The Enphase IQ8 is the industry’s first microgrid-forming microinverter, but what does that mean? One question we get asked a lot at SolarTech is, “what happens to my solar panels when the grid goes down?” Solar Panels are traditionally grid-tied, meaning they remain connected to the electrical grid.

Solar panels generate energy for your home, and any excess energy produced gets pumped back into the grid, earning you credits. Conversely, if your home needs more energy than what your solar system is producing, the electrical grid will pump energy back to your home. Due to this connection, if the grid goes down, so does your solar.

The IQ8 helps to solve this problem!

Until now, the only way that you could keep your home powered and your solar panels running during a daytime grid outage was with an energy storage system. Energy Storage Systems allow you to store electricity and back-up critical loads such as refrigeration, lighting, and communication circuits, all while keeping your solar energy system operating and producing power.

Energy storage systems are the best and most efficient way to protect your home from grid outages. Not only do they allow you to store energy for when you need it most, they also allow you to combat expensive on-peak electricity rates. When paired with the IQ8 microinverter, you can create an incredibly efficient solar energy system.

As solar experts, we’ve been powering California for 20+ years and we’re committed to complete customer satisfaction, which we achieve by offering quality products, professional installation, and outstanding value. If you are interested in going solar, adding energy storage, or adding the Enphase IQ8 microinverter to your current solar system, get a free quote today!