Storage

The following settings must be set up correctly for Enphase Energy Systems to operate accurately under NEM 3.0:

1. Grid Connection Type

The Grid Connection Type sets rules for solar systems to exchange electricity with the utility grid, and determines how system owners will be billed or compensated for the exchange.

Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0) is the correct setting for systems under NEM 3.0.

2. Interconnection Date

The Interconnection Date is the date on which the interconnection application was submitted to the utility. It determines the export rates that will be applicable to the system.

The interconnection date for NEM 3.0 systems should be on or after the NEM 2.0 sunset date, which was April 15, 2023.

3. Battery Operating Mode

The Battery Operating Mode determines the rules for the storage system to exchange energy with the utility grid. Under NEM 3.0, the battery can operate in either Export Only or Import Only mode.

Under Export Only, storage can discharge to the grid, but can only be charged from PV. Under Import Only, storage can charge from the grid, but cannot export to the grid.

Battery Operating Mode is only applicable for NEM 3.0 systems with storage. To maximize electricity bill savings, the mode must be set to Export Only.

These settings can be selected using the Enphase Installer App during commissioning, or through the Enphase Installer Portal.

NEM 3.0 system settings can be selected through the Enphase Installer App during commissioning, or through the Enphase Installer Portal.

The following information is required for NEM 3.0 systems:

*Battery Operating Mode is only applicable for NEM 3.0 systems with storage.

Battery export must be enabled in two locations:

1. On the utility interconnection agreement.

2. In the Enphase Energy System settings via either:

a) the Enphase Installer App;

b) the Enphase Installer Portal.

Using the Enphase Installer App for NEM 3.0 system settings:

Using the Enphase Installer Portal for NEM 3.0 system settings:

Setting up a NEM 3.0 system without all the required information, or with incorrect details, may result in compliance violation or sub-optimal system performance.

1. Compliance

If a Solar Plus Batteries system is operated under NEM 3.0, it must be configured to operate using the Import Only or Export Only modes to ensure NEM integrity and receive NEM credits for energy generated by the system.

2. System performance

Based on the Grid Connection Type and Battery Operating Mode settings, Enphase systems will automatically maximize savings for homeowners. If an Export Only system is incorrectly configured as Import Only, the savings would be significantly reduced.

In the Enphase Installer Portal, you can easily view which sites in your fleet have missing data. Navigate to the Systems tab in the Portal, and scan to see which sites are missing Grid Connection Type, Interconnection Date, or Battery Operating Mode data.

The battery mode information for a NEM 3.0 system can be found in the interconnection application with the utility.

Here are examples from the three major IoUs in California:

PG&E

The PG&E online portal allows installers to view existing applications. Within an existing/PTO battery application, you can view under the battery system details whether the agreement was submitted as Yes or No to Exporting to the grid.

Yes reflects an Export Only battery system for NEM 3.0, as shown below:

Checking and modifying battery mode after PTO:

After PTO, modifications to the battery mode can be made by selecting the Upgrade an Existing Facility option. A $145 modification fee is necessary.

PG&E contact details: (877) 743-4112 or rule21gen@pge.com.

SCE

The SCE online portal allows installers to view existing applications. Within an existing/PTO battery application, the installer can view under the battery system details whether the agreement was submitted as Yes or No to export in the Will the Generating Facility(ies) export power to SCE’s Distribution System field.

Yes reflects an Export Only battery system for NEM 3.0, as shown below:

Modifying battery mode for unsubmitted applications:

• Change Will the Generating Facility(ies) export power to SCE’s Distribution System to Yes.
• Finalize application submission.

Modifying battery mode after PTO:

• The preferred route is to email nem@sce.com (or the assigned engineer) to request that the project in question temporarily have PTO rescinded while the change to export is studied by the utility.
• Or, create a new application with exporting to grid enabled. This requires a $94 fee.

SCE contact details: (866) 600-6290 or customer.generation@sce.com and nem@sce.com.

SDG&E

As time of publication, the online SDG&E DIIS portal does not include ESS Operating mode in its application. Instead, SDG&E requires Form 142-02775, titled Power Control Based Equipment Attestation, to be emailed to their net metering department when submitting a net metering application.

To confirm the operating mode for an existing PTO system, installers may need to find it in their sent emails or reach out to SDG&E to receive a copy. Refer to the SDGE NEM/NBT Documents and the SDG&E net metering department for current guidance.

Form 142-02775 reflecting an Export Only, non-import battery system for NEM 3.0:

Modifying the battery mode for unsubmitted applications:

Form 142-02775 may be re-filled to reflect exporting to SDG&E’s grid and submitted with the completed application.

Modifying the battery mode after PTO:

Installers must submit a new application and battery attestation form, and pay another $132 application fee. The project will need to be reviewed for potential transformer overload issues.

SDG&E contact details: (858) 636-5585 and netmetering@sdge.com.

Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0) and the related settings apply only to systems interconnected with either PG&E, SDG&E, SCE, or their CCA partners offering NEM 3.0 interconnection.

NEM 3.0 settings are not applicable for Enphase systems connected to municipal utilities like SMUD, LADWP, Lodi Electric, or others that do not offer NEM 3.0 interconnection.

After monitoring your batteries for a while, you may notice that they lose a small amount of charge even when you're not using them. This is normal and is something the industry calls tare loss. All home batteries will use some charge throughout the day to power standby systems like the Battery Management Controller or inverters. It's similar to an electric vehicle losing some range overnight, although the mechanics for why and how it happens are slightly different. This isn't unique to Enphase and is a part of all home batteries regardless of the manufacturer.  

For every IQ Battery 5P in an Enphase Energy System, you may notice approximately 150-400 Wh of tare loss per day based on your battery profile. This may vary a bit from system to system depending on how often it's idle and not actively generating solar power. Because we always want to accurately represent where your energy is going, the charge and discharge trends in the app will update normally when this happens.

PCS is a set of software-enabled features and settings that installers can configure during installation and commissioning. These are greatly expanded with the 3rd generation of the Enphase Energy System. 

At launch in June 2023 the Enphase Energy 3.0 system will support: 

• Main panel upgrade avoidance for 

1. Grid forming configurations with IQ Battery 5P and IQ8 Microinverters as well as 10T/3T and IQ8 
2. Grid tied configurations with IQ8 Microinverters 

• Increasing battery capacity for  

1. Grid forming configurations with IQ Battery 5P 
2. Grid tied configurations with IQ Battery 5P 

• Aggregate power export control to meet utility requirements for 

1. Grid forming configurations with IQ Battery 5P and IQ8 Microinverters 
2. Grid tied configurations with IQ8 Microinverters 

• Import-only mode for IQ Battery 5P to ensure NEM integrity and avoid feeder transformer upgrades. 

1. The specific details of the use case and site are key to determining which Enphase product combination would currently best support NEM 3.0 based on the 150% of Storage / PV kW rule 
    

2. Both IQ Battery 10T/3T and IQ Battery 5P are good solutions for NEM 3.0.  
    

3. IQ Battery 5P solution: 
   IQ Combiner 5/5C + IQ8 PV + IQ Battery 5P with PCS for PV and Battery Oversubscription and Export Only mode 
   HW and basic system available at launch i.e., SG4 
   PCS for export only in Q3 2023 
   PCS for PV + Battery Oversubscription to avoid main panel upgrades Q4 2023 
    

4. IQ Battery 10T/3T solution: 
   IQ Combiner 4/4C + IQ8 PV + IQ Battery 10T/3T with PCS for PV and Battery Oversubscription and Export Only mode 
   HW and basic system available at launch i.e., SG4 
   PCS for export only in Q3 2023 
   PCS for PV + Battery Oversubscription to avoid main panel upgrades 1H 2024 

1. IQ Battery 5P is compatible with all IQ Series Microinverters. IQ Battery 5P can also be installed with M Series Microinverters in states that have not yet adopted IEEE 1547:2018.  
    

2. IQ Battery 5P works exclusively with IQ System Controller 3/3G and IQ Combiner 5/5C. It is not compatible with prior generations of Enphase Energy System equipment which use wireless Zigbee communication including IQ Battery 3/10/3T/10T, IQ System Controller 1/2. This is because the new components require Control cabling between components instead of wireless. 
    

3. Older IQ Combiners and standalone IQ Gateways can be made compatible with 3rd generation components by adding the Comms Kit 2 accessory (to be released later this summer).

For the best performance, we recommend using only Enphase Control cabling (CTRL-SC3-NA-01). The Enphase Control cable is UL approved and can be run alongside the AC cables inside conduit runs.  
Commissioning times and system performance promised by Enphase are dependent on using the Enphase Control cable. 

The products will be available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The product is not yet released in Canada, Mexico, or other US territories. Additional details on the releases for these markets will be available soon.  Please contact your local Enphase Sales representative if you are interested in additional details.   

The IQ Battery 5P was designed by Enphase Engineering teams in California, New Zealand and India. Micro inverters in the 5P are manufactured worldwide.  The product is currently assembled in China. 

One of the Enphase key values is quality. Enphase has demonstrated its commitment to quality through eight generations of microinverters and two prior generations of battery products. The learnings associated with these products has enabled Enphase to offer another industry-leading warranty with our 3rd generation battery product.  

A universal hold down kit will be included with all IQ System Controller 3/3G units enabling installers greater freedom in sourcing compatible breakers. 

The PV:Storage ratio is determined by the model of microinverter in use, so accurate sizing calculations should be completed (see latest Enphase Energy Planning Guide).  When used with IQ8 Microinverters, IQ Battery 5P has no solar-to-storage ratio limitations.  

M Series sites require use of a legacy Envoy S Metered. In states that have not yet implemented IEEE 1547:2018, you can add a Comms Kit 2 accessory (to be released later this summer) to solar only sites with M Series Microinverters in order to add IQ Battery 5P.  
If the property is in a U.S. state that as adopted IEEE 1547:2018, the site cannot add IQ Battery 5P without first upgrading to an IQ Microinverter system inclusive of an IQ Combiner (which is IEEE 1547:2018 compliant).  

No, Enphase is not planning to ship a cover for 2 units. IQ Battery 5P units ship in the same box as their cover, reducing the possibility of damage and simplifying inventory management compared with IQ Battery 10T.  
Enphase IQ Battery 5P is UL9540A certified and, where allowed by local code, can be installed 3 inches apart to minimize the storage footprint. Additionally, installers can leverage the new Enphase pedestal (to be released later this summer) for floor mounting in front of a wall mounted battery. 

Existing system owners can add more IQ Battery 3/3T and 10/10T to their system without upgrading any other components.

IQ Battery 5P uses high speed wired connections to communicate with other Enphase Energy System equipment. This allows for faster performance, improved commissioning, greater installation distances, and a better installer and homeowner experience.  IQ Battery 5P is therefore not compatible with any prior generations of the Enphase Energy System which use Zigbee wireless communication.