Solar Panels Enhance Midwest Home

Combining solar panels with battery energy storage makes the VISION House Sussex demonstration home resilient to power outages and grid issues while lowering energy costs.

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Given the rising cost of utilities, it was important for Tim O’Brien, President of Tim O’Brien Homes, to provide a solution to lower utility costs, ensure self-sufficiency and grid independence for future homeowners in the VISION House Sussex demonstration project. To do that, he selected JinkoSolar panels and battery storage systems to manage the entire process of harvesting, managing, and storing solar energy for use at any time–day or night.

In this video, Tim O’Brien speaks to the benefits of the JinkoSolar EAGLE Encore solar + storage system that was strategically added to this project. 

“JinkoSolar provided the solar panels , which is about 12.6 kW,” O’Brien states. “The battery system will be charging during the day through the solar array so that it can provide electrical energy for the home at night.”

The JinkoSolar EAGLE Continental solar panels have a black frame and black back sheet, creating a sleek look for residential applications. The EAGLE Continental produces up to 400 watts and utilizes mono PERC half-cell technology, which boosts performance even when shaded. 

As one of the most durable panels on the market, the EAGLE Continental features a thick 40mm frame tested to endure up to 113 mph winds (category 3 hurricane). Its 3.2mm tempered front-side glass is designed to withstand hailstones of up to 55mm, which is double the minimum IEC 61215 standard of 25mm. 

The EAGLE Continental is Fire Type 1 rated, engineered with a more robust and thicker back sheet. These back sheets feature DuPont TM Tedlar® material, increasing durability and offering added protection from scratches, moisture, UV, and extreme heat.

To complement the solar system, the EAGLE RS DC-coupled solar plus storage system stores 19.2 kWh of solar energy to helps homeowners optimize time of use rates and utilize solar energy when the sun’s not shining. This next-generation system deploys an updated hybrid inverter with an integrated autotransformer and automatic transfer switch (ATS)ATS, which reduces the number of components to install, takes up less space in the home and makes installation even faster. 

The system also comes equipped with Virtual Power Plant (VPP) compatibility for seamless integration with demand response programs offering homeowners additional ways to save.

Visit the VISION House Sussex website to learn more about JinkoSolar’s offerings and the other great products that make up this home.