Schneider grid support and enhanced grid support.

Welcome to the forum Jn,

The modern Hybrid AC inverters have a wide variety of configurable options that can support many different types of installations/requirements (and there are some limitation/technical issues that sometimes are an issue).

What is it that you are trying to do? I think talking in terms of what you are looking for will be less confusing the various configurations and hardware options that are out there.

There are some truisms... Grid Tied solar power system (solar panels=>GT Inverter=>main AC panel) are the cheapest/most reliable/least maintenance systems out there. And they typically generate power at less cost per kWH than even utility costs. However, the utility (and state PUC laws) have many rules and limitations themselves. And some of them either don't allow GT Solar power systems, or the rate plans do not make economic sense.

And any Battery Based AC inverter system (pure off grid, Hybrid inverter, etc.) tend to, at best, cost about the same as the peak rates of a utility (in California, my summer afternoons/evenings are ~$0.45 per kWH) to $1-$2+ per kWH (all up costs--installation, maintenance, battery replacement every 5-7 years, hardware replacement every 10+ years).

Hybrid AC inverter systems are amazing what they can do these days... They can do pure off grid (cost effectively) with automatic generator control (if needed). Act as a backup power system for a utilty power system. Or even feed back energy to the utility when the solar power available from the array is > battery charging and local AC load needs)--Again, at the pleasure of the local building department and utilty. (the AC inverter takes the "excess available solar energy" and pumps that back into the local power panel/utility).

And, a newer feature, some hybrid AC inverters can also do what is known as a Generator Support mode. Basically, you can have a 4 kWatt AC generator (to charge the battery bank when needed, run local AC loads through the hybrid AC inverter), and have your 8 kWatt hybrid inverter run >4 kWatt loads when the genset is running (4kW from genset + XkW from the battery bank + solar array => power to AC loads). Very nice when you have short term loads (well pump, perhaps an electric stove, hair drier, etc.) where the AC loads are greater than the genset output--The hybrid inverter "supports" the generator with additional power/current to the AC loads).

Anyway--There is a lot that can be done--Tell us a bit more about your needs and we can hopefully help with those.

-Bill