Looks like many folks, myself included, may finally be able to get a grid tie inverter that will run to a limited amount in off gird mode with the power out. Of course there are battery based grid tie units that provide all sorts of islanded capacity, but the trade off is significant extra cost up front, more expensive installation and battery replacements on 3 to 5 year intervals. I had just heard about SMA making a unit that might be the ticket and started a thread on another site I participate on. A SMA factory employee replied with limited details.
http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?8565-SMA-Inverters-with-Emergency-backup
My understanding from some web research is the Japanese government is rolling out a new very high dollar solar PV incentive and it requires "emergency backup capability" and therefore SMA is coming out with a product to meet the requirements.
I expect 12 amps at 120 volts only when the sun is out is not much but with a UPS and some planning, I expect many folks might be able to keep some critical intermittent loads operating long enough each day to make it through an outage.
http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?8565-SMA-Inverters-with-Emergency-backup
My understanding from some web research is the Japanese government is rolling out a new very high dollar solar PV incentive and it requires "emergency backup capability" and therefore SMA is coming out with a product to meet the requirements.
I expect 12 amps at 120 volts only when the sun is out is not much but with a UPS and some planning, I expect many folks might be able to keep some critical intermittent loads operating long enough each day to make it through an outage.