Energy efficiency is a priority for businesses and industries (as well as residential buildings and condominiums) looking to reduce costs and improve sustainability.
Riello Solartech introduces the new AC Coupling feature, an advanced solution that allows the integration of storage systems in both existing and newly built photovoltaic systems, ensuring smart energy management.
How does AC Coupling work?
Riello Solartech's RS Hybrid Three-Phase and RS Hybrid Single-Phase inverters with storage systems can be installed alongside existing string inverters (even from other brands) without modifying the existing photovoltaic system.
This feature enables:
✔ Storing excess solar energy during the day, avoiding waste.
✔ Using stored energy in the evening, when solar production is low, or when energy tariffs are higher.
✔ Reducing grid consumption, optimizing self-consumption, and lowering energy costs.
Additionally, a hybrid inverter configured in AC Coupling mode can monitor real-time power consumption and coordinate photovoltaic production, optimizing battery charging and discharging. Thanks to real-time monitoring of the power generated by multiple connected string inverters, energy can be transferred from the AC side to charge the batteries, improving the overall efficiency of the system.
The entire Riello Solartech range of hybrid inverters with integrated storage is designed for this configuration.
Practical Applications
Supermarket with an existing photovoltaic system
A commercial business with an already installed PV system integrated the RS Hybrid Three-Phase inverter with AC Coupling to improve its energy management. Now, the energy produced but not consumed during the day is stored in batteries and used in the evening or during peak demand periods to power lighting, refrigeration, and checkout systems. The result? Lower energy bills and greater energy independence.
Manufacturing industry with a new photovoltaic installation
A company with high energy consumption has chosen the Riello Solartech solution with RS Hybrid Three-Phase inverter and storage to ensure operational continuity and reduce dependence on the grid. The solar energy generated powers machinery, while excess energy is stored to cover nighttime energy needs.
Residential home with a new photovoltaic system
AC Coupling is also beneficial for new residential photovoltaic systems, where stored energy can power a home or condominium, covering essential needs such as:
- Outdoor lighting or common areas
- Small appliances
- Communication devices like modems and routers, ensuring an uninterrupted internet connection even at night
Commercial and Industrial Use
Integrating a storage system with string inverters via AC Coupling can also be useful for powering non-critical equipment and systems, which are not essential for primary operations or safety and therefore do not require large-scale energy storage.
Examples include:
- Outdoor lighting for parking lots, entrances, and transit areas
- Ventilation or air conditioning for non-essential spaces such as hallways, storage rooms, or secondary areas
- Refrigerators, coffee machines, microwaves, or small office devices
- Charging of electric vehicles for businesses with a small fleet
- Modems, routers, backup servers, or small network devices that do not require continuous operation
- Small irrigation or water pumping systems for gardens, tanks, or non-critical company pools
The Benefits of AC Coupling for Businesses, Industries, and Residential Applications
✔ Seamless integration into existing PV systems without modifying photovoltaic strings
✔ Greater energy independence through optimized self-consumption
✔ Operational stability and production continuity with energy storage
✔ Fast and scalable installation, adaptable to business needs
Discover how AC Coupling can revolutionize your photovoltaic system, contact us for a free consultation!