An inverter is essential to every solar installation, but some provide more capacity and functionality than others. There are standard inverters and hybrid inverters. Both types of inverters take the DC power generated from your solar panels and convert it into AC power for use in your home.
The primary difference between a hybrid and standard inverters is what they do with the excess energy. A standard inverter will feed the excess energy back into the grid whereas a hybrid inverter can store that power into a battery bank for use in the evening when the sun's not shining.
Hybrid inverters are a much more desirable choice for new installations these days because battery storage of your excess solar energy is becoming more and more cost effective as the rate drops for the feed-in tariff to the grid.
This is a good option for anybody who already has solar and wants to keep their existing “grid connect unit” rather than replace it with a more efficient hybrid inverter. The SMA Sunny Body Storage 2.5 is recommended to be used as a charge controller unit that works in conjunction with your existing grid connect unit.
The Goodwe BP Series units are good for anybody who wants to upgrade their existing solar installation with a battery storage system. These units will work in conjunction with your existing grid connect unit.
The Sungrow hybrid inverter is a top pick mid-range unit. Suitable for most residential households energy demands. As hybrid inverter, this one unit can manage your battery storage and invert the power from your batteries and solar panels for use in the home.
This unit provides the same functionality as the lower tier Sungrow hybrid inverter but can discharge at a higher wattage. The Goodwe Hybrid inverter is suitable for large residential households and businesses who have higher energy demand.
The Redback hybrid inverter is a top of the range hybrid inverter. It features true UPS capacities; meaning that it can work without the need of a grid connection if there is a power blackout or if your home is a totally off-grid premes. And has specially designed software to work with both LG lithium batteries and pylontech lithium batteries.
The Redback Hybrid inverter is recommended for off-grid homes and commercial premises. Although many off-grid homes have unique needs, this hybrid inverts is a versatile, solid pick.
These days buying a standard inverter will not give you the expansion options that you are very likely going to need soon; in fact we can almost guarantee that you’ll be upgrading your solar system with a battery storage unit in the near future. The addition of a battery storage bank is becoming standard with all new solar installations which is a strong indicator of just how much value the batteries add to your solar investment.
While you can buy a battery management unit separately, the cost of it plus the standard inverter will be greater than simply buying a hybrid inverter up front. Furthermore, the efficiency of a hybrid inverter is significantly greater than individual units.
If you’d like to get a free on-site audit by an off grid solar specialist, please contact us today.
We will find the most cost effective means of meeting your energy demands.