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Why Having Battery Storage Makes Sense in the UK.

Solar Energy Generation peaks at around 12.00pm noon, what happens when nobody is at home and the energy consumption is zero or in a standby device nature ? We end up exporting almost all of the solar generated energy to the grid.



Some areas of the UK where the grid infrastructure is weak and grid capacity needs upgrading, the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are right to say that they do not really like to receive back the “unwanted” energy and exporting needs to be controlled using export limiting technology. .


The solution to both problems is an Energy Storage System, as many people return home in the evenings, all of your solar production for that day has been effectively wasted via export and now your paying peak demand prices to run heavy loads from the grid as solar generation fades away into the night, this is both a problem for the Distribution Networks and yourself.


In theory, utilizing an energy storage system allows you to absorb(self consume) all of your solar generation and use this stored energy in the evenings at times of peak demand.

Confused about the different types of systems ?

What are the key differences between system Topologies?

It is crucial you understand the difference between these systems before planning your installation. With the wide variety of solar battery systems now on the market, there is a lot of confusion about the different types of inverters and what’s best for a typical household, farm, factory or large commercial project. We explain the subtle differences and hopefully help clear up some of the confusing and conflicting terminologies between systems.


The 4 Main Categories are

  1. AC Inverters.
  2. Home Hybrid Inverters
  3. Multi-Mode Hybrid Inverters
  4. Off Grid Stand Alone Systems


Hybrid Inverter have both AC & DC functions

Hybrid inverters sometimes referred to as battery ready inverters, combine a solar and battery inverter together in one simple unit. These inverters are becoming more competitive against stand alone AC inverters as hybrid technology advances and batteries become cheaper. Hybrid inverters are the most cost-effective way to add batteries, but generally had limited backup power capability and usually had a small delay (5 sec to 30 sec) when switching to backup mode during a blackout. Not anymore! Technology has moved on and Tesla now leading the market with super powerful hybrid capable of full house backup with UPS.

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AC Inverters

AC Solar Inverters convert solar DC power to AC power. These simple grid-connected (grid-feed) or (on-grid) inverters use one or more strings of solar panels and are the most common type of inverter used around the world. String solar inverters are available in many sizes for residential and commercial solar installations, from small 1.5kW single phase inverters, up to large 3-phase 100kW inverters. These type of Inverters rely on an AC connection from the grid or other source of AC power to function. 

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Multi Mode Hybrid Inverter DC & AC

Multi-mode hybrid inverters are more powerfull inverters in terms of off grid power output and can be designed to operate in on-grid mode but can also operate in off-grid mode for a prolonged amount of time. Compared to other hybrid inverters, which generally have backup power limited to 2.5/5kW, known as emergency power supplies or EPS, multi-mode inverters  can typically backup basic power circuits and even small air-conditioning units up to 5 or 8kW. These systems can also be in parallel to create as much power nessesarey to provide peak power demands for large houses, farms and industrial applications with 3 phase requirments and backup generator inputs. These systems incorporate battery banks capiable of both storage and high demand loads with UPS (Uniterupted power supply) funtionality. 


Some of these Multi-Mode Hybrid Inverters require local approval from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO.) 

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DC Inverter charger

Off-grid or stand-alone power systems require powerful battery inverters with inbuilt chargers that can be set up as either AC or DC coupled systems. Most modern battery inverter-chargers can also be used to create advanced multi mode hybrid systems which have the ability to power large home, farms, motorhomes, yauts, and even small villages from a battery source of power. A system like this can operate off-grid indefinatly  depending on the size of the solar, wind or source of power along with a large battery bank capacity.  These systems are very simular to multi-mode hybrid inverters however there topology are modular based which offers a greater range of system expantion on the DC input side of the system.  Both Multi-mode and Off grid inverters can be paralled and configured for 3 phase operation with wind, hydro, and generator input options. 

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Becoming your own Independent electricity provider also increases the value of your property.


A typical homes average electricity consumption is measured in Kilowatts per hour (kWh). An average household in the uk consumes around 3,750 kWh/year, but larger households can consume anywhere from 4500 kWh upwards. This is somewhere between 4 and 10 kwh per day, that's 4000 to 10,000 watt-hours of electricity.


Usually performing an accurate Energy Audit is good place to start when sizing your solar system, the size of your system is simply proportionate to its peak load requirements or import cost, this is especially important with UPS / EPS island mode inverters.


A typical 3 bed dwelling will require a 4kW solar system and should produce around 3500kWh per year. However Climate in the UK plays an important role in maximizing your electrical production annually along with factors such as solar panel (module) efficiency, shading, peak sun hours, battery capacity, orientation and system design.

Is it possible to become reliably independent from the grid with a home hybrid system?

Before we explain in more detail, it is important to distinguish the difference between reducing your electrical dependency with the providers for the obvious financial benefits and designing a systems to provide backup power for your entire home or building in the event of blackouts or requiring the option to switch between on-grid power and your own solar / battery power system.


This is defined as (island mode) being off grid completely for a set amount of time due to grid failure. As a producer and consumer of electrical energy many people already have varying levels of independence with the flexibility to sell electricity or store the surplus with a Electrical Energy Storage System EESS.


A huge saving on your electricity bill can be achieved with a home hybrid battery storage system, the overall % per year savings are variable, however with the correct design and tariff rate for 5kw systems, a reduction of your electricity bill could reach beyond 80% annually with a grid neutrality of around 8 to 10 months depending on variables previously mentioned.


Now lets talk about the technical modalities.

Home Hybrid Inverters come in a variety of power outputs, for residential use these are typically in the range of 3.6kW to 5kW.

These advanced inverters have a smart power management systems that share a connection with the National Grid to achieve efficient distribution of power throughout your home. Hybrid units will simultaneously handle PV power generation, along with battery charge and discharge functionalities and load share sudden power demands that could exceed the inverters capabilities for a short amount of time. The addition of a Wi-fi dongle gives access to the powerful monitoring platform, along with remote, site-specific firmware upgrades and troubleshooting via web browser or app.

EPS Emergency Power Backup Supply (essential circuits)


Because Hybrid inverters are designed to have the capability of functioning with or without a grid connection, the system has the ability to be a stand alone system in ISLAND MODE. This is called EPS Mode which stands for "Emergency Power Supply". This function uses your solar and stored battery power to supply 230v AC to a chosen local socket outlet or your homes additional consumer unit allowing you to power critical circuits when the grid is lost. It must be understood that in this "EPS backup mode" the backup power output has power limitations depending on the inverters capability's and is designed for critical circuits only. However this can be increased with a larger capacity battery combined with solar in daytime hours. The EPS function on home hybrid's are not generally designed for prolonged periods of time in EPS Mode and applying additional circuits without a grid connection can damage some inverters due to continuous overloading.


Battery's used for storage in these systems can range anywhere from 3kwh to 20kwh or any capacity in parallel you desire in theory, having a larger battery capacity in these systems simply means you are able to harvest and store more surplus energy from your solar and discharge that energy over a longer period of time. If the batteries are at full state of charge and your home is not drawing any significant electrical loads then any surplus generated electricity will be reduced to match consumption with demand or can be exported back to the grid.


This is where export limitation control can be implemented with the modern hybrid inverters, we shall provide more information on this in the export limitation section.

Sunsynk Multi Mode Hybrid Inverters (Bidirectional) 


The correct inverter power system for your project or building type will depend on your systems requirements and are application based.

Multi-mode hybrid inverters are advanced inverters in terms of backup power, these units are designed to operate in both on-grid mode and off-grid mode for prolonged periods of time. Multi-mode inverters are powerful in off grid situations or (island mode) and can typically backup lighting & socket circuits, air conditioning units, small boats, camper vans, rural log cabins, small residential buildings, large residential buildings, industrial and commercial buildings and can be expanded through paralleling to create a huge amount of power.

These systems incorporate battery banks capable of both storage and high demand loads with UPS (Uninterrupted power supply) functionality.


These inverters can also share a connection with the grid and function in a similar way as a home hybrid inverter, from this standpoint there is no  difference in operation and when coupled with a sunsynk data logger via  Sunsynk connect, you can monitor and control your hybrid system or systems' locally or remotely via 4G - 5G / Wifi from anywhere in the world. Access can be from a phone, tablet, laptop or PC for multiple operating systems. There is no end to the level of control, from adjusting your system to auto start a standby generator and much more…

The Sunsnyk Connect makes solar & wind energy more accessible and user-friendly, allowing customers to take control of their energy usage and reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources. It is a testament to Sunsnyk's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, and it sets the brand apart from others in the industry.


Have the ability to monitor, change parameter settings, force out software updates and more, from anywhere in the world provided that you have an internet connection.

Multi Mode Hybrid Inverter Chargers

(Victron Energy)


Victrons MultiPlus-II is a multifunctional inverter/charger with an external current sensor option which extends the Power Control and PowerAssist function to 50A resp. 100A. The MultiPlus-II is ideally suited for professional marine, yachting, vehicle and land based off-grid applications and are becoming more popular for residential properties as demand for increased power becomes a requirement. It also has built-in islanding / anti-islanding functionality, and an increasingly long list of country approvals for ESS "Energy Storage Systems" applications.


The Multiplus 2 has the following features:


  • Suitable for 48V systems
  • Max constant power from 3000VA to 10,000VA off-grid operation.
  • Pure sine wave inverter & battery charger in one
  • Charge your batteries at 70A when connected to grid
  • GX version allows for system monitoring via Bluetooth


These inverters require a battery voltage of 48v DC, and can output 3 to 10kVa in off grid mode, typically they can sustain twice there rated power output for a short amount of time. These Inverters are generally coupled with rack mounted battery systems with BMS for local and remote monitoring.


It is important to note that lithium iron batteries are not a cost effective investment if your looking to save additional money with a large backup system for a standard residential home due to there current price, unless your monthly electrical import costs are high, becoming off grid independent is simply an investment for the peace of mind of having a UPS battery backup system when the grid is down, and having the option to island your property from the grid for a specific length of time with any issues.

Solar Islanding and Anti-Islanding: What You Need to Know


Island Mode or Solar islanding is when a homes or business solar power system continues to generate electricity even though the grid is down. This scenario will not happen with a standard AC inverters as these require an AC connection to function, so were directly referring to the Powerful hybrid inverters here. Many people would consider this a good thing, as your home still has power from your solar panels or battery while everyone else has no power. However, things become dangerous when your solar panel system produces electricity and goes directly to the grid. This situation poses serious safety concerns to utility workers who are trying to fix the grid, as they could be injured if the grid is still "live". Anti-islanding means your inverter can detect loss of grid power and island your property as a safety feature. Creating a small “solar energy island” your solar panels and battery storage can keep operating your home without the risk of adding any unexpected electricity to the grid.  Once your inverter has put your property into island mode, usually within 20 milliseconds of grid failure,  it will create you a new local UPS grid by combining earth and neutral together for safe operation. Island mode installations are complex and require advanced knowledge in electrical design and engineering.

Complete Off Grid Stand Alone Systems

Off-grid or stand-alone power systems require powerful battery inverters with inbuilt chargers.

When it comes to the off grid world of Stand alone systems, Victron's off-grid abilities are simply unmatched, especially when it comes down to easy and intuitive remote management of highly sophisticated systems.

These systems are module based, and can be build from the ground up with little to no limitations of scalability on both the DC side and the AC side of the systems, they have unlimited potential.
The systems can be AC or DC coupled similar to Multimode inverters, the main difference is the additional options available, which are unlimited in theory.
Victron systems are used in the Marine World to provide yacht engine rooms with autonomous power for long periods, powering anything – across multiple voltage topographies, and also to plug-in to shore power anywhere in the world.

These systems are reshaping the landscape of conventional diesel generators with renewable alternatives.

DC Inverter Chargers


Powerfull DC Inverter chargers like the victron energy Quattro 15kVa are designed for off grid power applications, however the Quattro can also be connected to two independent AC sources, for example the public grid and a generator, or two generators.


The Quattro takes over the supply to the connected loads in the event of a grid failure or when shore/generator power is disconnected. This happens so fast (less than 20 milliseconds) that computers and other electronic equipment will continue to operate without disruption.

The Quattro also has Three phase capability with three units that can be configured for three phase output between all units. But that’s not all, up to 4 sets of three 15kVA units can be in parallel connected to provide 144kW / 180kVA inverter power and 2400A charging capacity.


PowerControl – Dealing with limited generator, shore side or grid power The Quattro is a very powerful battery charger. It will therefore draw a lot of current from the generator or shore side supply (65A per 15kVA Quattro at 230VAC). A current limit can be set on each AC input. The Quattro will then take account of other AC loads and use whatever is spare for charging, thus preventing the generator or mains supply from being overloaded.

PowerAssist – Boosting shore or generator power This feature takes the principle of Power Control to a further dimension allowing the Quattro to supplement the capacity of the alternative source. Where peak power is so often required only for a limited period, the Quattro will make sure that insufficient mains or generator power is immediately compensated for by power from the battery. When the load reduces, the spare power is used to recharge the battery. Solar energy: AC power available even during a grid failure. The Quattro can be used in off grid as well as grid connected PV and other alternative energy systems. Loss of mains detection software is available. Parallel and three phase applications can be configured with VE.Bus Quick Configure and VE.Bus System Configurator software. - Off grid, grid interactive and self-consumption applications, involving grid-tie inverters and/or MPPT Solar Chargers can be configured with Assistants (dedicated software for specific applications). On-site Monitoring and control Several options are available: Battery Monitor, Multi Control Panel, Color Control GX or other GX devices, smartphone or tablet (Bluetooth Smart), laptop or computer (USB or RS232). Remote Monitoring and control Color Control GX or other GX devices. Data can be stored and displayed on our VRM (Victron Remote Management) website, free of charge. Remote configuring When connected to the Ethernet, systems with a Color Control GX or other GX device can be accessed and settings can be changed remotely.

BIPV - Residential Building Integrated Photovoltaics

BIPV stands for Building Integrated Photovoltaics and aims towards aesthetic solar integrations that become part of a buildings integral design. CDTE Thin Film Solar Cells are the second most common photovoltaic (PV) Technology in the world marketplace after crystalline silicon. Thin film modules come in different levels of transparency and colors to suit the buildings architecture.  

BIPV - Building Integrated solar modules are even becoming popular in the residential marketplace, this aesthetic solar technology will soon become the future of how each building or home will become its own natural self sustainable power generator.

Future Technology BIPV - The transparent properties of solar panels make them suitable for use in windows, greenhouses and glass facades, the researchers said, as well as in the screens of portable electronic devices.

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