Industry: Renewable Energy
Application: Residential Energy Storage System (RESS)
Power Solution: SD-1000 / NTN-5K/ NCP-3200  
 
Residential Energy Storage Systems (RESS) enable homeowners to store electricity—typically generated from rooftop solar or drawn from the grid—and use it later when it is most needed. By integrating a battery pack with a smart inverter and an intelligent control system, RESS can provide reliable backup power during outages and support scheduled charging and discharging based on time-of-use or load demands. This coordinated operation helps ensure a stable, efficient, and resilient home power system.
 


Why do homeowners install residential energy storage systems?
Many homeowners are turning to residential energy storage systems primarily because of Utility Company’s time-of-use (TOU) rate structure, where electricity prices are significantly higher during peak hours, typically from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. During this period, running household loads directly from the grid can lead to substantially increased monthly bills. By installing an energy storage system, homeowners can charge the battery during off-peak hours—often midday when rooftop solar generation is high or when grid electricity is cheaper—and then discharge that stored energy during the expensive 4–9 p.m. window.

This strategy allows critical and noncritical loads (such as lighting, appliances, HVAC, EV charging, and home electronics) supported by the battery instead of the grid when rates are at their highest. Over time, this peak-shaving and load-shifting behavior helps minimize grid consumption during premium pricing periods, smooth out daily energy costs, and improve overall bill predictability, while also increasing energy independence and resilience.



POWER SOLUTION:

MEAN WELL’s high-reliability power platform offers multiple series that can be seamlessly integrated to support residential and commercial ESS applications. The SD-1000 DC-DC converters provide efficient and isolated power conversion for multiple DC rails, such as 48 VDC for emergency lighting, 24 VDC for home smart controllers, and 12 VDC for CCTV cameras. The NTN-5K DC-AC inverters deliver stable, pure sine wave AC power to critical loads including household appliances, HVAC systems, and EV chargers, ensuring reliable operation under varying load conditions. Meanwhile, the NCP-3200 AC-DC chargers draw power from the utility grid or from a solar inverter and charge the battery bank with high efficiency and precise charging profiles, forming a complete and flexible ESS power backbone with MEAN WELL components.

MEAN WELL’s NCP-3200 charger and NTN-5K inverter with built-in CANBus, the homeowner gained real-time visibility and control of their ESS. Voltage, current, temperature, and system status can be continuously monitored and logged, enabling faster diagnostics, smarter protection, and more efficient management.
 
CONCLUSION:
 
In summary, RESS systems help homeowners reduce peak electricity costs, increase energy independence, and maintain reliable backup power—especially under TOU rate structures like PG&E’s. By combining MEAN WELL’s SD-1000, NTN-5K, and NCP-3200 series, the ESS delivers efficient DC and AC power, intelligent battery charging, and real-time monitoring via CANBus. Together, these solutions create a stable, flexible, and smart home power platform that is both resilient and future-ready.