Grid-tie solar is, by far, the most cost-effective way to go solar. Because batteries are the most expensive component of any solar system, but grid-tie solar owners can skip them completely! So how do grid-tie solar power systems work? First, let's define what we mean by the “grid”. The grid is the utility company's network. Off-grid solar is best for delivering power to remote locations where there is no access to a utility line. Folks who live off the grid are solely responsible for generating their own electricity. This is usually accomplished by. If you live on the grid, but you want protection from power outages, your best bet is a battery backup system. Backup power systems connect to the grid, and function like a normal grid.
What are the different types of solar power systems?
There are three basic types of solar power systems: grid-tie, off-grid, and backup power systems. Here's a quick summary of the differences between them: Off-grid solar is designed to bring power to remote locations where there is no grid access. Off-grid systems require a battery bank to store the energy your panels produce.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are more complex than they look. This is not only due to the fact that you need to determine the energy demand of your household, but you also need to pick the best mounting systems, suitable photovoltaic panels, inverters, batteries and type of the system.
The decision for one or another is directly affected by the variables: reliability of the grid, solar radiation and size of the system, revenues and costs and the power load to feed. However, there are some basic rules that can be applied and that will help you better estimate the appropriate system for your household:
Should you choose an off-grid or hybrid solar system?
If you have access to the power grid, then the choice of off-grid system is discarded (unless you want to install the system to feed a small load). If you want to back up a particular electrical device but still want to receive the revenues from solar energy, you should opt for a hybrid system.
If you want to back up a particular electrical device but still want to receive the revenues from solar energy, you should opt for a hybrid system. Autonomy is determined by the reliability (or absence) of the power grid.
Grid-tied systems generally present the most economical alternative among all types of solar panel systems because there is no need of adding battery backup and charge controllers to power the batteries. This represent a big difference in costs compared to off-grid and hybrid systems.