With a Vegas Electric Solar + Storage solution, your home or small business will receive power from three sources - solar, batteries, and the utility company.

Solar + Storage is an **SMA system designed for areas in the US in which the utility company enforces a time-of-use policy.  Under a time-of-use policy the utility company charges more for electricity in the evenings during peak demand.  The solar+storage system is designed to store excess solar during the day which can be used during the evening hours in which the higher rates apply.  Thereby achieving maximum offset of utility costs.

During daylight hours, solar will deliver power to the electrical load, while simultaneously charging the batteries.  During night time hours (or when it is cloudy), the system will draw power first from the batteries and then from the utility grid.  

The solar + storage system is not designed to provide backup power in the event of a power outage. If continuity of electrical service is important to you, we do have solutions to deliver 1. Please take a look at our Solar Grid Interactive solution page or contact us to discuss how we can help you.

A Solar + Storage system may be the right solution for you if:  

• Your primary goal is reduction of energy costs

• You want to add storage to your grid-tied system to offset nighttime electrical use.

• You already have a backup generator or need very limited backup.
  

How it Works:

The solar panels harvest sunlight and turn it into direct (DC) current which is sent to an **SMA Sunny Boy Solar Inverter.

1. The **SMA solar inverter converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), the form of energy required by most appliances, and sends it to the AC coupled battery inverter (SMA Sunny Boy Storage Inverter).
   

2. The **SMA Sunny Boy Storage Inverter uses solar to ensure the battery bank is fully charged and then sends AC current to the main service panel.
   

3. The battery bank stores solar power in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries which will provide solar power during nighttime hours.
   

4. AC current flows from the main service panel to the household load.  Solar energy production greater than the household load and battery storage will be sent through the bi-directional meter to the utility grid.
   

5. The household electrical load receives solar, battery and grid power to meet the energy needs.  The transition is seamless and undetectable to the occupants.
   

6. The *AC disconnect, or main power switch, is used to stop AC electrical current from being delivered to the service panel.
   

7. The bi-directional meter is installed by Vegas Electric to measure both the energy provided by and delivered to the utility grid. 
   

8. The utility grid provides energy when available battery storage is depleted and receives excess solar power.

9. An online monitoring system provides real time data on energy usage, battery capacity, and solar production.  

*National Electrical Code (NEC) standard

** SMA (System, Mess, Anlagentechnik) is a German solar energy equipment manufacturer founded in 1981.  

https://www.sma-america.com/home/store-solar-power-use-flexibly.html