This means that with the correct power electronics set up, your sonnen eco system can automatically power your home appliances when the grid goes down. Most solar batteries require an external transfer switch to allow for off-grid operation however, the sonnen eco has a built-in automatic transfer switch. The sonnen eco comes with backup power capabilities. That AC electricity can then flow to your home appliances, or go to another inverter that transforms the electricity back to DC for storing in a battery system.
The sonnen eco is an AC-coupled battery this means that in a solar plus storage system, direct current (DC) electricity flows from solar panels to a solar inverter that transforms the electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. Here are some of the most important qualities of the sonnen eco: Coupling
The functionality of one solar battery next to another can vary some batteries boast of superior off-grid capabilities, while others offer software solutions for rate arbitrage. Batteries with a higher power rating are capable of powering more robust appliances or many appliances at once, while batteries with a higher usable capacity can store more total energy and thus can run your appliances for longer periods of time without needing to recharge. sonnen eco power and usable capacity by model ModelĪ battery’s power determines what appliances you can run with it at once, while usable capacity determines how long those appliances can be run. Similarly, a battery with a high power rating can deliver more electricity at one time, but will burn through its available energy capacity faster too. Larger pipes allow more water to flow through at once, which depletes the water faster. Energy capacity is the amount of water available to push through the pipe, while power is the size of the pipe itself. Think of your battery like water running through a pipe.
Power (measured in kilowatts, or kW) determines the maximum amount of electricity that can be output at a single time, while usable capacity (measured in kilowatt-hours, or kWh) is a measure of the maximum amount of electricity from your battery on a full charge. The sonnen eco comes in seven different sizes with varying power and usable capacities. Among the most important are the size of the battery ( power and capacity), its chemistry, depth of discharge, and roundtrip efficiency. When evaluating solar batteries, there are various important metrics and technical specifications to keep in mind. The battery also has some backup power capabilities. Sonnen describes the eco battery as an “all-in-one residential solar battery solution.” It offers various grid-tied functions, including increasing household solar self-consumption and managing time-of-use electricity rates for maximum savings on your electricity bill. Later, when your panels aren’t producing enough electricity to meet your home’s needs, you can use the electricity stored in your sonnen home battery instead of having to buy it from your utility company. When your solar panels produce more electricity than you can use in your home, the excess is stored in the battery system instead of being sent back into the grid. Installing an energy storage solution like the sonnen eco allows you to maintain a sustained power supply during the day or night.Īs with other energy storage products, the sonnen eco is sized for day-to-day use at your home and is often paired with a home solar panel system. The sonnen eco is an ideal pairing for solar panel systems, especially if your utility has reduced or removed net metering, time-of-use rates, or demand charges. A qualified EnergySage-approved installer can give you the best information about the sonnen eco home battery system and other energy storage options available to homeowners today.You may need a few eco batteries to truly go “off the grid”.The eco comes in seven sizes, ranging from 5 to 20 kWh of capacity and 3 to 8 kW of power.The sonnen eco has a starting list price of $10,000 before installation.