Grid Tied System. Ideal for businesses
Businesses use power mostly during the sunshine hours of the day. This is especially true of for retail business that service customers in the day. The Cooling requirements for businesses increase as the day gets hotter, and peak in the middle of the day.
Solar power systems are perfectly suited for business energy requirements as the sunshine hours overlap with the energy requirements.
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! Grid Tied systems are ideal for saving electricity costs and reducing monthly expenses, and offers the best Return on Investment.
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 of equipment that brings electricity from the power plant to your home or commercial building. If a building is getting electricity from the power company, it is connected to the grid.
A Grid Tied system is very simple in design. The inverter facilitates a seamless, dynamic interface between Grid Power and Solar Power, ensuring that there is always power supply going to the building and prioritizing the Solar Power supply so that the solar power is used first.
For example, if the power consumption is 100kW and solar is generating 95kW, then:
- 95kW will be supplied from Solar with the inverter ensuring that the 95kW from Solar is used first
- Grid power will supply the balance of 5kW
If power consumption is less than Solar Power supply, then no power will be drawn from the Grid.
There is no switching between Solar Power & Grid Power, but rather a continuous supply of both Solar Power & Grid Power with Solar Power supply being the first priority. Subsequently there is no dip in power supply to the building, and therefore the Grid Tie solution is safe to use with any and all sensitive equipment, including PC’s.
Access solar energy is send into the grid, where it is “stored” for later use. Under a net metering agreement, the system owner receives credit for anything they generate, and they can make use of that energy at any time. New digital meters basically reverse your power reading as you put power back into the grid. Check with your municipality how this works
Advantages of Grid-Tie Solar Power Systems
Grid-tie solar is the best option if you want to offset your electricity bill and save money over the life of your system.
Most grid-tie systems pay for themselves within 5-10 years. With solar panels warrantied for 25 years, grid-tie solar is the only option that reliably turns a profit for the system owner over the life of the panels.
Another advantage is that grid-tie systems can be smaller – you don’t need to generate 100% of your power each month. The grid can supply additional power beyond your production, which is useful when bad weather hampers the output of your panels, for example.
Some people choose to size a grid-tie system for a partial offset of their bill, with plans to expand the system later once their budget allows for it. Design requirements are less demanding than in an off-grid environment, where you are fully responsible for your energy needs.
Disadvantages of Grid-Tie Solar Power Systems
The main disadvantage of grid-tie systems is that they are still vulnerable to power outages. “But wait,” you might say, “if I’m generating power from sunlight, why does it matter if the grid goes down?” Unfortunately, grid-tie systems are wired into the utility company’s infrastructure. In case of an outage, utility workers need to troubleshoot and fix the problem, and they can’t do that if connected solar systems are still energized and feeding power to the grid. For that reason, grid-tie solar systems are switched off during outages to allow utility workers to safely make repairs.
The solution? A hybrid system that connects to the grid, but draws on a battery bank in case of outages. We’ll cover those at the end of this article, but first…
Off The Grid System
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 building an off-grid solar system that can cover a day’s worth of electricity usage, with a backup generator to supplement production during long stretches of bad weather. To resolve the weather issue It’s always best to add a WIND TURBINE for better reliability.
Advantages of Off-Grid Solar Power Systems
The main draw of off-grid solar is the freedom to live wherever you want. It doesn’t matter if your property is 100 miles from civilization: if you have sunlight, you have a reliable way to generate power.
Although off-grid solar components are more expensive, there can be some hidden financial benefits to living off the grid that can offset those higher costs. Undeveloped plots of land located far off the grid will naturally cost less than a prime grid-tie location. In many cases, the lower land costs do more than enough to offset the higher cost of going solar off the grid.
Disadvantages of Off-Grid Solar Power Systems
Pretty simple, really: the need for a battery bank makes off-grid solar significantly more expensive.
However, it’s often wiser to invest in an off-grid solar system than it is to run a power line to a remote location. While an off-grid system may cost more than a grid-tie system, it is still more frugal than other remote power solutions, like running a new utility line or relying on a gas generator.
One way to keep costs down is to use propane appliances where possible to reduce your demand for electricity. Opting for a propane stove, clothes dryer, wall heater and on-demand water heater means you can get away with a smaller inverter and smaller battery bank.
It also helps to stagger electricity usage — for example, running laundry and the dishwasher at different times — to reduce your peak power consumption and relieve some of the costs of energy storage.
Hybrid System
Due to the decreasing cost of battery storage, systems that are already connected to the electricity grid can start taking advantage of battery storage as well. This means being able to store solar energy that is generated during the day and using it at night. When the stored energy is depleted, the grid is there as a back up, allowing consumers to have the best of both worlds. Hybrid systems also have the advantage of powering your loads during load shedding.
There are also different ways to design hybrid systems
The battery bank. In hybrid system once solar power is used by the appliances in your property, any excess power will be sent to your battery bank. Once the battery bank is full, it will stop receiving power from the solar system.
The meter and electricity grid. Depending on how your hybrid system is set up and whether your utility allows it, once your batteries are fully charged excess solar power not required by your appliances can be exported to the grid via your meter. When your solar system is not in use, and if you have drained the usable power in your batteries your appliances will then start drawing power from the grid.
Advantages of Hybrid Solar Energy Systems
Continuous Power Supply. A key advantage of the hybrid solar system over a traditional one is that it delivers continuous power. Because the batteries connected to hybrid solar systems store energy, they provide continuous power without interruption. During power outages, the batteries work as inverters to provide you with backup power for your home and important appliances. When the sun goes down or when there’s a power outage, batteries provide backup power to keep things running smoothly.
Utilize the Renewable Sources in the Best Way. Because the batteries are connected to a specially designed system that stores excess solar energy, there is no waste of unused power. So, these systems make use of the renewable energy in the best way, store energy on sunny days and utilize that stored power on cloudy days or at night.
Low Maintenance Cost. Another benefit is the system is cost-effective in the long run. Although the initial cost may be high, you will eventually save money because you will not have to pay for fuel (like you do with generators) and these systems don’t require frequent maintenance.
High Efficiency. Unlike traditional generators, which can waste fuel under certain conditions, hybrid solar energy systems work more efficiently and sustainably. Hybrid solar systems generate power efficiently in all types of weather, storing extra energy for later use without wasting fuel.
Load Management. Traditional generators provide high output only when they are turned on. On the other hand, hybrid solar power systems store energy during the day and distribute it at night. A hybrid solar system may have technology that automatically adjusts the energy supply according to the power requirements of specific devices, whether it’s an air conditioner or a fan.
Disadvantages of Hybrid Solar Energy Systems
Complicated Controlling Process. Different sources of energy are used, it is helpful to be knowledgeable about those systems. The operation of different energy sources and the interaction between them can become complicated. The great thing is that by working with a trusted contractor, we will handle those complications for you.
High Installation Costs. While the maintenance cost is low, the initial investment for a hybrid solar energy system is higher compared to solar systems alone.
Less Battery Life. Home batteries connected to the system are often exposed to heat, cold or rain, so the system may have a shorter life span. This is less of a challenge if you choose the correct location for installation. (Another reason it’s important to work with an experienced installation team!)
Uninterruptible Powersupply System
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-tie system on a day-to-day basis. However, they also feature a backup battery bank that takes over in case of outages.
When grid power goes out, your inverter automatically disconnects from the grid and draws on energy stored in your battery bank, which will keep your appliances running when the grid goes down.
Lastly, battery backup is valuable if you have appliances which require uninterrupted power. If you are running a well pump, for example, service interruptions can be a massive headache. Adding backup power to your grid-tie system will keep these critical appliances running during a blackout.