Do I need a solar inverter for sunny island?

You do not need any solar inverter or solar panels in order for the Sunny Island to work. In such a case, it would just be a simple battery inverter with the capability of using the power from the grid (when available) or a generator to charge the batteries. The Sunny Island is a 120 volt inverter, if you want 240, you have to have two of them.

How does an islanding solar inverter work?

Your islanding solar inverter works independently from the power grid. If there's a storm or other event that knocks out the main power grid, your solar power system will continue running and providing power to your home. We mention this because many people mistake going solar with going off-grid, but that's typically not the case.

How do solar inverters work?

By creating a small “solar energy island” your solar panels can keep operating your home without the risk of adding any unexpected electricity to the grid. To achieve this effect, you need special inverters that can operate in solar inverter island mode and big, reliable batteries.

What is solar islanding?

Solar islanding is when a home solar power system continues to generate electricity even though the grid is down. Many people would consider this a good thing, as your home still has power from your solar panels while everyone else has no power.

Are solar inverters 'anti-island'?

All inverters are required to be able to be "anti-island." In other words, solar inverters are explicitly designed not to allow your solar panels to continue to push electricity into your home in the event of an outage.

What happens if solar islanding isn't prevented?

Here's what could happen if solar islanding wasn’t prevented: The local grid goes down. Your grid-tied home solar power system still produces electricity. Once the panels have supplied electricity to your home, any excess energy flows back into the grid. Meanwhile, utility workers are repairing damaged power lines on the "should-be-dead" grid.