Generac Power Systems announced today an update to its PWRcell products that allows for AC-coupled energy storage, as well as AC generator integration. The new firmware will allow PWRcell batteries to accept up to 7.6 kW of AC power by third-party solar inverters.
The same firmware update also unlocks the opportunity for a new or existing Generac Guardian home standby generator to connect to a PWRcell solar + battery storage system. The AC-powered Guardian units provide extended protection during power outages when battery power has been exhausted, and by combining an air-cooled generator with battery storage, customers can enjoy the value of clean energy, along with the reliability of a home standby unit.
“Generac is proud to lead the way in envisioning the future of energy through a robust offering of market-leading power solutions that enhance energy resilience and independence,” said Aaron Jagdfeld, president and chief executive officer of Generac. “We continue to grow our portfolio of clean energy products, expanding the capabilities of solar + battery storage solutions and giving our dealers and installers a wide array of options for their customers.”
News item from Generac
Notice how they allow THEIR batteries to be used on other systems, but you can’t use OTHER batteries on THEIR systems. As long as you’re stuck buying their product, they don’t really care. Such a scam from Generac. More proprietary garbage.
We just installed a great solar system with battery pack. Do have AC1 and AC2. How do we get someone who knows how to tie in wind turbine into our system.
This sounds like the early version of inverter/charger offered by Xantrex that is part of the Schneider group now. Xantrex had an inverter/charger that could accommodate what was called AC1 and AC2. Usually AC1 was a grid tied connection and AC2 was an auxillary that could be a wind turbine, micro-hydro or a fueled generation set for site power. Having this on the Generac product makes this setup a micro-grid capable resiliency system for one’s home. I’d like to see more modularity in the battery pack options. Maybe being able to expand beyond the often advertised maximum of 34kWh to say maybe up to expandable modules up at 100kWh. Then the Smart ESS sector would have Humless Universal and Generac PWRcell as excellent options for a small home microgrid.
The ‘problem’ with the early Xantrex units, the contractor’s that installed these systems didn’t understand how the inverter/charger worked. (IF) one Had AC2 on a generator set and power went out the inverter bypasses to AC2 and the site runs off of generator power to recharge the backup batteries AND take over powering the site. The problem here is instead of designing for system operation, often the contractor would have maybe a 25kW system with a 10kW generator for backup. In actuality the generator set should be 30kW to 35kW to meet site needs on AC2. The take away, as systems pack more features into their electronics packages the closer one is to grid agnostic or full off grid, the more electronically inclined the technicians and installers need to be to get the system installed and online.
I have a Generac Solar system with battery bank and ent to add a wind turbine. It seems I am not getting info to support this configuration. Can you help?