The latest feature of the PWRcell Solar + Storage solution is here! The Generac PWRcell Solar + Battery Storage solution, traditionally a DC coupled system for maximum efficiency, can now be AC Coupled to existing PV and Generac Home Standby Generators.
In residential solar today, 70% of solar installations are ‘solar only’ where solar panels collect DC power that is then converted to AC power via a microinverter or string inverter. That AC power then goes directly into the home. With solar + battery storage becoming a growing trend amongst homeowners, the PWRcell solar + battery storage system traditionally wasn’t an option with these customers who have existing ‘solar only’ installations. A firmware update from Generac released in August of 2022 now allows PWRcell to be added on to many of these ‘solar only’ installations as a battery storage option that’s also capable of providing whole home back up power.
Whole home back up power is a growing request amongst homeowners in residential solar and, for those with solar only installs, an AC Coupled PWRcell is now an option to achieve whole home back up power. The 18kWh capacity PWRcell battery combined with the PWRmanager, the second-generation load management device from Generac, can deliver whole home back up power to many homes across the country.
This AC Coupling update to the PWRcell solar + storage system now allows AC Generator integration, which would allow a Generac Home Standby generator to be connected to PWRcell. AC Coupling allows the generator to support and directly respond to home loads and allows the homeowner to prioritize either the generator or PWRcell for backup power. AC Generator Integration with PWRcell gives installers the ability to provide homeowners the best of both savings and resilience regardless of outage duration.
The AC coupled Generac PWRcell is a fantastic option for homeowners looking to add storage onto their existing PV arrays. But, for new installations, Generac still recommends a full DC coupled PWRcell system which includes the PWRcell Inverter, Battery Cabinet, PV Link, and SnapRS. A DC coupled PWRcell system offers a number of benefits for new installations including an optimized system and the ability to take advantage of the complete clean energy system from Generac. As the PWRcell system was being designed, two major points of emphasis were held paramount throughout – optimized performance and simplicity. Every time an inverter inverts power from DC to AC or vice versa, a percentage of the collected power is inverted. In AC coupled systems, power is inverted multiple times where that small percentage lost can add up.
In a DC coupled PWRcell, the power is collected and stored as DC power and only inverted one time to AC power as it goes into the home which keeps the solar + battery storage system as efficient as possible. The simplicity of the PWRcell system can be seen throughout the ecosystem of products, particularly with the minimized use of excess components. For example, one Generac PV Link can be used for each solar sub array. Fewer components allow for a faster installation time, fewer points of failure, and a decreased cost to the end consumer.
Act now to take advantage of the latest update from Generac that allows the PWRcell Solar + Battery Storage system to be AC Coupled to many existing PV arrays and Generac Home Standby Generators. Complete the form below if you’re interested in more information on AC Coupling with PWRcell and a Generac Clean Energy representative will contact you and provide PWRcell AC Coupling materials and help you get trained so you can begin offering PWRcell to your customers!
Generac AC Coupling with PWRcell
Receive more information on AC Coupling with PWRcell.
— Solar Builder magazine
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