Grid Tie Solar System With Generator Back-Up. Run on solar during power cuts

[SolutionsNRG]

Hi all,

As everyone knows, when you want to install a grid-tie solar system, your solar will go down in case of power cut.

In my case, I am connected to the grid and have a diesel generator for back-up. I already have a ATS between Grid and GEN. I was wondering about a solution to make my solar work during power cuts. Can someone could tell me if it's working ?

My solution is adding an other ATS (called Solar ATS in drawing) which is linked to the first one and switch at the exact same time.

Case 1 : The grid is working
Solar ATS is connected to the grid. Electricity uses red path.

Case 2 : There is power cut. Loads are running on Generator
Solar ATS is connected to Generator. Electricity uses Green path.

My concerns are :
- Will the generator be the buffer voltage of the solar panels in case 2 ?
- What happened in case 2 if production of panels are higher than consumption by the loads. Where the energy is going ?
- Does linked ATS, such as the one I propose, exist ?

It would be greatful if someone could help me.
Thanks in advance.

[Mike90250]

It will work fine, till the sun comes up, then the solar will fry your generator. The PV GT inverter wants to fed ALL possible power into the grid. That is your genset & house. If the genset is runing, it will be fried. The solar PV will then shut off.

[SunEagle]

I agree with Mike

For now the existing technology will not allow a solar power inverter system to work at the same time as a generator connected to the same loads.

You can use the solar power to charge an energy storage system and then use it's power when the gen set is not running as long as you have correctly wired the ATS circuitry.

[ButchDeal]

Hi all,

As everyone knows, when you want to install a grid-tie solar system, your solar will go down in case of power cut.

In my case, I am connected to the grid and have a diesel generator for back-up. I already have a ATS between Grid and GEN. I was wondering about a solution to make my solar work during power cuts. Can someone could tell me if it's working ?

My solution is adding an other ATS (called Solar ATS in drawing) which is linked to the first one and switch at the exact same time.

Case 1 : The grid is working
Solar ATS is connected to the grid. Electricity uses red path.

Case 2 : There is power cut. Loads are running on Generator
Solar ATS is connected to Generator. Electricity uses Green path.

My concerns are :
- Will the generator be the buffer voltage of the solar panels in case 2 ?
- What happened in case 2 if production of panels are higher than consumption by the loads. Where the energy is going ?
- Does linked ATS, such as the one I propose, exist ?

It would be greatful if someone could help me.
Thanks in advance.

The only way to do this is with hybrid battery systems like those from outback wich have built in gen support and transfer switch.

[Naptown]

And at what cost including battery repLacement is this?
And how frequent are the outages and duration?