1 – Grid-Tied Residential Solar Power Systems
A grid-tied solar power system is directly connected to the home and to the traditional electric utility grid.
Grid-tied systems allow homeowners to receive power from either the home electrical system or the utility grid, and the switching between the residential system and the grid is seamless.
Key Advantage:
A key advantage of grid-tied solar power systems is the ability to balance the system’s output with the home’s energy demands. When a grid-tied system produces more energy than the home consumes, the excess can be sold back to the utility in a practice known as net metering.
When the system is not producing enough energy, the home can draw power from the utility grid.
Grid-tied systems are the least expensive type of residential solar power system, as there are fewer components required.
2 – Grid-tied Residential Solar Power System with Battery Backup
A grid-tied solar power system is also connected to the traditional power grid and adds a battery backup to the system.
Adding a battery backup to the system allows it to balance output and demand and protect against power outages.
The output of a solar power system depends on the available sunlight.
When sunlight is plentiful, output can exceed demand.
When output exceeds demand, excess power can charge batteries that store electricity.
When the system produces less electricity than the home requires, the batteries can make up the shortfall.
Grid-tie systems are also connected to the utility power grid, allowing homeowners to draw from the grid during periods of high demand and sell power back to the grid when there is excess production.
While grid-tie systems offer more flexibility, they are not without drawbacks.
Charging and discharging batteries reduces the overall efficiency of the system.
These systems are more complex to design and install.
As a result, they are more expensive.
3 – Off-grid solar systems
An off-grid residential system is completely disconnected from the traditional electrical power grid. Without a connection to the utility grid, batteries are necessary to balance periods of excess production and excess demand.
To protect against power shortages when the solar system is low in output and the batteries are drained, a generator is typically added to the system.
The generator is used as a power source during periods of prolonged overproduction or unusual demand.
In the future, we will likely see more and more solar panels on rooftops and spread across our landscape.
There is no doubt that we are seeking cleaner energy sources; the different types of solar energy we know today, and perhaps some that have not yet been invented, will be at the forefront of the clean, green solar revolution we seek.
The bottom line:
Within each type of system there are subtle design differences that affect efficiency and comfort.
To determine which system is best for you, review your requirements with a solar installation professional, and a professional installer can guide you through the detailed selection of specific systems that best suit your needs.
