Solar Power Plants with Batteries in Montenegro — Power Even When the Grid Goes Down

Topla Kuća designs and installs solar power plants with lithium batteries for homes, villas and apartments in Montenegro. We work from Đenovići near Herceg Novi and travel to sites on the coast and inland. A hybrid system produces electricity from the sun during the day, supplies it from the batteries in the evening, and when the grid goes down, the house keeps running without a generator.

What a solar power plant with batteries gives you

• A lower electricity bill. The sun covers daytime consumption and the battery covers the evening.
• Backup power. When the grid goes down, the hybrid inverter switches to the batteries. The fridge, pump, lighting and internet keep working without interruption.
• Energy independence and a system you can expand. Batteries and panels can be added later.
• One contractor for the whole job. Design, equipment supply, installation, commissioning and service.

What the system consists of

Solar panels, a hybrid inverter (most often Deye), lithium LiFePO4 batteries (Felicity Solar, Deye, Sunway), a mounting structure adapted to your roof, AC and DC wiring and protection. We choose the structure to suit the roofing: we install on tile, sheet metal roofs and carports. On the systems we install, we set up the bypass and the operating mode for power outages.

How big a battery you need

Battery capacity is calculated from your evening consumption and from what you want to power during an outage, not only from the panel power. That is why we prepare the quote from your electricity bills and measurements on site. Here is what the systems we have installed in Montenegro look like:

• Krimovica, Tivat: panels 8.1 kW, batteries 20.5 kWh, three-phase hybrid inverter Deye 15 kW, tile roof
• Villa near Herceg Novi: panels 12.6 kW, batteries 25 kWh, three-phase inverter Deye 12 kW, sheet metal roof
• Family house, tile roof: panels 18 kW, batteries 20.5 kWh; six days passed from unloading the equipment to commissioning
• Turnkey family house: panels 13.7 kW, hybrid inverter 20 kW, batteries 35.4 kWh
• Grahovo: panels 6.95 kW, inverter Deye 8 kW, battery 12.5 kWh
• Sutomore: panels 6.72 kW, inverter Deye 6 kW, two batteries of 5 kWh each
• Bar: panels 6 kW east-west, inverter Deye 6 kW, battery 5.12 kWh

See all solar power plant projects.

Hybrid, off-grid or on-grid system

• Hybrid system with batteries. Works together with the grid and provides backup power. The most common choice for houses, villas and apartments.
• Off-grid system. For properties without a grid connection: holiday houses, mountain houses, konobas. Examples are our off-grid systems in Grahovo and Gošići.
• On-grid system. No batteries; it lowers the electricity bill but shuts down when the grid goes down. If you have an on-grid system, we add a hybrid inverter and batteries.

How the work goes

Site visit and measurement, calculation and quote within 24 hours, equipment delivery, installation (the duration depends on the condition of the roof and the capacity of the station), commissioning and service. All steps are described on the page Turnkey Solar Power Plant Installation.

Cost of a solar power plant with batteries

The price depends on the panel power, the battery capacity, the roof type and the distance to the site, so we prepare the quote after measuring. You can get an approximate estimate right away in the calculator. The payback period of our projects is 4–7 years.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to a solar system when the power goes out?

A regular on-grid system shuts down. A hybrid system switches to the batteries and the house keeps running, and when the grid returns, the system goes back to the grid.

How big a battery do I need?

It depends on your evening consumption and on what you want to power during an outage. Our systems range from 5 kWh for a small apartment to over 35 kWh for a large house. We determine the exact capacity from your electricity bills.

Can I add batteries later?

Yes. With a hybrid inverter, batteries can be added later. If you have an on-grid system, we add a hybrid inverter and batteries.

How long does installation take?

It depends on the condition of the roof and the capacity of the station. The time can increase if difficulties arise during installation: for example, if old roof tiles start to crack, repairing or replacing them extends the work. At one of our sites, six days passed from unloading the equipment to commissioning.

Is the roof damaged?

No. We choose the mounting structure to suit the roofing (tile, sheet metal), and the panels are installed without damaging the roof. If old tiles are cracked, repairing or replacing them can extend the work.