What Is A Hybrid Inverter And Why Do You Need One?

Consumers shopping around for alternative power solutions eventually end up asking, “What is a hybrid inverter?” The definition of the word ‘hybrid’ means ‘a thing made by combining two different elements; a mixture.’  Just in the same way that hybrid cars have the ability to burn gasoline and use batteries for propulsion, a hybrid inverter combines the features of a standard solar inverter and a battery inverter into one affordable and smart charging electricity routing unit. 

If you are interested in what is a hybrid inverter amd interested in making the switch to solar energy, keep reading to learn more about hybrid inverters and why they may work for you.

What Is A Hybrid Inverter?

A hybrid inverter combines two separate components–a solar inverter and a battery inverter–into one single piece of equipment.

The hybrid inverter is a critical component of any solar energy system as one needs it to convert the direct current (DC) electricity generated by your solar panels and batteries into alternating current (AC) electricity for your home’s appliances. If you install a solar panel system with a traditional grid-tied inverter and decide to add a battery system later on, you will require a completely separate battery-specific inverter to convert the electricity back and forth from AC to DC current for your battery to charge and discharge. 

The hybrid inverter means that a separate battery inverter is not necessary as it functions as both an inverter for electricity from/to your solar panels and batteries.

Another important point to mention is that while hybrid inverters are designed to incorporate storage, one may install this technology without batteries; in fact, many people choose to install a hybrid inverter at the beginning of the solar system set-up in anticipation of adding batteries at a later stage.

A standard, or string inverter, is a core component of your solar power system. It converts the DC electricity flowing from your solar panels into usable AC that your home appliances require. Solar-battery inverters are bi-directional and may be used on or off-grid. They convert DC electricity into AC and can convert AC back to DC again. This means that they will provide smooth, reliable electricity from battery storage systems to power critical loads. This is especially important in South Africa with our load-shedding issues where the backup power they provide offers a lot of peace of mind and enables you to remain productive.  

If you are considering going solar and adding a battery system storage at the same time, the combined features of standard inverters with battery inverters in a hybrid unit makes absolute sense. Hybrid inverters are wired with more inputs and outputs than a traditional string inverter. They make sending electricity to and from your fuse box, the electricity grid, and your energy storage unit, much easier.

What Are The Benefits Of A Hybrid Inverter?

Now that the answer to, “What is a hybrid inverter?” is crystal clear, let’s look at their benefits. Hybrid inverters have a great many benefits and advantages. Let us look at some of the top factors so that you can take them into consideration when you are comparing inverter solutions:

Durability

A common misconception about having a solar system installed is that some people think they will always have power during outages. Whilst we wish this were true, in most cases, it is not. Traditional grid-tied solar inverters automatically shut off during power outages for safety purposes, thereby cutting off power generation from your solar panel system to your home.

If you want to maintain your home’s power supply continuously, then a hybrid inverter paired with batteries is a great solution. 

Observation

With a hybrid inverter, all of your solar electricity–whether being sent to the grid, self-consumed on your property, or stored in your battery–is converted through one unit. This allows for one central monitoring

unit where you can monitor and observe both your solar panel system and battery performance through one single platform.

A Two-For-One Solution

One of the greatest benefits of a hybrid inverter is that it combines the functionality of two separate pieces of equipment into one. This not only means an easier installation process for the Alumo Energy solar installer but it means you will save money by installing a hybrid inverter from the get-go as opposed to paying for both a solar inverter and a battery-specific inverter separately. If you do not plan on adding battery storage to your system, we recommend that you compare hybrid solutions to traditional, grid-tied solar inverters, as they can be less expensive upfront.

Streamlined Design

If you were to add a battery backup system to your existing solar PV system, you would require both the battery bank itself and a new inverter, a battery charger controller and perhaps a performance monitoring system. These are extra pieces of hardware that take up a lot of space and naturally add to the overall cost of the entire solar system. A hybrid inverter integrates performance monitoring, charge control, and bi-directional AC DC inverter function into one neat package, at a more affordable cost.

Charge Control Features

A hybrid inverter comes with a built-in charge controller to ensure your batteries charge efficiently and don’t get overcharged. Most hybrid inverters on the market also come with intelligent functions that control when the batteries discharge, allowing for full control of the system to achieve maximum savings and power security. 

These functions are designed to help you save money if you participate in a time-of-use plan. The batteries charge during the day and then they discharge during the evening, when grid power is more expensive or when load shedding usually takes place.

Mobile App Functions

We are now in the digital age, which means we can do far more on our phones than just text or talk. Many hybrid inverters have the ability to send your system performance data onto a portal in the cloud. Once there, you can log into the app to view your system’s performance and be notified when and if your system isn’t performing as well as it should be. 

Hybrid inverters also usually have configurable modes to set your system on vacation or standby mode through an app. These ensure you’re making optimal use of the energy you create with your solar panels, even when you are not at home. 

DC-Coupled Options

Some hybrid inverters are designed with more efficiency in mind. Any time you have to move AC electricity to DC or back again, you’re going to lose some power due to conversion losses. There are plenty of hybrid solar inverters that are DC-coupled, meaning they take the DC power from your solar panels and feed it directly through to your battery, without converting it to AC and back in the process. 

This makes sure that you get the most value from the electricity your solar panels produce in a battery backup system.

System Oversizing

Some hybrid inverter systems allow you to connect a much larger-sized solar array to your inverter. This means that you can maximise your solar performance more often throughout the day. This is achieved through a larger power output in lower light conditions like sunrise and sunset. Increased harvest at sunset can be a strong financial consideration, especially if your utility is on a time-of-use billing structure when evening electricity is most valuable, especially taking load-shedding into account.  

Care should be taken in system design though, as inverters are designed to output AC power to a level that cannot be exceeded. If you are generating a whole bunch of DC with your panels, your inverter will clip the production of your panels to the amount of AC it can actually handle.  

On top of this, too much power flowing to your inverter can reduce the longevity of your equipment. Since the inverter is one of the most expensive pieces of hardware in your solar system and most prone to failure, you don’t want to get this part wrong. Alumo Energy solar installers will ensure you are getting the most out of your solar equipment, without putting it at risk.

What Is A Hybrid Inverter: In Conclusion

Hybrid solar inverters are a great option for pairing a new solar energy system with battery backup resilience. They neatly and efficiently combine the best features of a battery inverter with a traditional string solar inverter to provide an affordable, streamlined package. 

As South Africans, we are all aware of the challenges and frustrations load-shedding presents. Luckily, there are ways of getting around these dreaded blackouts, and that is what we are here to assist with. A solar hybrid inverter is an excellent solution when considering effective ways of mitigating load-shedding. 

During these power outages, when the traditional grid is down, the hybrid inverter will automatically turn to backup mode. It can then draw from the stored-up energy it has accumulated from the solar panels and grid power, this is used to get appliances back up and running and get the lights and laptops back on. This uninterrupted power supply means that you are able to continue with your everyday activities unhindered.

Additionally, these inverters will continue to charge the batteries with surplus solar power, guaranteeing that your household will receive continuous sustainable energy. This will help you to move away from unreliable grid power and offer some much-needed relief from the unpleasant nature of the rolling blackouts.

Why Choose Alumo Energy?

If you have been considering the switch to sustainable solar power, there is no better choice than Alumo Energy! We have already assisted more than 5,000 South Africans in doing just that, and that number grows substantially on a daily basis. Our premium solar technology is sourced from exceptional local and international suppliers and all of our panels and inverters are guaranteed to be of the highest quality. 

Our professional solar installer teams have proven time and time again that they can tackle almost any issue they are presented with. So, why not contact us today and we will create a tailored hybrid inverter quote for your home or business? We are confident in our ability to provide you with a lasting renewable energy solution that will keep the lights on and preserve your way of life.

Go to our Alumo Energy website now and book a free consultation so that we can light up your life as soon as possible!