5.7 Why Non-export (don't sell back at all) can be the smarter choice

Under NEM 3.0, every kWh you push back to the grid only returns a few cents. But to deliver that export, your hybrid inverter has to run at full output for extended periods. Sustained high-current operation accelerates capacitor, IGBT, and fan wear — and the inverter is already the system's weakest-warranty link (5–10 years typically).

So a counter-intuitive but correct choice: configure the inverter for Zero Export / Non-export. You'll forfeit $30–80 of "export revenue" per year, but the inverter lifespan is meaningfully extended — easily worth one fewer mid-life replacement ($3k–6k).

Implementation is simple: install a CT (current transformer) on the main service entrance. The inverter monitors current direction in real time and automatically curtails output the moment it sees imminent back-feed. Every mainstream hybrid inverter ships with this feature built in.