Hybrid Power Systems
Lady Sol® develop bespoke Hybrid solar power systems tailored to fit customer needs.
Use the sun!
Hybrid solar systems generate power in the same way as a common grid-tie solar system but use special hybrid inverters and batteries to store energy for later use. This ability to store energy enables most hybrid systems to also operate as a backup power supply during a blackout, similar to a UPS system.
Traditionally the term hybrid referred to two generation sources such as wind and solar but more recently the term 'hybrid solar' refers to a combination of solar and energy storage which is connected to the electricity grid.
What is a battery ready system?
A battery ready system uses a hybrid inverter rather than a typical string solar inverter. Most modern hybrid inverters have the battery charger and connection built in which makes adding a battery much easier in the future.
Do you need a hybrid inverter to add batteries? No, a battery can be added to any existing grid-tie solar system at any time using an AC coupled ‘AC battery system’. As inverter technology and batteries are evolving rapidly it is usually only worth while spending extra money on a ‘battery ready system’ if you plan on adding a battery within 2 years. Since the battery technology is advancing quickly if you wait too long to add batteries the system may become obsolete.
A battery ready system is a system with a battery ready ‘hybrid’ inverter but is generally only cost-effective if you plan on adding batteries within the next year or two.
Why store solar energy in a battery?
Many governments and network operators have reduced the solar feed-in tariff or FiT (money or credit received for feeding solar energy to the grid). This means traditional grid-feed solar systems have become less attractive as most people are working during the day and not home to use the solar energy as it is generated, thus the energy is fed into the grid for very little return.
A solar hybrid system stores your excess solar energy and can also provide back-up power during a blackout. This is perfect for home owners although for the majority of businesses which operate during the daylight hours, a common grid-feed solar system is still the most economical choice.
Hybrid solar systems enable you to store solar energy and use it when you're home during the evening when the cost of electricity is typically at the peak rate.
The ability to store and use your solar energy when desired is referred to as self-use or self-consumption. It works in the same way as an off-grid power system but the battery capacity required is far less, usually just enough to cover peak consumption (8 hours or less) as opposed to 3-5 days with a typical off-grid system.
Solar Hybrid Advantages
- Stores excess solar or low cost (off-peak) electricity.
- Allows the use of solar energy during peak evening times (known as self-use or load-shifting)
- Have power available during a grid outage or blackout
- Reduces power consumption from the grid (reduced demand)
- Enables advanced energy management (ie. peak shaving)
- Enables energy independence