[RE-wrenches] Does SMA have a SGIP-compliant (i.e. Smart Storage) Product?

[Peter Parrish]

When I was a C-46 contractor in California from 2000 to 2012, I used to do about 1/3 of my business as grid-tied battery backup and off-grid. I came to focus on the Outback solutions in general, and later the Radian 8048 and 240 A-hr AGM batteries. 

That was obviously a while ago. I became an educator and a consultant helping California K-12 school districts become more energy efficient and energy conserving. 

Nonetheless, I had a left-over client that was working through a full-house “gut and rebuild”. I recommended the most efficient lighting, A/C, fridges. I helped him create dedicated branch circuits should he want to back-up critical loads. I designed a SMA/LG 12.4 kW roof mount system together with a 400 A 240/120 V split phase service panel. We were ready for battery back up and also told him that there was a new program – California SGIP. One-half of his service panel remains untouched.

So with the SGIP Program, I put in a reservation to Southern California Edison for a 8 kW / 16 kWh (Sonnen ECO-16 -- based)  “smart storage” system. The guys at Sonnen made a number of faux pas, so we went looking elsewhere.

I really like the SMA SB inverters. The three MPP inputs, the secure power supply. So I thought since SMA claimed to have a “Sunny Boy Storage” system that was SGIP-compliant, and had taken this new product on a eight-city road show, we were “in like Flynn”.

Fast forward: I have spoken to my sales rep at Wesco, and FIVE – count them FIVE -- people at SMA Sales and presales Tech Support , and not one person claimes to have knowledge of the Sunny Boy Storage system. Have I gone blind, dum and crazy?

I understand that StorEdge product has traction and I am ready to jump ship. What am I missing?

Peter Parrish

Peter T. Parrish
Calofornia Solar Engineering
1107 Fair Oaks Ave. Ste. 351
South Pasadena, CA 91030
(323) 839-6108
peter.parrish at calsolareng.com

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