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Understanding the Battery Inverter: A Comprehensive Overview
What does a battery inverter do? A battery inverter DC to AC convert the direct current (DC) intermediately stored in a battery into alternating current (AC) which is commonly used in households, businesses and industry. A battery for inverters is therefore necessary to be able to use intermediately stored solar power. Learn more about the SMA battery inverter and its application.
Battery Inverters by SMA
Battery Inverters for High-Voltage Batteries
Sunny Boy Smart Energy 3.8-US / 4.8-US / 5.8-US / 7.7-US / 9.6-US / 11.5-US
At the heart of the SMA Home Energy Solution is the new, ground-breaking Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter for today’s smart home.
Sunny Island for off-grid and battery back-up solutions
Sunny Island 4548-US / 6048-US
The efficient island manager: now with 20 percent more power
Nominal power at 25 °C: 5000 W / 6000 W
Nominal battery voltage: 48 V
Output nominal voltage: 120 V
Multicluster Box for Sunny Island 4548-US AND 6048-US
Simple design of large off-grid systems
Nominal AC power / AC current: 110 kW / 3 x 300 A
Nominal voltage: 3 x 120 V / 208 V
Battery Inverters for large scale storage solutions
Sunny Central Storage 3450 UP-XT-US / 3600 UP-XT-US / 3800 UP-XT-US / 3950 UP-XT-US extended grid-feed power
Battery inverters for large scale storage systems
Sunny Central Storage 2300 UP-XT-US / 2400 UP-XT-US / 2530 UP-XT-US / 2630 UP-XT-US extended grid-feed power
Battery inverters for large scale storage systems
Sunny Central Storage 3450 UP-US / 3600 UP-US / 3800 UP-US / 3950 UP-US
Battery inverter for large-scale storage systems
Sunny Central Storage 2200-US / 2475-US / 2900-US
A full power class lineup for 1,000 and 1,500 V applications
What is a battery inverter?
Battery inverters 12V to 230V, whether they are rechargeable a battery inverter or a non-rechargeable battery inverter, play an important role in the operation of a PV system: PV systems supply direct current (DC) which must first be converted into alternating current (AC) to be used in households, businesses and industry as well as to be fed into the utility grid. PV inverters take care of this task. This same conversion process is also required when electric current is drawn from an energy storage. This is because, in a battery, the energy is intermediately stored in the form of direct current. The battery inverter then converts this energy into alternating current again.
A battery storage system for PV systems and usually consists of the following components:
PV inverter to convert direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC)
Battery system incl. charge controller for the intermediate storage of the generated energy
DC-to-DC converter for closed-loop control of high or low voltages
Battery inverter to convert the stored direct current into alternating current
Meter infrastructure (if needed) to capture the amounts of electricity fed into the utility grid
It is important to configure the electricity storage system in such a way that all operating modes that make sense for the household or business are possible. A PV system and a battery inverter can satisfy the following applications with proper planning:
Direct grid feed-in of the produced solar power into the utility grid (without intermediate storage)
Direct use of the produced energy in one's own household, multi-family house or business
Storage of the surplus solar power in the battery storage system
Drawing the energy for self-consumption from the battery storage system
Grid feed-in of the battery current into the utility grid
The PV inverter converts direct current into alternating current
Alternating current is supplied to consumers
Direct current is generated by PV modules
Alternating current is fed into or drawn from the utility grid
Surplus electric current is stored
Battery inverter converts alternating current from the battery storage system into direct current
Difference to the hybrid inverter
A hybrid inverter can perform the tasks of a traditional PV inverter as well as those of the battery inverter. It combines both functions in just one device. It can convert the direct current (DC) from the PV modules and the battery storage system into usable alternating current (AC) and in addition intermediately store the surplus solar power in the battery storage system.
Advantages of battery inverters for homes and businesses
The battery inverters for PV storage systems by SMA score points in many ways.
The benefits at a glance
SMA offers battery inverters for each application – be it peak load shaving, off-grid applications or for ensuring grid stability.
SMA battery inverters are compatible with various battery technologies and battery storage systems of different manufacturers and therefore are very versatile.
Battery inverters by SMA can be integrated into existing PV systems and combined with electric charging stations or heat pumps at any time to make optimal use of the generated solar energy.
How exactly does a battery inverter work?
A battery inverter is vital so that the energy stored intermediately can be used for consumption or to be fed into the utility grid. This is because the energy stored in the battery is in the form of direct current (DC). In contrast, the utility grid and the usual loads (electronic devices, electric machines) operate with alternating current (AC).
The battery inverter converts the direct current from the battery storage system into alternating current.
This alternating current can now be fed into the household or business grid or into the utility grid.
The battery inverter keeps the output voltage and frequency stable at all times, which prevents fluctuations and thus damages to the loads.
The energy transition poses a major challenge to grid stability as decentralized power generation from renewable energies is more difficult to control in terms of infrastructure utilization. Battery inverters such as those from SMA therefore contribute significantly to the success of the energy transition.
Secure power supply function
SMA battery inverters with secure power supply or backup function supply a household, a business or certain loads with the stored energy even if the utility grid fails. More information is available in the planning guidelines SMA Home Energy Solution with Battery-Backup Function.
Retrofitting battery storage systems and battery inverters
In the early days of photovoltaics there were no suitable storage systems for the self-produced electricity. The first battery storage systems were of no interest for most homeowners due to their high original costs and large size. This has changed thanks to modern lithium-ion technology, offering a more favorable battery inverter price. Today, storage solutions for PV systems with a lithium-ion battery inverter (also called "lithium battery inverter") or with a grid tie battery inverter are comparatively compact and economical to purchase and use.
The following options are available to choose from if you would like to retrofit an existing PV system with a battery storage system:
You keep your previous PV inverter, which converts the direct current (DC) of the PV system for the household and for grid feed-in into alternating current (AC) and retrofit the battery storage system and a battery inverter.
You expand or modify the PV system with a hybrid inverter. It combines the functions of a PV inverter and battery inverter in a single device.
SMA solar power professional search
For a customized energy system, it is best to seek advice from a qualified specialist company.
Frequently asked questions about hybrid inverters
How does a hybrid inverter work?
Can I use multiple batteries?Hybrid inverters convert DC power from both solar arrays and/or dc-coupled batteries. Hybrid inverters can also convert AC power from the grid to DC power for battery charging charge. The Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter can charge the battery directly from the PV array thus resulting in higher efficiency operation and depending on operation mode, it can charge the battery from the grid.
Which battery is right for me?
There is no general answer to this question; the basic rule is: The inverter power and desired backup goals should dictate the right battery configuration. SMA Home Storage can be configured for capacities of 9.4 kWh to 18.9 kWh and pairs perfectly with all Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverters.
What factors should I consider when sizing a battery?
• Energy Demand: Calculate the total energy consumption of your devices in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
• Days of Autonomy: Decide how many days you want the battery to last without recharging.
• Depth of Discharge (DoD): Consider the maximum depth of discharge to ensure battery longevity.
What batteries can I connect to the Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter?
The Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter is compatible with specific dc-coupled batteries. Please consult the installation manual for more info on which battery models can be installed with the Sunny Boy Smart Energy.
Can I connect the SMA Home Storage battery to other inverters?
No, the SMA Home Storage battery is designed to be DC-coupled with the Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter.
What is a DC-coupled system?
DC-coupled batteries are energy storage systems where the energy of solar panels is directly stored directly. This setup is efficient because the energy is only converted once, reducing energy losses.
Can I use multiple batteries?
Yes, you can connect up to 4 SMA Home Storage batteries to a Sunny Boy Smart Energy hybrid inverter to meet your energy needs.
Find your local SMA POWERUP+ Installer
For a customized SMA Home Energy Solution, it’s best to seek advice from a professional solar installer.