DNSP export planning calculator

Compare entered inverter export, minimum site load and DNSP export limit values for Australian solar export planning records.

  • Calculator
  • Solar and battery
  • Australia
Use the DNSP application, inverter schedule or export-control record reference.
Select the supply basis used for the current estimate.
kW
Enter the DNSP or project export limit being compared.
kW
Enter inverter export capacity or the export value being planned.
kW
Enter the site load assumed to offset export in this planning record.
V
Use 230 V for single phase or 400 V for three phase unless project data says otherwise.
Pnet = max(Pinv - Pload, 0); Headroom = Pdnsp - Pnet; Utilisation = Pnet / Pdnsp x 100; Iexport = Pnet x 1000 / (Fphase x V)
  • DNSP export limit is entered by the user.
  • Minimum site load is an entered planning value unless measured separately.
  • Three-phase current uses square root of 3 as the phase factor.
  • The worksheet does not approve network connection or inverter settings.
Formula variables
VariableMeaningUnitUse
PinvInverter exportkWEntered inverter export capacity or planning value.
PloadMinimum site loadkWEntered site load assumed to offset export.
PnetPlanned net exportkWInverter export minus minimum site load, not below zero.
PdnspEntered DNSP export limitkWUser-entered DNSP or project export limit value.
HeadroomExport headroomkWEntered DNSP limit minus planned net export.
UtilisationLimit utilisation%Planned net export divided by the entered DNSP limit.
FphasePhase factorfactorUse 1 for single phase and square root of 3 for three phase.
VVoltageVEntered 230 V or 400 V project basis.
IexportExport currentAPlanned net export converted to current using selected phase basis.
More

DNSP export planning calculator technical guide

Compare entered inverter export, minimum site load and DNSP export limit values for Australian solar export planning records.

Use this page when a solar project needs a DNSP export planning record before discussing export control, inverter scheduling, AC cable review or network documentation. The page compares entered values; it does not decide whether export is allowed.

DNSP Export Planning Boundary

This calculator does not approve network connection, DNSP export limits, inverter settings, protection settings, commissioning outcomes or product configurations. It records arithmetic from values entered by the user.

DNSP export planning boundaries
TaskUse this page?Why
Export headroomYesThis page owns entered DNSP limit minus planned net export.
Limit utilisationYesIt shows planned net export as a percent of the entered limit.
Inverter sizing ratioNoUse the inverter sizing record for DC/AC ratio.
AC cable voltage riseNoUse inverter AC cable voltage drop once current and route data are known.
DNSP approvalNoNetwork rules and approval outcomes are external.

Data Checklist

DNSP planning input sources
ValueWhere it normally comes fromStop if
DNSP export limitDNSP condition, application note or project recordThe value is not current or site-specific.
Inverter exportInverter schedule, product record or export-control basisThe capacity basis is unclear.
Minimum site loadPlanning record, measurement basis or control strategyIt is being treated as guaranteed without source.
Phase and voltageSupply context or project scheduleThe current conversion basis is wrong.

Review Workflow

  1. Identify the DNSP planning reference from the application, inverter schedule or design note.
  2. Select single-phase or three-phase context and confirm the voltage basis.
  3. Enter the DNSP export limit only as a user-supplied comparison value.
  4. Enter inverter export and minimum site load values from the source record.
  5. Read planned net export, headroom, utilisation and export current together.
  6. If headroom is negative, review export-control assumptions, DNSP requirements and inverter data outside this calculator.
  7. Keep the exported worksheet with the DNSP source, site load source and reviewer details.

Worked Records

DNSP export planning examples
SituationInputsResultRecord use
Three-phase headroom review10 kW limit, 13 kW inverter export, 2 kW minimum site load, 400 V11 kW planned net export, -1 kW headroom, about 15.88 AStop for export-control and DNSP review.
Single-phase inside limit5 kW limit, 6 kW inverter export, 2 kW minimum site load, 230 V4 kW planned net export, +1 kW headroomUseful planning record before source review.
High site load case15 kW limit, 12 kW inverter export, 14 kW minimum site loadZero planned net exportCheck the site-load assumption before relying on it.

Australian Context

Solar export planning in Australia can be controlled by DNSP connection conditions, AS/NZS 4777 inverter context, product settings, commissioning requirements and local authority expectations. This page keeps the arithmetic visible while leaving those external decisions outside the calculator.

Stop Points

  • DNSP export limit source is missing or out of date.
  • Minimum site load is not a reliable project value.
  • Export headroom is negative.
  • Three-phase current is calculated with a single-phase voltage basis or vice versa.
  • The result is being used as network approval or inverter-setting approval.

Three-phase export headroom review

A commercial PV export record compares 13 kW inverter export with a 10 kW entered DNSP limit and 2 kW minimum site load.

Reference
DNSP-PLAN-1
Phase
Three phase
DNSP export limit
10 kW
Inverter export
13 kW
Minimum site load
2 kW
  1. Planned net export11 kW
  2. Export headroom-1 kW
  3. Limit utilisation110%
Export headroom-1 kW

15.88 A export current on the entered phase and voltage basis.

The planned net export is above the entered DNSP limit, so export controls and source values need review.

  • DNSP limit is entered by the user.
  • Minimum site load is a planning value.
  • Network approval remains outside the worksheet.

Single-phase inside entered limit

A small inverter record keeps planned net export below the entered limit after minimum site load is considered.

Reference
DNSP-PLAN-OK
Phase
Single phase
DNSP export limit
5 kW
Inverter export
6 kW
Minimum site load
2 kW
  1. Planned net export4 kW
  2. Export headroom1 kW
  3. Limit utilisation80%
Export headroom1 kW

17.39 A export current on the entered phase and voltage basis.

The entered values sit within the limit, while the source records still need project and DNSP review.

  • Single-phase voltage basis is entered as 230 V.
  • The site load offset is not guaranteed operation.
  • The result is not approval.

High site load planning case

A planning case uses a high minimum site load to show when net export is clamped to zero.

Reference
DNSP-PLAN-LOAD
Phase
Three phase
DNSP export limit
15 kW
Inverter export
12 kW
Minimum site load
14 kW
  1. Planned net export0 kW
  2. Export headroom15 kW
  3. Limit utilisation0%
Export headroom15 kW

0 A export current on the entered phase and voltage basis.

The arithmetic records zero planned net export, but the load assumption should be checked before relying on it.

  • The high site load is deliberately entered.
  • Measured operation may differ from planning values.
  • DNSP and product settings remain external.

Questions

Does this approve DNSP connection?

No. It compares entered planning values only. DNSP conditions, export controls and approvals remain external.

How is this different from the export limit worksheet?

This page focuses on DNSP planning headroom and utilisation. The export limit worksheet is a simpler net-export margin record.

What should minimum site load mean?

Use the project or measured value that the export planning record relies on, and keep its source visible.

Can the export current feed cable review?

Yes, as an entered planning value. AC cable voltage-drop review remains a separate task.