A hybrid inverter is a single inverter that can take power from solar panels and from a battery, and send alternating current into your home or to the grid. It replaces the need for a separate solar inverter plus a separate battery inverter in a new solar-plus-storage design.
What it means for a home battery
On a new install, a hybrid inverter keeps more of the solar path on DC before the battery stores it, which can reduce conversion steps compared with exporting AC from a solar inverter and then charging an AC-coupled battery. On a retrofit, replacing a working solar inverter with a hybrid unit is often more disruption than adding an AC-coupled battery. Habo's guide to solar panels with battery storage walks through that choice.
EcoFlow describes the STREAM host as including the battery and a grid-tied inverter on its STREAM AC 5000 and STREAM 5000 UK pages. The AC 5000 is the retrofit-style unit. The STREAM 5000 adds PV inputs, so solar can land on the same product family without a separate rooftop inverter change in every case. Habo's offer is an electrician-wired EcoFlow STREAM from £2,499. Join the waitlist. It is not a plug-in socket battery.
Inverter power is still measured in kW, while the pack is measured in kWh. See kWh vs kW. The inverter rating also feeds G98 vs G99. For a short list of related terms, open the glossary.
Hybrid units still need correct isolation, earthing and consumer-unit protection under BS 7671, the same as any electrician-wired battery. The inverter type changes the solar wiring path, not the need for a qualified install or DNO notification where the rules require it.
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Frequently asked questions
No. An AC-coupled battery with its own inverter is the usual retrofit and leaves the existing solar inverter in place.
Habo installs an electrician-wired EcoFlow STREAM all-in-one. The STREAM host includes the battery and a grid-tied inverter. The STREAM 5000 also accepts PV inputs.
Closely related. A hybrid inverter is the usual hardware for a DC-coupled solar-plus-battery design, where panels and battery share the inverter's DC side.
Simple battery, simple install
Electrician-wired EcoFlow STREAM from £2,499. Habo will try to serve anyone who registers in an area where we have an electrician. Nothing to pay today.
Join the waitlist