Enphase now supports fully off-grid configuration with core product line
Enphase added a new “Off-Grid” commissioning profile, enabling the system controller to operate without a utility tie while coordinating solar, storage and generator inputs. A few dozen homes are already running fully off-grid with Enphase hardware, the company disclosed this week.
The off-grid stack requires three things: the IQ Battery 5P with embedded grid-forming microinverters, IQ8 Series Microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart capability, and a third-party standby AC generator. Worked together, the components form a microgrid that can power loads and recharge batteries while islanded, with software managing generator dispatch to avoid back-feed damage and fuel waste.
The U.S. off-grid configuration is available now, with international release expected in 2026. Nitish Mathur, SVP of customer experience at Enphase, noted more than 100 fully off-grid deployments are already operating: “By combining grid-forming batteries, Sunlight JumpStart technology, and integrated generator support, the Enphase Energy System can deliver dependable power 24×7, all managed through a single app.”
Key functional pieces
IQ8 microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart | If a site blackouts because the battery is empty and the generator is dry, the IQ8s can attempt to re-form the microgrid the next morning and recharge the bank directly from PV.
IQ Battery 5P | Rated 3.84 kVA per 5 kWh, with Power Control scaling to 40 kWh / 15.4 kVA. That is enough to start large household loads such as HVAC and well pumps in off-grid operation.
IQ System Controller 3G | Integrates autotransformer and generator interconnect. Supports up to 15.4 kW of PV + 40 kWh of batteries + 15.4 kVA of generator, yielding up to 46 kVA of off-grid power with load-control logic tied to solar availability, generator state, and battery state-of-charge.
Cloud connectivity | For isolated sites, the IQ Combiner 5C HDK adds dual-SIM LTE with automatic failover to maintain telemetry, updates and remote diagnostics without local broadband.
Why this matters to Enphase
Outages and grid volatility are expanding the buyer pool beyond backup-only use. Integrators say the support for low-voltage AC architecture and generator co-control lowers complexity and risk when designing for off-grid sites.
“Our customers can have dependable power in locations that do not have the grid or for customers that do not want the grid,” added Bob Evans of Evans Energy Systems.
