Energy independence, engineered right.
Solar, battery and generator built around Sol-Ark and EG4 hybrid inverters — for cabins, rural properties, farms and anyone who wants to run with or without the grid. Designed for Minnesota winters.
Power on your own terms
Off-grid solar means your property makes, stores and manages its own electricity. Some clients are truly off-grid — a cabin or remote site where running a utility line would cost a fortune. Others want grid-optional (hybrid): tied to the utility, but able to run independently through outages and rate spikes. Either way the recipe is the same three pillars, sized and integrated correctly so the system actually carries you through a Minnesota January — not just a sunny week in June.
Solar makes it, batteries store it, the generator backs it up.
Each one sized to your real loads and your worst-case stretch — not a brochure.
Solar array
Sized (and usually oversized) for winter, on ground-mount or roof, with orientation and tilt chosen for how you actually use power.
LFP battery bank
Lithium iron phosphate storage sized for days of autonomy — often stackable EG4 racks you can expand later.
Generator backup
An auto-started generator (typically 10–14 kW) covers the dark, snowy stretches so you don't have to buy a battery for the worst week of the year.
Hybrid inverter (the brain)
Sol-Ark or EG4 ties it all together — solar, battery, grid and generator in one smart box.
The brain: Sol-Ark & EG4 hybrid inverters
A hybrid inverter is what makes a modern off-grid system simple and reliable. Sol-Ark and EG4 are the workhorses we install: each is an all-in-one unit combining the solar charge controller, battery charger, inverter, grid tie and generator control. They run grid-tied, hybrid, or fully off-grid, are battery-agnostic on 48V, auto-start a generator when the battery gets low, and the larger Sol-Ark units pass through 200A for true whole-home backup (EV charger, well pump and all). Both are expandable — add panels or stack more batteries as your needs grow. We're certified on both.
Designing the array for self-use, not just peak output
East/west instead of all-south
A south array makes the most total energy, but an east/west split flattens the production curve — power in the morning and late afternoon, when you're actually using it. For off-grid and self-consumption that's often the smarter trade: 15–25% more of your solar gets used directly, and there's less midday inverter clipping (about 0.5% on a 1.35 DC/AC array east/west versus ~1.5% south). You give up a little peak to get power that matches your life.
Adjustable, seasonal tilt
On a ground-mount we can set — or make adjustable — the panel angle. A steeper winter tilt catches Minnesota's low winter sun and sheds snow; a flatter summer tilt grabs the high summer sun. Since winter is the binding constraint for off-grid here, optimizing for those short days (and oversizing the array) is what keeps the generator runtime — and your fuel bill — low.
However independent you want to be.
We engineer the right balance of solar, storage and generator for your goal.
Full off-grid
No utility at all — solar + a large LFP bank + generator, sized for multi-day autonomy. Ideal for remote cabins and sites.
Grid-optional (hybrid)
Connected to the grid but able to island through outages and shave costs — the best of both worlds for most homes.
Battery backup →Farm & remote loads
Off-grid power for wells, irrigation, shops and outbuildings where running a line is too costly.
Agricultural solar →Built for Minnesota winters
Off-grid here lives or dies by winter: short days, low sun and snow. We size the array for the worst stretch, lean on seasonal tilt and east/west orientation, store in LFP, and integrate an auto-start generator as the backstop — so you stay powered without overspending on battery you'd only need a few days a year.
- Sol-Ark & EG4 hybrid inverters (we're certified on both)
- LFP battery banks, stackable and expandable
- Auto-start generator integration (10–14 kW typical)
- Ground-mount, east/west and seasonal-tilt array design
Three Rivers Electric
Off-grid and backup systems are serious electrical work — panels, transfer, generator integration — handled by our licensed sister company.
What Minnesotans say.
Real reviews from real iSolar customers — homes, farms and businesses across Minnesota.
“Dan and company at iSolar were great to work with throughout our solar project. Communication was top-notch throughout the planning and install process, and even…”
“10stars!! I am a Sr. Project Manager for Patriot Homes, LLC (a general contractor) The solar panels of a customer of mine needed to be removed and reinstalled to…”
“iSolar installed 15 panels on our home, which has a standing seam metal roof. We have been very pleased with their approach, communication, price and the Solar…”
“Professional and very thorough in follow-up and responses. Their electricians takes time to explain things well and very honest in their pricing. I got an EV…”
“Jon and everyone over at ISolar have been awesome to work with on getting my panels installed and getting me through the different programs offered to me. Jon also…”
“Our experience has been wonderful! We are so happy we made the shift to solar and iSolar was so great to work with at all stages of the process!”
Frequently asked.
What does ‘off-grid’ actually mean?
True off-grid means your property makes and stores all its own power with no utility connection — solar charges a battery bank, and a generator covers the gaps. Many people instead want grid-optional (hybrid): connected to the utility but able to run independently through outages or rate spikes. We design both.
Who is off-grid solar for in Minnesota?
Cabins and remote properties where running a utility line is expensive, rural homes and hobby farms, well/irrigation sites, workshops, and anyone who wants real energy independence and resilience. If bringing power to the site costs five or six figures, an off-grid system often wins outright.
Why Sol-Ark and EG4?
They're the leading hybrid inverters for this work — all-in-one units that combine the solar charge controller, battery charger, inverter, grid tie and generator control in one box. They run grid-tied, hybrid or fully off-grid, are battery-agnostic on 48V, auto-start a generator when the battery runs low, and (on the larger Sol-Ark models) offer 200A whole-home pass-through. Both are expandable — add panels or stack more batteries as your needs grow.
How big a battery bank do I need?
It depends on your daily usage and how many days of ‘no sun’ you want to ride out. Off-grid systems are sized for autonomy — often 2–4 days of storage — in LFP (lithium iron phosphate) for safety and long cycle life, frequently as stackable EG4 server-rack batteries so you can grow the bank later.
Do I still need a generator if I have solar and batteries?
For Minnesota, almost always yes. A run of short, snowy December days can outlast any reasonable battery bank, so a properly integrated generator (typically 10–14 kW, auto-started by the inverter) is the backstop that makes off-grid practical here — without oversizing the battery for the worst week of the year.
Why would I face panels east and west instead of south?
South makes the most total energy, but an east/west split makes a flatter production curve — power in the morning and the late afternoon, when you're actually using it. For off-grid and self-consumption that's often better: 15–25% more of your solar gets used directly, and there's less inverter clipping at midday (a 1.35 DC/AC array clips ~0.5% east/west vs ~1.5% south). You trade a little peak output for power that lines up with your life.
What is adjustable / seasonal tilt?
On a ground-mount we can set the panel angle — or make it adjustable. A steeper winter tilt catches Minnesota's low winter sun and helps snow slide off; a flatter summer tilt grabs the high summer sun. Because winter is the constraint for off-grid here, optimizing for those short days (and oversizing the array) is often the difference between running the generator a little or a lot.
Can I start grid-tied and add off-grid capability later?
Yes — build on a hybrid inverter now and you can add batteries and generator integration later to become grid-optional or fully off-grid. Designing with Sol-Ark or EG4 from the start keeps that door open.
Commercial & ag solar across all of Minnesota.
Bigger projects justify the drive. Our commercial and agricultural crews install across the entire state — from the Twin Cities metro to greater Minnesota's farm country.
Ready to go independent?
Free, no-pressure design consult — we'll size solar, battery and generator to actually carry you through a Minnesota winter.