Advancements in Generac Technology

As the world population rises, so does the demand for efficient energy to power our homes, businesses and communities. The increase in global energy demand, coupled with the urgent necessity to transition to a fully sustainable energy infrastructure, means that inexpensive, versatile and efficient solar energy technology will be in very high demand over the coming decades.

In order to capture this solar energy as efficiently as possible, solar photovoltaic (PV) devices rely on extremely specialized materials. Many materials engineers and top technological brands such as Generac are now employing data science techniques and some conventional energy resources to speed up the hunt for new materials with optimum features for solar devices.

In today's post, we shall be discussing the advancement in Generac technology - conventional energy sources used in supporting the solar energy.

Advancements in Generac Technology that support solar energy

If you're a homeowner, your next energy-saving purchase from Generac might have nothing to do with the company's initial line of product.

Generac is a prominent provider of innovative power grid software solutions, backup and major power systems for residential and industrial applications, solar + battery storage solutions, virtual power plant platforms, and engine- and battery-powered tools and equipment. It is a brand dedicated to developing sustainable, greener energy products that will revolutionize the electrical grid of the twenty-first century.

Generac Power Systems celebrated its 60th birthday in 2019 by making a fresh start for the next six decades, bringing together recent acquisitions in what it thinks would be a highly marketable product line beginning in 2020.

Instead of generators, Generac is moving at least some of its priority to "clean energy," specifically one based on solar energy and what it claims is cutting-edge battery technology.

However, the emphasis remains on homeowners.

So Generac, which had always being into fossil-fuel-oriented product line, decided to invest and support the solar technology through key acquisitions — specifically, Neurio Technology Inc. and Pika Energy — in spring 2019.

Neurio, founded in 2005, developed hardware and software systems to help manage and operation powers systems, include solar and batteries. Pika, founded in 2010, was a cutting-edge battery developer and product company.

Generac's new technology is forming the basis for a home-based power system with improved capacity to use the energy produced by the sun and store it for use in the hours when the sun is below the horizon.

Generac's New PWRgenerator

As the leader in home backup power, Generac is proud to unveil the PWRgenerator and provide this turnkey solution for homeowners who want to reduce their reliance on the grid.

PWRgenerator, a first-of-its-kind, new addition to the PWRcell Solar + Battery Storage family, connects directly to the PWRcell inverter, essentially creating a residential nano-grid allowing a home to be fully energy independent. PWRgenerator, when combined with a properly sized solar and battery storage system, delivers a complete level of energy independence, allowing homeowners to control and own their power. During the day, the solar panels provide power to the home and the excess can charge the battery. During the night, the battery discharges and if it reaches 30% state of charge, PWRgenerator will turn on and fully charge the battery in about 1 hour. In addition, PWRgenerator is designed to be extremely quiet and fuel efficient, running on either natural gas or LP. This system also offers the ultimate in clean power outage protection.

The PWRgenerator is compatible with the PWRview app, which displays the status and production of the generator alongside the solar array and batteries. The new Generac PWRgenerator gives homeowners all the benefits that solar can offer, plus the reliability of a generator, in a quiet and ultra-efficient package

Features of the Generac PWRgenerator

Generac PWRgenerator brings true independence from electric utilities. The DC coupled generator automatically charges Generac PWRcell batteries whenever the battery level discharges to 30 percent capacity. The Power Cell Generator connects directly to the PWRcell Inverter.

Generac designed the special purpose generator to run frequently with a long maintenance interval. It runs efficiently on either LP Propane or Natural Gas to produce up to 9000 watts of DC Power.

Generac PWRgenerator Model - 8005
Service Interval - 500 Hours
Voltage - Rebus DC 380 Volts
Power - 9000 Watts running LP or NG
Normal Load Noise - 61 dBA
Exercise Mode Noise - 51 dBA
Exercise Duration - 5 Minutes per month
Certifications - UL-2200, NEC 445.18, EPA, NEMA, NFPA 37 Minimum 18-Inch Structure Offset

Benefits of using the solar energy technology

Solar energy is an emerging technology that captures radiant light and heat from the sun for human power consumption.

Here are some of the benefits of using the solar energy technology:

Impact on the Environment

When compared to other energy sources, solar energy has the least detrimental influence on the environment. It emits no greenhouse emissions and does not pollute the environment. It also requires extremely little water for maintenance, as opposed to nuclear power facilities, which require 20 times the amount of water. Solar energy production produces no noise, which is a significant benefit given that many solar installations, such as household solar panels, are located in metropolitan areas.

Reduce Your Energy Bill

Generating your own electricity means that you will be using less from the utility supplier. This will immediately translate to savings on your energy bill. Plus, you can also make money by selling the unused electricity, which you have generated, back to the grid. Through solar panel grants offered, you can make your green investment even more beneficial.

The more energy you produce, the less you will need from the supplier which will increase your energy self reliance.

Energy Production during Peak Hours

Energy demand tends to be higher in the 11:00-16:00 time frame and then early in the evening. Naturally, this is the period when the price of the electricity peaks. Solar energy happens to reach its maximum production capacity during those hours.

Electricity produced at that time has higher value than if it was generated at night. With the additional electricity input of solar energy, prices in those time frames could be driven down to a level close to those of night hours.

Low Maintenance Costs

Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job. If in doubt, you can always rely on specialised cleaning companies, which offer this service from around $25-$35.

Most reliable solar panel manufacturers offer 20-25 years warranty.

Also, as there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear. The inverter is usually the only part that needs to be changed after 5-10 years because it is continuously working to convert solar energy into electricity. Apart from the inverter, the cables also need maintenance to ensure your solar power system runs at maximum efficiency.

So, after covering the initial cost of the solar system, you can expect very little spending on maintenance and repair work.

Technology Development

Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and improvements will intensify in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and nanotechnology can potentially increase the effectiveness of solar panels and double, or even triple, the electrical input of the solar power systems.