What is CSIP-AUS?

The Common Smart Inverter Profile - Australia (CSIP-AUS) serves as a pivotal standard for Distributed Energy Resources (DER) management in Australia. Designed to facilitate robust and secure communication between DERs and utility networks, CSIP-AUS is integral in navigating the complexities of modern energy systems in Australia.

Understanding CSIP-AUS

CSIP-AUS is an adaptation of the CSIP standard developed in California, USA, adjusted to meet Australia’s unique needs. It is based on the IEEE 2030.5 (SEP2) protocol, a global standard for secure and interoperable communication between energy resources and grid operators. The rapid installation of residential solar and batteries across Australia is transforming the way we generate and consume electricity, making coordination and management of these valuable assets represents a great opportunity and significant challenge. CSIP-AUS addresses the key challenges of integrating rooftop solar systems and home batteries, and the dynamic management of energy loads. By enabling dynamic export, emergency backstop mechanisms, and load control capabilities, CSIP-AUS ensures that Australia’s electricity grid operators can maintain grid stability and reliability as the energy landscape transitions.

CSIP-AUS adoption in Australia

The early adoption of CSIP-AUS has differed across Australia, depending on the emerging needs and opportunities of different States. CSIP-AUS has primarily been utilised by Distributed Network Service Providers (DNSPs) across Australia to enable Flexible Exports (also referred to as ‘dynamic connections’) or Emergency Backstop:  

  • South Australia has offered Flexible Exports as an option to customers since 2021, with all inverters required to be compliant from July 2023. 

  • Queensland has offered Dynamic Connections as an opt-in connection option for customers since late 2022.  

  • Victoria has mandated that the Emergency Backstop Mechanism is enabled (using CSIP-AUS) on new systems installed from October 2024 

  • The NSW Government has announced its intention to mandate CSIP-AUS for its Emergency Backstop Mechanism from June 2026 

  • The Western Australia Government has announced that Synergy will use the CSIP-AUS protocol to communicate with assets for the purposes of VPP orchestration, emergency backstop measures and to manage and limit exports to the grid from 2025.  

The following table summarises the current utilisation of CSIP-AUS in Australia by DNSPs:

National consistency

As a result of the varied deployment across Australia, the requirements governing CSIP-AUS testing and certification has varied by DNSP region, which has led to significant issues regarding consistency in deployment and interpretation. With the support of ARENA, the Australian National University (ANU) established a nationally harmonised testing and certification service to support the consistent CSIP-AUS deployment across Australia, commencing in late 2025.

Benefits of nationally consistent testing and certification include:

  • Single ‘front door’ and certification process for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), irrespective of where in Australia they wish to operate

  • Reduced complexity and cost for OEMs by avoiding divergent technical requirements across different jurisdictions or regions, and

  • Consistent national roadmap for future technical functionality and operations across Australia.

All DNSPs in Australia that utilise CSIP-AUS recognise certifications provided by the ANU testing and certification service.

Please see CSIP-AUS certification for further details of the new nationally consistent testing and certification service under development.

Future Roadmap

The future development of CSIP-AUS continues to be spearheaded by the DER Integration API Technical Working Group (DERIAPITWG) under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Distributed Energy Integration Program (DEIP). The future roadmap focuses on expanding the standard beyond the current IEEE 2030.5 framework to develop a comprehensive communication protocol tailored to enable the safe, reliable adoption of DER for Australian conditions.

The ANU’s national testing and certification service will introduce the first new variation of CSIP-AUS (version 1.2), which will become the mandated version across many jurisdictions from mid-2026. A copy can be downloaded from the Documents page.

The ISC and the DER Integration API Technical Working Group are now working on the development of CSIP-AUS version 1.3, which is likely to include functionality related to battery communications and pricing notifications. If industry participants are interested in future development and would like to get involved, please reach out to us at the Contact Us page.

Who is the Interoperability Steering Committee?

The Interoperability Steering Committee (ISC) is an independent and collaborative initiative consisting of representatives from key industry stakeholders across Australia. It leads a national effort to ensure that distributed and consumer energy resources are integrated into utility, network and market systems in a manner that supports a safe, efficient, decarbonised, and resilient energy system.  At the same time providing energy users with an energy supply that is affordable, reliable, and secure, and with participation models for households and communities that support choice, equity, and opportunity. The development and adoption of appropriate standards and technology is core to achieving this vision.

The ISC consists of:

  • Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)

  • Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

  • Australian Energy Regulator (AER)

  • Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)

  • Australian Energy Council (AEC)

  • Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

  • Australian National University (ANU)

  • Clean Energy Council (CEC)

  • Energy Networks Australia (ENA)

  • Energy Consumers Association (ECA)

  • Standards Australia (SA)

Who is the DER Integration API Technical Working Group?

The DER Integration API Technical Working Group was established in 2019 as a collaboration of Australian energy sector businesses from across the supply chain, including numerous distribution networks, retailers, equipment manufacturers and aggregators. The DERIAPITWG boasts over 100 members, including all Australian DNSPs, all major inverter manufacturers and a wide variety of technology and software providers.

The DERIAPITWG periodically establishes sub-working groups made up of volunteer DERIAPITWG members. Each sub-working group is established to consider specific technical matters and supports the development and refinement of CSIP-AUS documentation and systems.

If you are an interested industry party and wish to know more about the DER Integration API Technical Working Group or getting involved, please email us at csipaus@csipaus.org