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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Safe and efficient solar power storage for Filipino homes

Safe and efficient solar power storage for Filipino homes

SolarEdge revolutionizes home energy

Published Aug 20, 2024 02:50 am

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Having a house run on solar power is incredibly appealing, especially considering today's soaring electric bills.  Yesterday marked the launch of the SolarEdge Residential Battery, a game-changer that stores solar power for use during peak hours or blackouts. This innovative solution not only helps you save money but also provides peace of mind

SolarEdge even says you may practically fully charge your EV for free, which, again, sounds incredibly enticing. Imagine saving somewhere around 8K to 15K. 

During the launch event, it was announced that: According to recent reports from the Department of Energy (DOE), over 4,000 MW of new solar capacity is expected to come in the Philippines by 2024, significantly boosting the grid. MarkWide Research also highlighted in their study released 2024 that the Philippine solar energy market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 35% by 2030, driven by supportive policies and rising consumer interest. However, with this rapid expansion, concerns regarding system safety, including fire risks and electrical faults, have become more prominent. Data from the Fire Protection Bureau (BFP) shows a 34.4% increase in fire incidents nationwide during the first six months of 2024, primarily in residential areas due to open flames, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.

 

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The event highlighted the Home Hub Inverter, Home Battery, and the Home Backup Interface. It's a package that aims to increase energy savings and optimizing PV power generation and storage capacity.

MKBHD, one of the most popular tech YouTubers, made a video on solar energy. In that video. It's a cool video. One of the things he touched was that, some solar energy setups will even roll back the meter for electric consumption. Now, this is extremely, intriguing. Imagine your Meralco meter rolling back during you're out for the holidays. Call it, an additional blessing during summer for the Holy Week. 

Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. That roll back thing isn't for every solar setup. SolarEdge hasn't specifically mentioned that their equipment is capable of this. But it is interesting.

Available for single-phase applications, the highly efficient DC-coupled SolarEdge Home Battery provides 9.7kWh of battery capacity - equivalent to running a 1.5hp air conditioner for 8 hours- and can be connected with up to three batteries per inverter, delivering up to 29.1kWh of backup capacity. It also offers the ability to synchronize with additional SolarEdge inverters and future smart home devices. The DC-coupled design requires just one power conversion to store energy, compared to legacy AC-coupled technology that required three conversions. 

SolarEdge Home is designed to harvest more energy from the sun with DC-coupled technology, storing more energy in the battery to power the home, or provide longer critical backup during potential grid outages. Managed from a single mySolarEdge app, homeowners can smartly track and control their home solar usage, energy savings and carbon emission reduction.

The SolarEdge Home Battery has achieved UL9540A certification, one of the highest standards for fire safety in energy storage systems. This certification highlights the battery's advanced design and rigorous testing, offering protection against fire hazards and enhancing overall system reliability. 

The event also discussed SolarEdge’s SafeDC™ and the module-level Rapid Shutdown Device (Power Optimizer) which complies with Rapid Shutdown requirement as stated in the Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) 2017. This system reduces DC voltage to 1V during critical situations, such as grid failures or inverter shutdowns. By doing so, it significantly reduces the risks associated with high DC voltage, ensuring a safer environment for both installers and emergency responders.

Additionally, the event highlighted SolarEdge’s compliance with various safety regulations through its Sense Connect technology and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) capabilities. These features continuously monitor for potential electrical faults, automatically stopping power flow and activating safety measures to prevent fires. The AFCI technology also meets international standards for arc detection, further enhancing the reliability and security of SolarEdge’s solar energy systems.

“The positive response to our new battery technology addresses critical safety concerns in the solar industry,” said Lance Dy, Vice President of Operations for Netsolar Inc. “With the Philippine solar market expanding rapidly, ensuring that our systems adhere to the highest safety standards is essential. This launch is a significant step in providing Filipino homes with advanced, reliable, and safe solar solutions.”

SolarEdge was named one of the top 100 most sustainable worldwide firms by a leading global media and research company, Corporate Knights in 2024, and the company's installation of SolarEdge systems globally eliminates over 40 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly.

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