What Is a Hybrid Inverter?

Traditional solar inverters convert energy from your solar array into usable electricity but cannot store excess power. Hybrid inverters, combining energy conversion with storage, solve this issue, improve efficiency, save money, and secure your home energy system.

If you want to maximise your use of solar power, here’s everything you need to know about hybrid inverters and how they can help.

A hybrid inverter combines the functions of a battery storage system and a traditional inverter. The comprehensive system converts direct current (DC) from your solar system into usable alternating current (AC) electricity while storing any excess for later use.

During periods of low solar production, such as cloudy days or dark nights, the system will tap into the stored electricity instead of drawing from the grid, helping you save money and rely less on grid infrastructure.

These intelligent systems can switch between solar energy, battery storage, and grid power based on real-time availability and electricity demand. They optimise your electricity use with minimal effort on your part.

The key differences between an inverter and a hybrid inverter are their storage, functionality, and power source management. A conventional inverter converts DC power from your solar panels into AC energy for immediate use. Any excess power gets sent back to the grid.

On the other hand, a hybrid inverter stores excess energy in its connected battery so you can use it later. It makes your home solar system more reliable and independent from the grid.

Beyond these three points of differentiation, the way these inverters interact with the grid, charge batteries, manage electricity and offer energy independence varies.

A standard inverter can charge batteries with grid or generator power, but it can’t transfer energy from solar. A hybrid inverter, however, can charge batteries using solar power, grid power, or a combination of the two. It can also prioritise solar power during the day when the sun is out and switch to grid power charging when solar power is not as readily available.

As for grid interaction, a standard inverter’s only interaction with the grid is to notice an outage and switch to provide backup power. A hybrid inverter can have much more involved interaction, including exporting excess electricity back to the grid (to allow for buy-back schemes like Smart Export Guarantee).

Regular inverters offer few energy management features. However, a hybrid inverter can manage your electricity use and optimise performance based on varying factors, such as time-of-use rates, energy prices, solar power availability, and battery capacity. These features work together to create more efficient energy consumption.

Finally, the point of energy independence. A typical inverter can provide backup power during outages, but the grid remains its primary power source. Hybrid inverters offer a much higher level of energy independence by sourcing electricity from solar panels and storage batteries, reducing overall reliance on the grid.

If you have an existing residential solar system and wish to upgrade to a hybrid inverter, it’s easier than you think. You can add storage to a regular inverter with the PowerOcean DC Fit to turn your existing residential solar system into a functioning hybrid inverter without completely overhauling your system or applying for a permit.

Hybrid inverters are available in three primary configurations: inverter/charger hybrids, inverter/charger/solar charge integrated models, and grid-tie hybrids.

This type integrates an inverter with a battery charger to convert solar power and charge its battery simultaneously. These systems are commonly found in off-grid setups or backup power solutions.

An advanced model, the inverter/charger/solar charge configuration creates a solar inverter that can also charge batteries. It can dynamically manage all components to optimise power use and ensure the highest efficiency. This type is not very common but can be a great option for those wanting to save space. However, know that if one component of the inverter fails, the whole system may become inoperable.

Grid-tied inverter systems like the EcoFlow PowerOcean allow you to store excess electricity while remaining connected to the grid. You can sell surplus energy back to the grid if you like or draw grid power if needed. Selling your electricity back can help offset the costs incurred when purchasing and installing your solar system.

Hybrid inverters benefit you, your home, and your solar power system. The biggest advantages of hybrid inverters are increased system efficiency, electricity buy-back capabilities, and outage protection.

Hybrid inverters are more efficient than standard models because they can intelligently switch between drawing from solar, battery, and grid power. This feature maximises your self-consumption and minimises waste. High conversion efficiency ensures you’re using the maximum amount of solar power to reduce your reliance on grid electricity.

Hybrid inverters are easy to use, streamlining energy control. You don’t need technical knowledge to operate them. They have user-friendly interfaces via smartphone apps or displays and automate energy management with real-time insights into your generation and consumption. You can then use this information to monitor and adjust your usage as needed.

Many hybrid inverters work seamlessly with battery storage systems and solar panels. This easy integration provides essential flexibility, allowing you to make upgrades over time without unnecessarily overhauling what you already have in place and spending.

You can always track your modern hybrid inverter. Models like the EcoFlow PowerOcean (Single-Phase) have a smartphone app to track your electricity production, consumption, and storage. Real-time alerts inform you of changes, and detailed analytics allow you to understand your consumption better.

A standout advantage of hybrid inverters is their ability to switch to battery backup power during outages, so your electricity supply is never interrupted. Grid-tied inverters can’t work during a blackout, but hybrid inverters use the loss of grid power as an immediate cue to begin supplying power from stored energy so your critical devices continue running.

While your hybrid inverter is designed to optimise energy efficiency and maximise the use of your array's solar power, you still may have excess solar energy. A grid-connected hybrid inverter can facilitate energy buy-back, sending extra power back to the grid in exchange for money off your electricity bills. It also adds renewable power to the grid, which benefits overall grid resilience.

For those concerned about the financial investment in a residential solar system, the ability to sell back surplus power to the grid can make it even more affordable.

Hybrid inverters like the EcoFlow Power Ocean (Three-Phase) are robust systems that store extra energy for later use, making your home more resilient to power disruptions and rising electricity costs. You can tap into your stored energy during periods of higher rates, at night when solar energy is unavailable, and during outages when grid power is cut.

Hybrid inverters play a small but important role in creating a more stable grid by managing efficient energy flows and reducing peak load demand. Specific models may even allow you to adjust your usage based on grid conditions, preventing power shortages and creating a more sustainable energy system.

Solar power systems are expensive to install, but they immediately begin paying back the cost when they’re up and running. Hybrid inverters accelerate cost savings by maximising self-generated solar power and reducing the need for grid electricity, which seems to get only more expensive. They can also sell back excess energy for even greater savings applied directly to your electricity bill.

By optimising solar renewable energy systems and reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, hybrid inverters help your household work toward net-zero emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future overall. By avoiding excess energy waste, hybrid inverter systems decrease the impact of our carbon footprint and contribute to a slow but steady transition toward cleaner electricity sources.

Hybrid inverters can take your home energy system to the next level. By providing storage, efficiency, and independence, hybrid inverters optimise your energy use and ensure you get the most benefits from your solar setup.

Whether upgrading an existing solar system or installing a new one from scratch, solutions like the EcoFlow PowerOcean (Single-Phase), EcoFlow PowerOcean (Three-Phase), or EcoFlow PowerOcean DC Fit offer versatile options that fit your needs. Explore EcoFlow’s hybrid inverter solutions to enhance your home’s electricity efficiency.