People are installing hybrid inverters to optimize solar energy. These inverters also facilitate off-grid and sustainable energy usage, which are significant reasons to use hybrid inverters in homes. As the popularity and necessity of hybrid inverters are growing, it is useful to know some tips that can help maximize solar efficiency. The more the solar efficiency, the more energy you get.
However, it takes optimizing the solar panels and energy storage systems to maximize solar efficiency with hybrid inverters. So, let’s understand a few tips that assist in boosting solar efficiency with hybrid inverters.
Placement of Solar Panels & Orientation
While installing the solar panels, the angle of placement matters a lot as the angle decides the exposure of the sun to the solar panels. The more sunlight the solar panels get, the more energy they generate. To maximize solar efficiency, it is crucial to install the solar panels at a location where the exposure to the sun is high, so they can absorb the most energy possible. Typically, the solar panels should face North in the Southern Hemisphere and South in the Northern Hemisphere.
Moving on, a few aspects can lower the sun exposure to the panels and one of those is shading. So, solar panels must be fixed in places where there are no shading objects such as buildings, trees, or chimneys as they can prevent the sun rays from reaching the panels. Even partial shade can also lower the solar efficiency.
Regular Maintenance
When maintained properly, things work better and longer and so do the solar power systems. Regular maintenance is another way to maximize the solar efficiency. Due to the exposure of panels in the open space all the time, panels get dirty and a thin layer of dust often covers them, which may not be so visible from a distance but when you go nearer and slip your fingers on panels, you can see the changes. Cleaning panels help prevent dirt, dust, and debris, which partially block the sunlight and affect efficiency. However, cleaning with appropriate methods is necessary to prevent the risk of damaging the panels.
Other than dusting, there are chances of physical damage, especially in rainy or monsoon seasons. Physical damages can happen to solar panels as well as the hybrid inverter. Inspecting each device including inverter, panels, and battery storage for physical damages can help you oversee the system and it certainly manages the efficiency of the entire solar power system.
Battery Management
Battery management is an essential part that must be considered properly even before installing solar power systems in your home and this is certainly because the size of the battery must suit your needs of power supply. If your demands for power supply are higher than the battery size, the battery cannot suitably fulfill it and eventually be loaded, resulting in lower efficiency.
So, does that mean a large-sized battery would be better? Actually, no. A smaller battery won’t store enough energy to power your home but an oversized battery may also be inefficient due to lower consumption. So, a battery must be taken as per the necessity of consumption and it’s better to consult with the battery vendors as they can guide you better on this one.
Moreover, people think overcharging a battery will increase performance, which is a huge misconception among people. Overcharging lowers the efficiency and lifespan of a battery, so it should be maintained between the given limits to maximize solar efficiency and increase the lifespan.
Monitoring and Controlling System Performance
The best part of hybrid inverters is their monitoring and controlling features. Hybrid solar inverters allow us to monitor the performance of the battery and its usage. This feature also assists in optimizing, utilizing, and maximizing the energy and its efficiency.
With these features, it becomes easier to track the performance of the entire system and identify the possible issues that may have occurred with time. Most hybrid inverters now come with online platforms or applications for real-time monitoring. Tracking and observing the peak usage of power and adjusting it according to your needs surely maximize solar efficiency.
Energy Management
If you want to enhance the performance and maximize the solar efficiency of your solar power systems, energy management is a must-do task. Monitoring the power usage and adjusting your needs according to it is one thing. What else you can do to manage energy is to shift the time of performing energy-intensive tasks. Running appliances that take too much load or power during the sun-high time is another way to energy management and maximize their use. It also lowers our reliance on stored energy and allows us to use real-time solar power.
Also, if your energy provider offers you time-of-use tariff plans, you must not let go of it as it can save you lots of money. You simply need to plan your energy consumption according to the convenient hours and take benefit of lower rates by using your appliances during peak sunny hours.
Professional Consultation
Last but not least, professional consultation is an excellent way to ensure the peak performance of the solar power system and its efficiency. Consulting with a professional or your energy provider once in a while helps monitor the performance properly, they can ensure you whether your panels, battery, and hybrid inverter are working fine and providing their best performance. They can also help you identify damages and potential improvements if necessary.
Moreover, it’s better to consult with your energy provider as they know well about their systems and working, and can guide you better regarding energy management and methods to maximize the use.
Trying to maximize solar efficiency is a genuine intake that everybody with solar power systems looks for. The ways for maximizing energy are proven to be efficient not only for maximizing solar efficiency but improving the performance and lifespans of devices associated with the entire system such as hybrid inverters, storage batteries, and solar panels. Batteries are an essential part of hybrid inverters, people can maximize the solar efficiency provided by the hybrid inverters by tracking and enhancing the performance of battery and solar panels.