ON-GRID, OFF-GRID AND HYBRID SOLAR ENERGY EXPLAINED
When it comes to installing a solar power system, there are many decisions to make. When installing a renewable energy system, you’re investing in equipment that will last many years, which means that you need to be confident in the system and provider you choose to partner with.
All solar power systems work on the same basic principles. At its core, solar energy takes the energy produced from the sun and converts it into the type of energy that can power your home or business.
Your solar panels consist of solar cells which convert sunlight into Direct Current (DC) electricity thereby producing clean, renewable energy. The solar inverter receives the DC electricity from the solar panels. As most homes run on Alternating Current (AC) electricity, the inverter converts the DC electricity into AC electricity so that it can be used in your home.
Depending on the type of system, the excess solar energy produced can either be fed into the electricity grid for credits or stored in a variety of different battery storage systems.
TYPES OF SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS
On Grid (or Grid-tie) system is a system that is connected to an existing power grid. This is the most common solar energy set-up in Australia. On-Grid solar power systems use inverters to convert the electricity produced by solar panels to the same voltage and frequency as grid power and to synchronise the systems. On Grid solar power systems do not need batteries, they use either solar inverters or micro inverters and are connected to the public electricity grid. Any excess solar power that is generated is then exported to the electricity grid and you usually get paid a feed-in-tariff (FiT) or credits for the energy that you feed back into the grid.
Off-grid system is also known as a stand-alone power system. Off Grid solar energy systems require specialised off-grid inverters and battery systems that are large enough to store energy for a few days at a time. It is possible to manage off grid solar power systems without a back-up generator, due diligence must be taken to ensure the energy demand aligns to the amount of energy stored in the batteries. The right renewable energy system for your home or business will depend on your energy consumption patterns, your location and what you want to achieve from solar battery storage and energy supply.
Hybrid solar power systems offer the best of both worlds. It generates power in the same way that on-grid systems do, the difference lies in being connected to a battery as well as the grid. Hybrid solar power systems use special hybrid batteries and inverters that are capable of storing energy for use later. Hybrid solar power systems are configured so that your home or business uses solar first, then the power stored in the battery, then as a last resort – grid power. Excess energy produced by the solar panels are stored by the battery and once the battery is full, the excess electricity is sold to the grid.
Your choice of an off-grid, on-grid or hybrid solar power system will determine your access to electricity, the equipment that is needed for excess production, as well as what happens when the power grid goes down. It also dictates how you will be billed for electricity.
To learn more about each type above and don’t hesitate to contact Logic Solar. We have a team of friendly experts who can recommend solar panels and other renewable energy products to suit your needs!
