Inverter
A power electronics device that converts DC (direct current) electricity — from solar panels or batteries — to AC (alternating current) electricity that home circuits use. In a microgrid, inverters are bidirectional: they can also convert AC grid power to DC to charge batteries (operating as a rectifier). Inverter capacity sets the maximum AC output a battery system can deliver. A 10 kW inverter can sustain 10 kW of continuous AC output regardless of how large the battery bank is. Inverter selection is a critical engineering decision — residential microgrids typically use multi-mode inverters capable of grid-tied and off-grid operation simultaneously.
Related Terms
The total amount of energy a battery system can store, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A home drawing 10 kW continuously would deplete a 13.5 kWh battery in approximately 81 minutes. Whole-home microgrid systems for large estates typically require 40–200+ kWh of storage to provide meaningful outage duration before generator activation.
The maximum rate at which a battery system can deliver power continuously, measured in kilowatts (kW). Distinct from storage capacity (kWh) — a battery can have large storage but limited output. A 5,000+ sq ft home in operation may draw 15–30 kW simultaneously. Consumer batteries (Powerwall 3: 11.5 kW) may not support the full load of a large estate.
Solar panels that convert sunlight directly into DC electricity. In a microgrid, solar PV is one generation source managed by the microgrid controller — typically the primary source during daylight, charging batteries and supplying loads directly. Solar can be grid-tied (exporting excess), battery-coupled (charging storage), or both. Solar output is variable by weather and season; microgrid design accounts for seasonal variation, particularly in northern latitudes.
Everything Stays On.
Customer-sited generation + energy storage + backup generation + intelligent controls = whole-property power continuity.
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