Products / Export Control
Export Control
Zero export.
Zero violations.
One commissioning.
When your customer's utility says no backfeed, you need a solution that enforces it precisely — not approximately. Sponge Zero-Export Control does exactly that.
Why Utilities Restrict Export
Grid infrastructure wasn't built for two-way power flow.
Distribution feeders in commercial zones are sized to deliver power to loads — not absorb it from dozens of rooftop arrays simultaneously. When solar generation exceeds on-site consumption and multiple sites export at the same time, voltage on the feeder rises. Too much, and protective relays trip. The utility's distribution planning tools didn't account for that power flow.
Utilities manage this by writing export restrictions into interconnection agreements. Your customer signs the IA, gets the solar permit, and is contractually prohibited from sending power back. Violation triggers disconnection. Zero-Export Control is the technical enforcement layer that makes compliance automatic — no operator watching a dashboard, no risk of accidental backfeed.
When It's Required
Four situations that require export control.
Utility-prohibited export
The interconnection agreement explicitly prohibits grid backfeed. Common on commercial feeders with high solar penetration.
Contractual backfeed restrictions
A landlord, strata, or building owner has restricted export as a condition of the solar installation.
Regulatory export limits
Regional or provincial regulation caps the power a grid-tied system can export, often at zero for certain customer classes.
Tight interconnection agreements
On-grid systems with conservative IA terms where any momentary backfeed constitutes a violation.
How It Works
Automated. Continuous. Reliable.
A revenue-grade meter and CT go in at the point of interconnection. The EMC reads export power in real time and trims PV production before any power crosses the threshold.
Meter + CT at the point of interconnection
Revenue Grade Meter and Current Transformer installed at the grid side. Not optional — included in commissioning. The customer does not procure them separately.
Real-time export monitoring via RS485
The Sponge EMC reads export power continuously from the meter. No polling delay, no averaging window — continuous measurement.
EMC adjusts PV production setpoint
When export approaches the threshold, the EMC trims inverter output before any power crosses the limit. The inverter responds in real time.
Solar consumed on-site or stored in the battery
Generation is directed to on-site loads or the battery. Zero power past the threshold reaches the grid.
Included Free — MonitorBase
See what your system is doing — in real time.
Every EMC ships with MonitorBase: real-time energy data, battery state, and export activity visible from the web app, mobile, or the EMC touchscreen. When Export Control is active, MonitorBase shows you exactly how much solar is being consumed on-site versus stored — and confirms the threshold is holding.
Explore MonitorBase →What's Required
Package Breakdown
Meter, CT, configuration — all integrated at commissioning.
Revenue Grade Meter
Wattnode or equivalent
Current Transformer (CT)
Installed at point of interconnection
EMC Configuration
Export threshold set at commissioning
Continuous enforcement
No manual intervention after activation
Compatible Inverters
Others on request
Export Control Unlock Fee — CAD
One-time. No subscription.
Pay once to unlock the feature. No recurring fees, no annual renewals.
Total Cost Example
Medium commercial — 50 kW AC
EMC Pro: $1,420
Export Control Unlock: $935
Total: $2,355
Already on Sponge HELM?
Export Control is included in your HELM subscription — no separate unlock fee.
Sponge HELM (the optimization subscription) bundles the Export Control unlock. Sites running HELM get zero-export enforcement as part of the service — the AI handles both compliance and dispatch simultaneously. The standalone unlock fee applies only to sites running Export Control without HELM.
Learn about Sponge HELM →Have a site that needs export control?
Talk to the team. We'll confirm compatibility with your inverter and walk through commissioning.
Book a call →