Purpose of an Automatic Backup System

In the event of a grid failure, a PV system disconnects from the utility grid and the loads connected to the household grid are no longer supplied with energy.

A grid failure lasting for a longer period can, in addition to reduced comfort, have serious consequences for the parties concerned, such as:

• Households and companies would have to manage without heat, light, telephone and computer.

• Refrigeration could be interrupted.

• For example, if stable ventilation systems or heat lamps lose power in a farming business.

Possible solutions for bridging this supply gap is to convert existing SMA solutions into battery-backup systems, or to design new systems as battery-backup systems.

The SMA Backup for the Sunny Tripower Hybrid X ensures that electrical loads continue to be supplied in the event of a grid failure. As a part of this, the SMA Backup disconnects the household grid with the PV system from the utility grid. The hybrid inverter then creates an automatic backup grid, and the PV system can thus continue to supply power to the loads. Additional inverters can support the battery-backup grid. When the energy demand of the active loads exceeds the current power of the PV system, the battery will provide the energy shortfall.