What is the Enphase Energy System?
The Enphase Energy System is a suite of products from Enphase Energy which allow homeowners to have a truly grid agnostic solar system. This means the solar system can be either connected to the grid, operate when the grid is down or be used for off-grid.
The system is based in the new IQ8 microinverter, which is grid forming and can operate independently of the grid, the new IQ battery, the new IQ System Controller, and the Enlighten Cloud.
In Australia and New Zealand, the Envoy combiner is incorporated within the IQ System Controller.
How does Enphase Energy System work?
The solar array on the roof can use any of the IQ range of inverters. IQ7 and IQ8.
The battery system can consist of just one or a combination of the Enphase IQ Battery 3™ or IQ Battery 10™ batteries depending on the homeowner’s energy storage requirements. During outages, the Enphase IQ System Controller isolates the solar system from the grid and connects the storage. The Enphase IQ System Controller senses when the grid is down and seamlessly transitions the home from grid power to backup power.
The IQ System Controller has the Smart Switch, the Enphase Envoy, Circuit protection, Power Control and anti-islanding protection as required by Australian and New Zealand standards.
The IQ System Controller communicates with the IQ Batteries wirelessly on the same communications platform as the microinverters.
The video below explains the history behind the Enphase Energy System and basic system operation.
Why is Enphase Energy System different?
The key advantage of this system is the modularity allowing solar installers to perfectly design a system to meet any homeowners existing energy needs and allows them to easily upgrade in future because the components are all AC coupled.
The solar component of the Enphase Energy System uses microinverters, so the solar performance is very high as a result of lower losses causes by shading or other solar panel mismatching. Each solar panel operating independently provides the flexibility to install the solar across a variety of roof spaces maximising energy yield. The IQ Batteries are also AC coupled which allows for new models to be easily added in future. The Enphase Energy System is made up of a series of IQ8 microinverters which have been designed for the IQ Battery to be bidirectional.
IQ Battery 3™ and IQ Battery 10™
The Enphase IQ Battery 3™ all-in-one AC-coupled storage system is reliable, smart, simple, and safe. It has a total usable energy capacity of 3.36 kWh and includes four embedded grid-forming microinverters with 1.28 kW power rating. It provides backup capability and can be installed on either new or retrofit solar customers.
The Enphase Battery uses a distributed architecture to provide maximum reliability. Each battery includes multiple bi-directional IQ™ 8 microinverters to switch energy from DC to AC and back again for safe, reliable operation. So, even if one stops, the battery will continue to operate and keep the lights on. There are no moving parts (ie cooling fans) that can wear and break over time.
The IQ Battery 10™ comprises of three base IQ Battery 3™ storage units, has a total usable energy capacity of 10.08 kWh and twelve embedded grid-forming microinverters with 3.84 kW power rating.
Are Enphase Energy batteries tested to be reliable and safe?
Enphase have an extensive test facility ensuring all products are thoroughly tested prior to release.
Is the IQ Batteries compatible with IQ7 microinverters?
IQ Batteries are compatible with the range of IQ inverters (IQ7, IQ7+, IQ7X, IQ7A) it is also compatible with the new IQ8 microinverter which can operate without the grid.
How can customers monitor the Enphase Energy System?
The Enphase App allows customers to easily see how their Enphase Energy System is performing.
What do solar installers in the United States think of Enphase Energy System?
Want to offer the Enphase Energy System to your customers?
Contact AC Solar Warehouse the largest Enphase Energy distributor in Australia and New Zealand.
Click here for contact details