbus TCP/IP Modbus TCP/IP
Slave ID 1 1 Any Any Any
RS-485 Baud Rate 19200 bps 19200 bps - - -
RS-485 Parity Mode Even Parity No Parity - - -
IP Address - - 192.168.0.203 192.168.1.239 192.168.1.12
TCP/IP Port - - 502 502 502

Table 2 - Energy meter default settings

14

Export limitation configuration

Before starting Ethernet settings

Export limitation requires Ethernet connectivity and IP settings to
Before proceeding with the export limitation settings and be properly configured.
start-up it is mandatory to complete the following steps: Inverters and meters must be on the same LAN and reachable,
moreover the inverters are required to be configured for the same
Inverter commissioning subnet mask.
Any inverter included in the control needs to be commissioned
and ready to be grid connected before starting the export NOTE: The Installer for solar inverters app can apply
limitation configuration. Ethernet settings to all the inverters in the device list
It is possible to carry out the commissioning process using the at the same time. Ethernet settings applied by using
Installer for solar inverters app or, in case additional the web user interface must be repeated for each
configuration is necessary, though the inverter web user inverter included on device list.
interface.

NOTE: the Installer for solar inverters app will perform Meter installation and configuration
the commissioning process on all the inverters in the The meter must be properly configured according to the
device list at the same time. instructions for the meter manual for electrical connection and
The commissioning process through the web user the instructions included in this guide for communication
interface must be repeated for each inverter included physical connection.
on the device list.
Once the meter is properly installed it is necessary to enable the
Firmware upgrade data acquisition of the meter through the Installer for solar
All the inverters enabled for export limitation control need to inverters. In case of a serial RS-485 connection between the
support the control algorithm according to the compatible list meter and inverter, the meter must be assigned to the inverter
included in Annex 1: compatibility matrix. physically connected to the meter, while in the case of an
It is strongly suggested to keep the inverters upgraded to the Ethernet connection, the meter can be assigned to any single
latest firmware and aligned to the same control algorithm inverter.
release. This functionality can be applied only if all the inverters
involved in the control share the latest control algorithm release. NOTE: The meter Ethernet settings must be written on
the inverter. Consequently a fixed private IP address
NOTE: The Installer for solar inverters app can perform must be assigned. It is allowed to enable DHCP on the
the firmware upgrade process on all the inverters on meter only if the DHCP server is configured to assign
the device list at the same time. The firmware upgrade a fixed private IP address associated with the meter’s
process using the web user interface needs to be Mac Address.
repeated for each inverter included on the device list.

NOTE: The Installer for solar inverters app can

upgrade inverters only to the latest firmware released,
while the web user interface can upgrade the inverter
to any firmware, including a downgrade of the
firmware.
15

Export limitation control setup

Export limitation can be configured and enabled only through the

Installer for solar inverters. Installation must be compliant with
the Requirements chapter and all the above
pre-requisites must be completed before activating the export
limitation control.
Export limitation settings are accessible from the Device List, on
the menu Power Management/Export Limitation

NOTE: A pop-up message will provide a reminder of

the required action to be performed before activating
the export limitation control.

Once the pre-requisites are satisfied and confirmed, the Installer

for solar inverters app will carry out a scanning process to
retrieve all inverters and meters installed on the Local Area
Network (LAN).

When Export Limitation and PMU are both active,

Export Limitation will be active applying the same
configuration except for Export Limit that will be
provided by the PMU analog or digital input.

Step 1: select the inverters

All inverters found during the scanning process that are compat-
ible with the export limitation will be shown on the inverter
selection list.
Flag all the inverters to be included in the control.

NOTE: It is suggested to check if the overall number

of selected inverters match the number that shall be
included on Export Limitation and if all the inverters
are correctly recognized as commissioned.
Figure 19 - Inverter selection within the Installer for solar inverters
NOTE: Inverters are not automatically flagged, pay mobile app
attention to flag all the inverters that should be
included in the control.

NOTE: It is possible to repeat the scanning process Step 2: select the meter
with the re-scan button if one or more inverters are The scanning process automatically finds and lists all meters
missing. previously configured in the monitored device section and that
are compatible with Export Limitation.
Only the meter installed at the Point of Connection should be
selected as a reference meter for the export limitation control.
In case more meters are available, it is possible to expand the
selection to find out additional details of the meters.
16

Figure 20 – Energy meter details Figure 21 - Editing of energy meter settings

NOTE: Meter must be configured with generator

reference system. Use the edit configuration link and
follow the procedure in the next step to manage the
link reference system.

Step 3: verify the reference system and meter data acquisition Step 4: configure export limitation
If the meter is installed with the consumer reference system, it Since all the devices are already selected, it is possible to proceed
is possible to revert the meter data acquisition to the correct with export limitation settings.
generator reference system without the need to rework the An export limit is expressed as a percentage value of the PV plant
installed meter. nominal power, which is used only as reference number.
The Installer for solar inverters app provides the possibility to The PV plant nominal power shall be intended as the reference
change the reference system used for export limitation directly nominal value used by a specific country to define the limit of
without the need to operate on the installed meter. exported power. Typically this value is represented by the sum of
Through the reverse CT button, it is possible to apply a sign the nominal AC power of the inverters installed.
reversion to any current related measure acquired on the meter. The export limitation control utilizes the export limit parameter as
To check the reference system, select edit meter configuration the threshold value for fail-safe operations. PV plant nominal
under meter details and stop inverter productions using the AC power is not used in the control system.
disconnection or Remote OFF command.

In case the active power measured on the meter is positive when

the inverter does not inject energy, for example during the night,
the meter is installed with the consumer reference system and
it is necessary to press the reverse CT button.
17

Step 5: configure fallback

Enable the Fallback operation in case grid standard requires to
apply a fallback plan as described on section Failsafe operations.
In case Fallback is enabled and a triggering condition is
continuously satisfied for a time greater than Fallback Activa-
tion Time, the inverters will activate the fallback plan and
immediately will curtail its output power to the Fallback
Setpoint. Export Limitation control will come back to a normal
operating condition when the triggering condition is continuously
not satisfied for a time greater than Operating Re-entry Time.

Figure 22 - Export limitation settings

The guard band is the control margin used to achieve the export
limit and is expressed as a percentage of the PV plant nominal
power.
NOTE: The guard band shall not be configured at 0%
in case fallback is enabled.

Figure 23 - Fallback settings for fails-safe operations

The export limitation will control the exported power at the Point
of Connection to the control set point.
Check the Export limitation control overview section for further Step 6: Control method
details. If supported by inverters, select the Control method required by
Export limitation must be enabled by pressing the button next to grid standard:
the active power control. The configuration will become active
when saved. • Power per phase: in case the control shall avoid to exceed the
Export Limit for each phase.
NOTE: The meter must be configured with generator • Total Power: in case the control shall avoid to exceed the
reference system. Use the edit configuration link and Export Limit for the overall power across the three phases.
follow the procedure in Step 3: verify the reference
system and meter data acquisition to manage the Total Power is the default setting.
reference system.

NOTE: Remember to switch on the right flag to enable Step 7: apply setting
export limitation. Press the save button to apply the new settings and start Export
Limitation control on all selected inverters.
18

Export limitation control monitoring

Once the export limitation configuration is completed, it is The inverter section of the control status provides details for
possible to immediately check the behavior of the export limita- each inverter participating in the control. For each inverter it is
tion and the real time measures for: possible to check:
• Exported Power: the overall power exported at Point of – Global, alarm and export limitation state: an inverter
Connection, provided by the meter. properly working will have a green flag for each state.
• Generated Power: overall power generated as a sum of – Inverter output power: the output power could be
t h e controlled inverter output power. different on each inverter being the control algorithm
• Consumed Power: calculated power absorbed by the loads. distributed.
– Derating state and set point: the derating state is ON
A colored status bar shows the position of the exported power in when the inverter curtails the output power. The derating set
respect to the control set point (dotted line) and export limit point represents the current power curtailment
(continuous line): applied by the inverter.
If the exported power is less than the control set point, the bar
will be filled in blue (CASE A).
If the exported power is within the guard band, in the band
between the control set point and the export limit, the bar will be
filled in yellow (CASE B).
If the exported power is over the export limit the bar will be filled
in red (CASE C).
The bar will refresh about every 5 seconds, while the export
limitation control operates at a higher frequency, so the bar does
not represent all the power transition within the plant but only a
snapshot of the current situation.

NOTE: In case of a positive step change on the load

value it is normal to have a momentary filled red bar.

Control Set Point Export Limit

Case A P < Psetpoint

6.4 kW

Case B Psetpoint < P < export

6.4 kW

Case C P < Pexport

6.4 kW

Figure 23 - Export control monitoring

NOTE: The minimum representable value of the status Figure 24 - Export monitoring: inverter status
bar is 35% of the nominal power less than the export
limit. If the power exported at the Point of Connection
is less, the bar will be completely gray. In case the export limitation control is not acting properly; it
is possible to stop the control and change settings to adapt
NOTE: A red colored bar is a triggering condition for a the parameters to increase the efficiency of the system.
fallback plan.
19

Troubleshooting

The PV plant generated power is fixed at 0W and loads are PV plant exported power oscillates continuously
absorbing power.
1. Oscillations in the export limitation can occur if the inverters
1. Check the inverter and meter status. An active fallback for enter continuously on fallback, increasing the fallback activation
missing meter may reduce the generated power. time. If admitted by the grid standard an increase in the guard
band will reduce the number of fallback events and consequently
2. Check the meter position. The meter should be installed at the oscillations.
Point of Connection to include the net power exported into the
grid. In case the meter is not located at the connection point, but 2. Fallback can happen if there is an Ethernet connection failure.
it is installed on the load output or inverter output, the export An unreliable Ethernet connection can trigger a fallback event
limitation may be using an incorrect power value. independently of the fallback settings. If a fallback is caused by
device communication errors, evaluate the integrity of the
3. Check the reference system according to Step 3: verify the Ethernet cables using an Ethernet cable tester.
Reference System and meter data acquisition.
The export limitation cannot properly control the exported power 3. Check the meter settings for current (CT) and voltage (VT)
if the reference system is not aligned to the generator reference transformers. If CT or VT are not properly settled, the meter will
system. not read the effective power flowing through the grid.

4. Check the meter settings for current (CT) and voltage (VT) It is not possible to retrieve all the inverters during the
transformers, if CT or VT are not properly settled, the meter will Export Limitation scan process.
not read the effective power flowing through the grid.
1. If all inverters are not available on the device list, add missing
5. In the case of an M2M meter and if the reverse CT option is inverters with QR code scan (preferred) or Wifi scan.
enabled, check on the energy meter to see if the generation
mode is enabled. 2. If all inverters are available on the device list but are lost
inside Export Limitation inverter selection check the Ethernet
connections and IP settings of inverters. In case of Ethernet ring
PV Plant generated power is fixed at full power and plant topology is used, open the ring disconnecting an Ethernet cable
export power into the grid form a single inverter and try again.

1. Check the meter settings for current (CT) and voltage (VT) 3. In case the network set up VLans, apply the same VLan ID to
transformers. If CT or VT are not properly settled, the meter will all the devices or enable the IGMP protocol on network switches
not read the effective power flowing through the grid. to allow the flow of Multicast packets used by the distributed
control solution.
2. Check the reference system according to Step 3: verify the
Reference System and meter data acquisition. Energy meter measures or PoC measures within Control
Export limitation cannot properly control the exported power if Status page are very low or high.
the reference system is not aligned to the generator reference
system. 1. Verify if the CT and VT ratio are properly set within the energy
meter.
3. Check the flag for export limitation. If export limitation is not
enabled or the configuration is not properly applied, the control Aurora Vision does not notify alarms and events about Export
will not take place. Limitation

4. In case of an M2M meter, check if the generation mode is 1.Make sure the Export Limitation category is included in the
enabled on the energy meter. Event Profile associated with the monitored plant within Aurora
Vision Plant Portfolio Manager.
20

Annex

Annex 1: compatibility matrix

Table 3 - Meter compatibility matrix

Connection CT VT
Meter model PN for order Minimum Logger Firmware Release Mounting
mode available available
PVS- PVS- PVS- PVS-
PVS-175
100/120 50/60 10/12.5/15 20/30/33
ABB - 824 212-100 2CMA100180R1000 RS 485 √ x 0.14.9 1.6.9 x 2124B 2117E Din bar
ABB - 824 3 5 2 -100 2CMA100183R1000 RS 485 √ x 0.14.9 1.6.9 x 2124B 2117E Din bar
ABB - A44 212-100 2CMA170534R1000 RS 485 √ √ 0.14.9 1.6.9 √ 2124B 2117E Din bar
ABB - A44 352-100 2CMA170537R1000 RS 485 √ v 0.14.9 1.6.9 √ 2124B 2117E Din bar
ABB - M2M-Ethernet 2CSG299903R4052 Ethernet √ √ 0.14.9 1.6.9 0.4.12 2124B 2117E Front panel
ABB - M4M-20-Ethernet 2CSG204471R4051 Ethernet √ √ 1.0.8 1.8.7 0.4.12 2124B 2117E Front panel
ABB - M4M-30-Ethernet 2CSG274681R4051 Ethernet √ √ 1.0.8 1.8.7 0.4.12 2124B 2117E Front panel

RS 485 or
SATEC· EM 133 - Ethernet √ √ x x x 2124B 2117E Din bar

Table 4 - Inverter compatibility matrix

Minimum lnverter Firmware Minimum Logger Firmware Minimum lnstaller for solar
Inverter model
Release Release Release

PVS-10-TL 2124B Not necessary 3.0.1

PVS-12.5-TL 2124B Not necessary 3.0.1
PVS-15-TL 2124B Not necessary 3.0.1
PVS-20-TL 2117E Not necessary 3.0.1
PVS-30-TL 2117E Not necessary 3.0.1
PVS-33-TL 2117E Not necessary 3.0.1
PVS-50-TL 1901B 1.6.9 2.1.13
PVS-60-TL 1901C 1.6.9 2.1.13
PVS-100-TL 1912B 0.14.9 2.1.13
PVS-120-TL 1912C 0.14.9 2.1.13
PVS-175-TL 1922D 0.4.12 2.1.19

Annex 2: track release changes

Table 5 - Guideline track change

Guideline revision Date Export Limit release Revision note

1.0 05-Jun-2019 0.4.6 First release

Aligned document to FIMER brand
icluded the compatibility with M4M-Ethernet meter and
1.1 30-Mar-2021 PVS-175-TL
Included the compatibility with A43, A44 and EM133
meters
Included the compatibility with PVS10/12.5/15/20/30/33
1.2 13-Sep-2021 New functionality: Control Method and support to PMU
21

Annex 3: list of figures and tables

Figure 1 - Export limitation example
Figure 2 - Export limitation diagram
Figure 3.1 - Generator VS consumer reference systems
Figure 3.2 - Generator VS consumer reference systems
Figure 4 - Export limitation control example
Figure 5 - Fallback example
Figure 6: Control method diagram
Figure 7 - B24 and PVS-50/60 serial connection diagram
Figure 8 - B24 and PVS-100/120 serial connection diagram
Figure 9 - PVS-20-30-33 and meter EM133 connection diagram
Figure 10 - PVS-10-12.5-15 e meter EM133 connection diagram
Figure 11 - M2M-Ethernet connection scheme
Figure 12 - M2M display communication menu
Figure 13 - Generation mode on M2M-Ethernet meter
Figure 14 - M4M-Ethernet connection scheme
Figura 15 - EM 133 connection scheme
Figure 16 - Single device selection
Figure 17 - Device acquisition with the Installer for solar inverters mobile app
Figure 18 - Monitored device status page
Figure 19 - Inverter selection within the Installer for solar inverters mobile app
Figure 20 – Energy meter details
Figure 21 - Editing of energy meter settings
Figure 22 - Export limitation settings
Figure 23 - Fallback settings for fails-safe operations
Figure 24 - Export monitoring: inverter status

Tables list
Table 1 - Serial line connections
Table 2 - Energy meter default settings
Table 3 - Meter compatibility matrix
Table 4 - Inverter compatibility matrix
Table 5 - Guideline track change

Export limitation EN_Rev C_15-11-2021