GivEnergy · Solar inverter model
Hybrid Inverter Gen 1
GivEnergy's first-generation single-phase hybrid inverter, sold in HY 3.6 and HY 5.0 power variants that run a solar array and a home battery from one unit.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | hybrid |
| Supply phases | single (multiple units for three phase) |
| Rated AC power (kW) | 3.6 (HY 3.6) / 5.0 (HY 5.0) |
| Maximum DC input (kW) | 4.7 (HY 3.6) / 6.5 (HY 5.0) |
| MPPT count | 2 |
| Maximum input current (A) | 11 |
| Battery compatible | yes |
| Published warranty term (years) | 12 |
| IP rating | IP65 |
The Hybrid Inverter Gen 1 is GivEnergy’s first-generation hybrid inverter, a single unit that runs a solar array and a home battery together. It shipped in two power variants, the HY 3.6 (GIV-HY-3.6) and the HY 5.0 (GIV-HY-5.0), which share a chassis, warranty and physical build but differ in rated output and the grid-connection route each one follows.
As a hybrid inverter it takes on two jobs a solar-only inverter leaves separate: converting the panels’ DC for the home, and charging or discharging the battery. It can charge the battery from the grid as well as from solar, so the battery can be topped up on a cheaper off-peak tariff rather than only from surplus generation. Its independent MPPT let panel strings on different roof pitches or orientations be optimised separately, rather than pulling every string down to the output of the weakest one. The ingress-protection rating covers dust and water jets, so the inverter can be wall-mounted outdoors or in an unheated space as well as indoors.
An EPS output is built in, able to keep selected circuits running from the battery and solar during a grid outage. That is not the same as whole-home backup, which needs additional isolation and switching so the property can be separated from the grid and held within the inverter and battery limits.
Battery pairing and phase
The Gen 1 hybrid pairs with GivEnergy’s own Gen 1 battery packs (2.6, 5.2 and 8.2 kWh) and the later Gen 2 batteries. The installation manual sets a ceiling of 60 V for the connected battery, which ties battery choice to GivEnergy’s low-voltage packs rather than a third-party high-voltage stack. It is a single-phase unit, so a three-phase property needs one inverter on each phase.
Grid-connection route by variant
The two variants split on the paperwork a connection needs. The HY 3.6 is certified to G98, the notification route for smaller single-phase generators, while the HY 5.0 is certified to G99, the application-and-approval route for larger connections. A DNO has to approve a G99 connection before commissioning, where a G98 unit is notified rather than pre-approved.
Availability and manufacturer status
Gen 1 had been superseded before GivEnergy Ltd entered administration and ceased trading on 9 April 2026. Its datasheets and 2025 installation manual remain useful for commissioning or servicing installed units. The twelve-year figure is the warranty term originally published for the inverter; the administrator has stated that GivEnergy Ltd will honour no further hardware warranties.
DC input rating
The maximum DC input is one figure to confirm against the live datasheet. GivEnergy’s Gen 1 installation manual lists a maximum DC input of 15 kW in its general specifications, which does not match the per-variant DC figures printed on the product datasheets. Treat the current datasheet for the specific variant as the authority for the array size the unit accepts.
Related entries
Brand
Reference type
Solar inverter model
Last reviewed
22 Jul 2026
Current status
Superseded product; relevant to installed systems and replacement identification.