Storage13 min read
Backup power and islanding: grid-forming, switching, and sizing
A practical guide to grid-forming versus grid-following inverters, automatic transfer switching, and correctly sizing loads for solar backup power.
Storage
Batteries, hybrid inverters and shifting solar production into the evening.
Batteries earn their keep on a price spread, not on the idea of independence. This hub covers chemistry and ageing, AC versus DC coupling, sizing against a real load profile, backup wiring, and the safety requirements that apply once a battery is in the building.
What this hub answers
- How large should a home battery be for a given load profile?
- What is the difference between AC and DC coupling?
- How do depth of discharge and cycle count affect battery life?
- What does true backup operation require?
- Which safety standards apply to residential storage?
Start here
Storage13 min read
Battery safety and fire risk in residential storage systems
A technical look at thermal runaway mechanisms, chemistry differences, siting rules, ventilation, and the IEC/EN standards governing home battery safety.
Storage8 min read
LFP vs NMC batteries: chemistry, safety, and cost compared
A technical comparison of lithium iron phosphate and nickel manganese cobalt battery chemistries covering energy density, cycle life, safety, and cost.
Field checklists
All guides in Storage
Storage9 min read
Home battery storage explained: architecture, sizing, economics
How residential battery systems work, the practical differences between AC and DC coupling, a sizing method with worked numbers, and what storage really saves.
Storage8 min read
Battery degradation and cycle life: what actually shortens lifespan
How calendar ageing and cycle ageing combine to degrade home batteries, how depth of discharge and temperature affect lifespan, and how to read warranty terms.
Storage10 min read
Sizing a Home Battery Without Guessing
Battery capacity is usually chosen by round numbers and salesmanship. Your own consumption data gives a better answer in about twenty minutes.