Solar panels are only one component of a home’s solar power system. Your home solar panels produce direct current (DC) electricity. Everything in and around your home runs on alternating current (AC) electricity. So, for the electricity from your panels to be useful your system needs an inverter. An inverter converts electricity from DC to AC.
KINGSUN Product Page
Hybrid inverters do the work of a traditional solar inverter and a separate battery inverter, too. They’re a solution for homeowners who want to install a solar power system with a battery storage system either at the time of installation or in the future.
With this guide, you will learn the basics of hybrid solar inverters, how they function, how they compare to other types of inverters, what a hybrid grid-tied inverter does, and the pros and cons of including one in your home solar system.
A hybrid solar inverter takes the function of two other pieces of equipment — the solar inverter and battery inverter — and combines them in a single piece of equipment that manages power from your solar panels, solar batteries, and the utility grid with more efficiency at the same time.
A traditional solar grid-tied inverter converts direct current (DC) electricity produced by your panels into the alternating current (AC) electricity that powers your house. This kind of inverter sends excess electricity generation to the utility grid.
A battery inverter converts DC electricity stored in your solar battery storage into AC electricity that can be used by your home.
By combining these functions into a single device, a solar hybrid grid-tied inverter streamlines and improves the operations of a traditional solar inverter. Even better, since the amount of solar power that’s available can depend on weather and seasonality, a hybrid inverter can draw power from the electricity grid to charge your battery storage system if needed.
The basic purpose of an inverter is the conversion of DC input from your solar panel into AC output your home can use. Hybrid solar inverters take this process to the next level.
Normally solar batteries are charged by DC electricity received directly from solar panels (DC coupled), or DC electricity that has been converted from AC electricity by a solar inverter (AC coupled). To release that power, an inverter needs to convert the stored DC electricity back into AC electricity.
With a hybrid inverter and battery, one device can do both roles. The hybrid grid-tied inverter converts DC electricity into AC electricity to power your home, but it can also take AC electricity from the grid and convert it into DC electricity that can be stored in batteries for later use.
Solar power fluctuates as sun levels increase and decrease. A hybrid inverter regulates this power to ensure the whole system operates within the required parameters.
Solar hybrid grid-tied inverters can be fitted with solar power monitoring software to measure and monitor your system via the display screen or a connected smartphone app to help identify any faults.
Hybrid inverters with maximum power point trackers (MPPT) check your solar power output and correlate it to the battery's voltage. This enables optimum power output and conversion of DC electricity to the best voltage for the battery's maximum charge. MPPT guarantees your solar system works efficiently in every condition, such as varying amounts of sunlight, solar panel temperatures, and electrical loads.
A grid-tied hybrid inverter allows for a seamless merger between your home’s solar power system and the electricity grid. Once your solar array generates enough power for your home, you can use excess electricity to charge your solar battery system and transfer the rest to the grid after your battery storage is fully charged.
What makes the hybrid inverter stand out from other central inverters is its bi-directional power transfer ability. As we discussed earlier, a battery inverter converts between AC and DC power for storage, while a solar grid-tied inverter manages the relationship between the home, the home’s solar power system, and the electricity grid. (There are three primary versions of solar inverters: https://palmetto.com/solar/microinverters-vs-string-inverters-pros-and-cons-guide.)
The hybrid inverter does all of this and can also use AC power from the grid to charge your solar battery storage if the energy from your solar panels is inadequate or being used to power your home.
There are a few key advantages with a hybrid inverter, whether you get a battery now or are considering one down the road.
Having a solar power system does not always guarantee you will have power during a power outage. If your system uses a traditional solar grid-tied inverter, it will automatically shut off power from your system during a blackout for safety purposes.
A hybrid inverter paired with a solar battery storage system is a great solution for such a scenario. It ensures you have both off-grid and on-grid capabilities, so you always have access to power, even during a blackout.
A full solar power installation can be a significant investment, especially if you add an energy storage system to the other individual components. A hybrid inverter is designed to integrate storage at any time, allowing you to forgo the costs of installing battery storage initially. You can more easily add the battery bank later while still enjoying the full benefits of your solar energy now.
A hybrid inverter simplifies energy monitoring because you can check vital data such as performance and energy production via the inverter's panel or through a connected smart device. If your system has two inverters, you have to monitor them separately.
There are a few cases where hybrid inverters may not be the best solution.
If you want to upgrade your existing solar power system to include battery storage, choosing a hybrid inverter could complicate the situation, and a battery inverter might be more cost effective. All you really need is an AC-coupled battery with its own battery inverter to expand your system. Since you already have a grid-tied solar inverter, choosing to install a hybrid inverter requires a complete and costly re-work of your entire solar panel system.
The initial installation of a hybrid inverter can be more costly than a traditional solar power inverter. If your area experiences frequent power outages and you want the option of adding battery backup in the future, having a hybrid inverter can be worth the higher cost.
However, if your power grid is reliable and you have access to net metering, a regular grid-tied system might be sufficient and would likely be less expensive than a hybrid inverter plus battery storage.
Solar battery design changes with advances in technology, and not all hybrid inverters work with every type of battery. If you install a hybrid inverter now with the idea you might add a solar energy battery later, your future options may be limited by compatibility. For example, some solar panel energy storage systems now come with built-in inverters, eliminating the need for a separate hybrid inverter altogether.
While a hybrid solar inverter is a larger initial investment, it can be worth the extra cost if you plan to include solar battery storage with your initial solar installation or shortly after.
A hybrid inverter helps manage issues like intermittent sunlight and unreliable utility grids, so it performs exceptionally well compared to other types of solar inverters. Better still, a hybrid inverter helps you to store energy for future consumption more effectively, including backup power to use during emergencies, power outages, or peak utility rate hours.
Hybrid inverters also allow for more efficient power generation and management, especially when it comes to being on the wider electricity grid and plans like net metering and time of use rates. Additionally, ultra-modern tech allows you to conveniently monitor and manage your solar power system from anywhere via connected smartphone apps.
Most home solar panel systems remain tied to the greater electricity grid, meaning they’re not truly off-grid. If you want to fully disconnect your home from the power grid, you must install enough battery capacity to power your home for days at a time, when your panels don’t generate enough electricity or there’s a grid outage. That’s often cost prohibitive for many people, though tax credits for batteries can help reduce the cost.
If you want to go off the grid, a hybrid inverter can help, because they are designed to complete multiple tasks as a single device, including solar panel operation, battery storage, and drawing electricity from generators and other sources of power.
Even with higher initial costs, a hybrid inverter can pay off in the long run by giving you a solar inverter that maximizes the operations of your solar system. A hybrid inverter can reduce your reliance on the grid, lower your carbon footprint, enjoy advanced monitoring tools, and enhance your power generation.
If you’re ready to learn more about inverter technology and the right solar power system for your home, get started today with a free solar savings estimate or connect with a solar expert at Palmetto who can walk you through the options for powering your home.
For more Hybrid Inverter Supplierinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
What is a hybrid solar inverter?
A hybrid solar inverter changes electricity from alternating current to direct current and back again, an important step in passing electricity between solar panels, backup batteries, your home, and the grid.
Is a hybrid solar inverter better than a conventional inverter?
A hybrid inverter is more flexible than a conventional inverter, but that doesn’t mean it’s better. If you’re planning on keeping your solar panels tied to the grid and don’t have plans for adding a battery, a hybrid inverter might not be ideal and would likely cost more.
What is the lifespan of a hybrid inverter?
Inverters typically have a shorter lifespan than solar panels. Most hybrid solar inverters can be expected to last 10-15 years.
Overviews
New solar technology has been developed in the form of hybrid inverters. These inverters can combine the benefits of regular solar inverters with the flexibility of battery inverters into one piece of equipment. A hybrid inverter is a new option for homeowners who want to install a solar power system that can be expanded in the future to include other parts, such as a battery storage system.
Here, we look at what a hybrid inverter is and the different types and functions it has.
A hybrid solar inverter is a piece of equipment that is created by combining a solar inverter and a battery inverter into a single unit. This allows the hybrid solar inverter to intelligently handle power coming from your solar panels, solar batteries, and the utility grid all at the same time.
The direct current (DC) electricity generated by your photovoltaic (PV) system is changed into the alternating current (AC) electricity that is used to power your home. This type of solar grid-tie inverter also makes it possible to send any excess electricity generated to the utility grid.
The process of converting the DC electricity that is stored in your solar battery storage into AC electricity that can be used by your home is managed by a battery inverter.
A solar hybrid grid-tie inverter makes the work of a traditional solar inverter easier and better by putting all of its functions into a single device. These features include grid connection and solar panel charging. Even better, because the amount of solar power that is available can vary depending on the weather and the time of year, a hybrid inverter can, if necessary, draw power from the electricity grid to charge your battery storage system. This is a significant benefit because the amount of solar power that is available can change.
An inverter's primary function is to change the direct current (DC) that is fed into it from your solar panels into alternating current (AC), which your house is able to make use of. This method is taken to a whole new level when a hybrid solar inverter is used, which brings with it a number of benefits, including the following:
DC-to-AC Power Conversion in Both Directions Solar batteries are often charged by direct current (DC) electricity that comes directly from solar panels or by DC electricity that has been converted from alternating current (AC) electricity using a solar inverter (AC coupled). The stored direct current electricity must then be converted by an inverter into alternating current electricity before the power may be released.
When it is a hybrid model, one piece of equipment can do the job of both the inverter and the battery. The hybrid grid-tie inverter can use AC electricity to power your home. It can also take AC electricity from the grid and turn it into DC electricity that can be stored in batteries for later use.
Regulation of the Power Supply Solar panels can produce different amounts of power depending on the time of day and the weather. This is because the amount of sunlight changes throughout the day. A hybrid inverter controls and regulates this electricity to make sure that the system as a whole works within the parameters that were set.
Power Monitoring Solar hybrid grid-tied inverters can be fitted with solar power monitoring software to measure and keep an eye on your photovoltaic system. This can be done through the display screen of the inverter or through an app on a connected smartphone. This can assist in locating any faults in the system.
Hybrid inverters with Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT) measure how much electricity your solar panels make and compare it to the battery's voltage. This is done to get the most power out of the system. This makes it possible for the most power to be made and for DC electricity to be turned into the voltage that gives the battery the most charge. Your MPPT makes sure that your solar power system will work well no matter what, such as how bright the sun is, how hot the solar panels are, or how much electricity is being used.
Before making a decision about whether or not to add a hybrid inverter to your electrical system, you should know about the three main kinds.
The type of hybrid inverter that is used most often in off-grid power applications is an inverter/charger hybrid. This piece of equipment has all the features of a regular battery charger and inverter, as well as the benefits of hybrid inverters that we've already talked about.
With this kind of inverter, the electrical system can get power from the shore connection until the setpoint limit is reached. At this time, it will begin adding power from the battery to the mix in in order to prevent the shore supply from becoming overloaded. As soon as the extra load goes down, it will start charging the batteries again using the power it has in whatever way is best.
One type of hybrid inverter that is not very common is one that has MPPT solar chargers built in. These models have all the benefits of a regular hybrid unit, plus they have solar power built in. This makes them a great choice for anyone who wants to save space. The disadvantage of using them is that if one component fails for any reason, the whole system can become inoperable as a result.
As was just said, these machines can do every normal thing a hybrid inverter can do. On the other hand, these are able to send power back into the grid, which is practically the same as selling power back to the power provider. Because of this, some of the costs that are normally incurred when pulling power from your home or another source can be avoided.
Grid-tie systems are subject to stringent regulations, and in order to put one into operation, you will need permission from the nearby utility.
If you want to live partially or completely off the grid, you should seriously think about buying a hybrid inverter. This is because they are able to combine the electricity from a number of different sources into a single stream that can be utilized.
Imagine the possibility of creating an electrical system that is both more powerful and more capable by combining the power of a generator or a solar power system with the charge of your batteries. Because of this, living off the grid is much more bearable over the long run, since you are able to enjoy many more of the conveniences that are standard in a conventional house.
At FSP, we believe that it is important for customers to do their research into significant purchases like this. We spend time looking into the best products on the market and only recommend ones we would use ourselves. Our recommendation for the best hybrid inverter is the PowerManager Hybrid 10kW. It has the following features:
For more information on the PowerManager Hybrid 10kW, visit our website and click on ‘inquiry’.
An initial investment in a hybrid inverter may be more expensive, but it may be worthwhile in the long run because it will provide you with a solar inverter that makes the most of the operations of your PV system. With the help of a hybrid inverter, you can reduce how much you need to use the grid, lower your carbon footprint, use more advanced monitoring tools, and make more power.
For more information on hybrid inverters, get in touch with us today and speak to a member of our team.
| FSP Smart Microgrids Microsite |
Want more information on Modified Sine Wave Inverter? Feel free to contact us.