MY HOME MICROGRID

This was a fun project. I built this solar pergola with BESS over the summer. The permit process was straightforward, and inspection was a breeze because the solar panels are detached from the home. Also, the system is not grid tied, so electrically it is very simple and safe. I decided to consume the solar and not sell back to the grid. Sizing the system for resilience was my primary goal. That decision eliminated the need for an interconnection agreement with the utility and allowed me to match the solar capacity to only the loads I want to supply, not the whole home panel loads. The connected loads include my heating system, refrigerator, lights, and a garden shed. Alternatively, I can charge my EV in a pinch. I installed a dedicated Square-D panel to supply the loads with four 15Amp 120VAC circuits. For the BESS I used a single Bluetti AC500 with four B300S batteries. The fast disconnect system is from Tygo and the service box with manual disconnect and 150VDC breakers is from Midnight Solar. The solar capacity is ~3,000 Watts and the BESS is 12kWh. The system was easy to configure, and the app from Bluetti is intuitive. So far, the system runs flawlessly. DIY total cost was about $15,000. It seems to be a much better personal investment than a Rolex...