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Upgrading inverters from a non-hybrid to a hybrid

Upgrading inverters from a non-hybrid to a hybrid – What you need to know about Solar in Perth

If you have solar but still pay for lots of evening power, your inverter choice matters. A non-hybrid inverter is built to convert solar for immediate use and export. A hybrid inverter is built to control a battery as well, so you can store midday solar and use it later. Upgrading inverters are often the cleanest way to make an older system properly battery-ready.

What is a hybrid inverter?

A hybrid inverter is a solar inverter designed to integrate with battery storage and energy management. It can prioritise charging a battery when solar is abundant, then discharge the battery when your home needs power later.

In practical terms, hybrid upgrades usually aim to:

  • reduce evening and morning imports

  • increase self-consumption (use more of your own solar)

  • enable battery storage now or later

  • add smarter monitoring and scheduling

When is it worth upgrading inverters to hybrids?

You want a battery and your current inverter is not battery-ready

If your inverter cannot directly support a battery, you either replace it with a hybrid inverter or add an AC-coupled battery system. A hybrid inverter upgrade is usually the simplest platform if you want a single integrated system for solar, battery, monitoring, and export control.

Your inverter is ageing or out of warranty

If your inverter is nearing end-of-life, upgrading once to a hybrid can avoid paying twice. You replace the inverter, then add storage without redoing core hardware later.

You export strongly at midday but still import heavily at night

This is the classic battery use case. A hybrid platform positions you to capture midday surplus and shift it into your expensive usage windows.

You want blackout protection as an option

Backup is not automatic. It is an optional design feature that requires the correct hardware and switchboard configuration.

  • Sigenergy backup requires the Sigenergy Gateway.

  • Fronius full-home backup requires additional components and a designed backup configuration.

Sigenergy vs Fronius GEN24 Plus for hybrid upgrades

Both are premium options, but they suit different priorities.

Sigenergy

Sigenergy is often chosen when you want an integrated home energy ecosystem with a clear expansion path. It typically suits staged upgrades, modular battery growth, and customers who want one platform across solar, battery, energy management, and optional whole-home backup (with Gateway).

Fronius GEN24 Plus

Fronius GEN24 Plus is often chosen when you want a premium hybrid inverter with strong monitoring, broad integration options, and flexibility in system design. It suits customers who want battery readiness and a proven upgrade pathway, especially where future expansions or third-party ecosystem compatibility matters.

What changes when you are upgrading inverters?

1) Your existing solar strings must be checked

The installer needs to confirm your existing panel strings suit the new inverter’s electrical limits and MPPT layout. This is critical if you have multiple roof faces (north, east, west) or partial shading.

2) Battery location becomes part of the design

Cable runs, wall structure, clearances, weather exposure, and compliance requirements all affect cost and feasibility. Battery placement decisions can make or break an upgrade budget.

3) Metering and export control may be updated

Hybrid systems commonly use a power sensor or meter so the inverter can measure imports, exports, and household load accurately. That enables better self-consumption and helps meet network export requirements where applicable.

4) Backup adds scope

Backup requires extra hardware and circuit planning. If blackout protection matters, it should be specified before pricing, not added as an afterthought.

How the WA Residential Battery Scheme affects upgrading inverters to hybrids

Western Australia’s WA Residential Battery Scheme can reduce the upfront cost of adding storage, which is why many homeowners combine a hybrid inverter upgrade with a battery installation.

What does the WA scheme provide?

  • A one-off battery rebate.

  • An optional no-interest loan.

The scheme commenced for eligible batteries installed from 1July2025 (not retrospective).

How much is the WA rebate?

The WA rebate is paid per usable battery capacity (kWh), capped at 10kWh:

  • Synergy customers: $130 per kWh, up to $1,300.

  • Horizon Power customers: $380 per kWh, up to $3,800.

Batteries larger than 10kWh can still receive the capped rebate amount.

What is the “combined rebate” figure people talk about?

The WA Government presents examples where a 10kWh battery can be eligible for a combined rebate (WA scheme plus the federal battery program) of $1,300 for Synergy customers.

The exact combined amount depends on program settings at the time you apply, the battery size, and eligibility.

Is a Virtual Power Plant required?

Yes. To receive the WA battery rebate and or the no-interest loan, the battery must join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) product and you must enter the relevant VPP contracts.

Synergy customers must choose an eligible VPP product offered by Synergy or an approved alternative. Horizon Power customers must join a VPP product offered by Horizon Power.

How does the WA no-interest loan work?

The WA scheme offers no-interest loans:

  • $2,001 to $10,000

  • 3 to 10-year terms

  • household gross annual income must be under $210,000

  • credit checks and lending requirements apply

  • the combined rebate and loan cannot exceed the total installed cost

Loans are administered through the scheme’s appointed administrator.

Why this matters for inverter upgrades

If you are using rebates or the loan to help fund a battery, you need a battery-ready architecture. For many homes with older non-hybrid inverters, that means planning a hybrid inverter upgrade first, then matching the battery size to your export and evening usage.

What about the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program?

The Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides an upfront discount on eligible battery systems and is delivered through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). Changes are scheduled to commence on 1May2026, including adjustments to how support is calculated and how it changes over time.

This matters if you are timing a battery purchase around rebate value.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a battery without upgrading my inverter?

Sometimes, using an AC-coupled battery approach. It can make sense if your existing inverter is newer or you want minimal disruption. A hybrid upgrade usually makes more sense when the inverter is older, when you want one integrated platform, or when you want the cleanest path to battery control and future expansion.

Will a hybrid inverter lower my bills without a battery?

Not usually in a meaningful way. The main financial benefit comes from storing surplus solar and using it later. Monitoring improvements help, but storage is the big lever.

Do I need more solar panels to justify a battery?

Not always. Many homes already export enough at midday to justify storage. The key is matching battery size to your export profile and evening loads, not simply adding more panels.

Next steps

To assess if upgrading inverters is best, gather:

  • a photo of your current inverter model label

  • your latest electricity bill or interval data

  • a photo of your main switchboard

  • photos of your preferred inverter and battery locations

  • confirmation of Synergy vs Horizon Power, and whether VPP participation is acceptable

With that, you can make the right call between keeping your current inverter with an AC-coupled battery, or upgrading inverters to a hybrid platform like Sigenergy or Fronius GEN24 Plus and adding storage under the WA scheme settings.

Sources:

2026-02-19T15:28:43+08:00