As energy storage becomes increasingly important, SMA America is continuing to invest in its offerings and is now delivering the Sunny Boy Storage-US inverter and Automatic Backup Unit. Many systems already offer a transfer switch and a number of separate components that must be purchased, but SMA’s is a complete solution with all parts integrated into one fully automated backup solution.
“SMA’s Sunny Boy Storage with Automatic Backup Unit is a comprehensive solution that can supply whole home backup power in the event of a grid outage,” said Nick Morbach, Executive Vice President of SMA’s Residential and Commercial business unit. “This innovative solution provides a sense of security and peace of mind for homeowners, knowing they will have power when they need it most.”
The highly integrated Automatic Backup Unit consists of several components.
- The first is a 200 Amp rated contactor, which automatically disconnects the home energy system from grid power during a power outage. It then automatically reconnects the home energy system to the grid once it is safe to do so.
- Next, an autotransformer will balance up to 5 kVA of imbalance across phases, reducing the potential for system interruption during backup mode operation due to imbalanced loads within the home.
- The solution also includes built-in energy consumption metering with pre-installed current transformers, which will eliminate the need for additional hardware and labor.
- Two 50 Amp breakers are included for landing PV and energy storage inverter output, which also reduces hardware needs.
- Finally, the Automatic Backup Unit will feature an SMA backup controller, which manages and stabilizes the microgrid by monitoring solar generation, load consumption and battery state-of-charge.
SMA also offers a solution for backing up lighter household loads, which does not require the Automatic Backup Unit or any additional hardware. SMA’s Backup Lite is a manual transfer switch that can be configured to deliver up to 2,000 watts of continuous power during the day or night, offering homeowners a cost-effective solution and peace of mind in the event of a grid outage.
— Solar Builder magazine
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