What is a hybrid solar system? A quick guide for the Santa Cruz homeowner

Hybrid solar has become a popular choice for residents who already have solar installed, as well as home owners looking to build the most robust electric system they can. A hybrid solar system as its name implies, borrows the best aspects of both a traditional grid-tied system, as well as an off-grid system.

Before we dive into the benefits of a hybrid solar system and whether it is the right choice for you, let’s look at what goes into building a hybrid system. In a hybrid system, we have our solar panels, a hybrid inverter, and a household DC battery bank. Solar panels are used to generate power to charge both the batteries as well as shave grid consumption during the day. The hybrid inverter can be seen as the brains of the operation. It is responsible for managing power coming from the panels, power going out to the load center, power going to and coming from the batteries, as well as power coming from and being sold back to the grid. The last major component needed to create a hybrid solar energy system is the house DC battery bank. The battery bank allows the inverter to power the house during peak shaving hours and during grid/PGE shutdowns.

A hybrid system may be the right choice for those looking to off set their power costs and obtain the added security of having back up power when the need arises such as during PG&E black outs. It is also advantageous for those who want to sell power back to the grid while also being able to use their batteries to power their home during peak cost hours.

So what parts do we recommend? Due to the strict code requirements in the California and Santa Cruz County, parts used to build a hybrid system have to meet very strict criteria of functional and safety regulations set by local, state and federal governments. Some companies we recommend and install with here in the Santa Cruz area that meet these strict criteria are Sol Ark, Generac, and Enphase. Each of these companies offer closed loop communications between their proprietary inverter and recommended batteries. This guarantees an extra line of protection for the equipment. An additional generator can be added to the system to create a completely self-reliant system. During winter months if solar isn’t producing enough to charge up the batteries, the generator can help assist the panels in keeping batteries healthily topped off.

Please reach out to us for any more info or if you are looking to get a hybrid solar power system set up at your property. Our team specializes in designing and installing grid-tied, hybrid, and off grid solar systems.