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Solar panels have a number of advantages, from the environmental benefits of renewable energy, to reduction in energy bills and maintenance costs. However, solar panels cannot generate energy during the night. To continue to reduce your carbon footprint by using solar energy outside of daylight hours, A W Electrics suggest investing in a hybrid inverter and battery storage.
A hybrid inverter can be added to your existing solar panels to transform direct current electricity into alternating current, which is the type of electric current used in homes and businesses e.g., when appliances are plugged into wall sockets.
You can then attach one or more batteries to the inverter to store the generated electricity. There are different types of inverters, and they can offer you different ways to manage your home energy use.
Hybrid solar panel systems have many advantages. Firstly, they do not require regular servicing as there are no moving parts. Hybrid systems also store energy on bright, sunny days, which can then be utilised during evenings, reducing the amount of energy used from the grid.
A basic battery inverter will manage your storage so you are charging during the day and using the battery at night. It will supplement your energy requirements with power from the grid as your energy needs fluctuate.
A basic inverter won’t allow you to use your batteries as a backup in a blackout. Solar panel inverters and basic battery inverters automatically turn off power during power cuts. This is because engineers will be working to fix the problem and would run the risk of electrocution if electricity continues to be generated by your panels.
A big benefit of a multi-mode hybrid inverter is the power backup they can provide in the event of a power cut. This means with an appropriate inverter and battery storage, you and your family won’t be left in the dark!
It is worth noting that whilst batteries can power your home during a power cut, solar batteries do have a storage limit and maximum power outputs. You may therefore opt for additional batteries to be added to your configuration as required.
Batteries can be added at a size and cost to suit your budget requirements and the intended use for the storage facility.
We can also add further storage down the line to make your system perform better and fulfil further uses. In this way a smaller system which could be used to supplement and reduce the amount of energy taken from the grid overnight, can be upgraded to form a backup in the event of a power cut.
You will need to consider what your backup requirements are in order to determine the amount of storage you need, and crucially the systems ability to deliver power back to your home when you need it.
Some smaller systems, while helping you limit your energy draw from the grid, and keeping your bills small, would not be able to deliver enough power in Watts on their own to boil a kettle, and so would be unsuitable for full house backup power in the event of a blackout.
Additionally, take time to consider the charging rates of batteries as they can be variable. If your solar array is generating energy at a rate faster than the battery can take charge, the excess energy will go into the grid, therefore you may want to add more storage to take maximum advantage of the energy you generate.
If you would like more information regarding hybrid inverters and battery storage, call AW Electrics today on 01142 134 610 to speak to a member of our team.
