Export limit

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 3 October 2026

An export limit is a ceiling on the power a property can push back into the network. It is set by the distribution network service provider and applied on the inverter through its settings or an external control.

Why networks set them

Local networks were designed for power flowing one way. On a sunny afternoon a street full of solar can push voltage up and overload equipment. Export limits keep that in check. Limits vary by network and area, and some are zero export, meaning the system may serve only the property’s own load.

In practice

When a connection is approved, the DNSP’s conditions state the limit, and the installer sets it up and tests it at commissioning. The result is recorded in the paperwork. See DNSP and commissioning date.

A limit is not a reason to shrink the array. A customer who uses most of their solar at home, or has a battery to absorb the rest, may lose little. Oversizing the panels relative to the inverter is the common response. See inverter oversizing.

Worked example

A customer in a constrained area is limited to 5 kW export. The installer fits 8 kW of panels on a 5 kW inverter and sets the export limit to match. The system still creates STCs on 8 kW of panels: 8 x 1.382 x 5 = 55 STCs in zone 3 in 2026, rounded down.

Common confusion

An export limit is not a feed-in tariff, which is the price paid for exported power. It is also not a limit on generation, only on what flows to the grid. Self-consumption is unaffected. See feed-in tariff.

Dynamic limits, which change by time and network conditions, are being introduced in some networks. Check with your DNSP for the current setting.

See STC trading, how it works and the glossary.