Generac debuted a dc generator to cost the battery in its dc-coupled PWRcell photo voltaic +storage system. This yr, Generac is increasing the probabilities for photo voltaic + storage + turbines even additional due to a key firmware improve that can enable for ac coupling.
On this episode of The Pitch, we be taught extra in regards to the ac coupling improve from Wesley Williams, product supervisor with Generac, and simply why that is big for the retrofit market in additional methods than one. We talk about:
- Normal execs and cons of ac vs dc coupled photo voltaic techniques
- Sizing an ac-coupled battery for an current photo voltaic system
- Are prospects gravitating extra to ac coupled techniques?
- How does the dc generator examine to the ac generator?
- What to contemplate when designing essentially the most resilient complete residence backup system
Try the total 10 min chat for your self. A part of the transcript is under.
Crowell: Traditionally your PWRcell system has centered on dc coupling to photo voltaic and battery storage, so why the change?
Williams: I wish to make it clear that dc coupling remains to be one thing that’s going to be the usual working issue for our PWRcell. What we’re actually doing is simply including some further capabilities in order that our commonplace PWRcell can now even be ac coupled and there’s a variety of causes for that.
The most important one is that ac coupling is historically seen to be the better solution to go when there’s already photo voltaic on the house and lots of people on the market are in that place. DC coupling provides some nice capabilities, particularly while you’re off grid or when there’s a grid outage. It’s additionally extra environment friendly total, which is a motive why lots of people go for that for brand spanking new installs. However in the case of photo voltaic already being on the house, ac coupling sometimes makes essentially the most sense, and that’s one thing we wished to have the ability to provide as a producer.
Crowell: Are you seeing new photo voltaic prospects going with an ac coupled configuration? I imply, it doesn’t seem to be they need to, however I’m curious what the market is bearing proper now?
Williams: It’s one thing we see and there’s some comprehensible causes. The large factor is that solar-only installs have been the secret for a very very long time, so a variety of the large set up firms on the market perhaps have a model or a few manufacturers that they’re fairly devoted to … in order that they’re considerably dedicated from a enterprise viewpoint.
What we’re doing by permitting PWRcell to be ac coupled is permitting these installers to guage for themselves if our battery is one thing they just like the look of, and in the event that they decide that it’s, then it’s one thing that’ll work with their favourite inverter model as nicely.
Crowell: Are there any keys you wish to throw out for accurately sizing a system and matching the present PV?
Williams: The large factor to at all times bear in mind is that you have to have a look at the charging capabilities of the battery inverter. For PWRcell, the identify plate is 7.6 kW, so at any given level, particularly throughout an outage, you’re going to solely be capable to assist a most of a 7-kW array.
Now, we’re going to provide steerage for individuals who have a bigger array than 7.6 kW, however something past these 7.6 kW goes to be managed by a separate inverter in order that in an outage the one factor that’s truly ac coupled to our system is one thing that our system can deal with.
Crowell: Have there been developments in battery and inverter expertise that streamline ac coupled techniques and enhance within the installer portion of issues? What involves thoughts is the backup masses panel — are we nonetheless needing to do this?
Williams: For Generac, that backup load panel is one thing that we had been capable of get round shortly after we launched the PWRcell product. Really we’ve got a complete residence set up configuration that takes benefit of current expertise that Generac had from its generator days of good load administration, good switch switching and we mix that expertise with our PWRcell to supply a very sturdy and clever backup answer that’s going to additionally work with our ac coupled function.
Crowell: Let’s transition into the generator facet of issues. As talked about, Generac is now rolling out the power to ac couple a generator to a PV system. Final yr you introduced a dc generator product that might particularly be charging a battery in a PV + storage system, which is fairly cool too. Are you able to examine and distinction these?
Decide up the dialog proper right here to be taught extra in regards to the subsequent large alternative for Generac photo voltaic installers due to this improve — advertising and marketing to current Generac generator house owners:
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