snsrore Enter zipcode Gie-Ted, OF Grid and Hybrid Solar Systoms ~ Energy Informative ‘Search Energy Informative Find best solar power installers based on: @ Price Grid-Tied, Off-Grid and Hybrid Solar Systems Last updated August 14,2013 by Mathias Aarro Mashium "What are the benefits of grid-connected solar panels vs. ving off the grid? Deciding whether or not to gridte your solar panels is usually prety straight -cut benetits of being grid- 16 appeals tothe majority of homeowners. There are, however, some people that choose to live off the gia ward ~ the ‘What would be the best in your situation? Lets look closer atthe benefits and downsides of grid- tied, of grid and hybrid solar systems. hitpienergyinfoematwve.org/e-sted-of-gr-and:-hyrid-soar-systoms! 115112312019 Grid-Tied, Off-Grid and Hybrid Solar Systems - Energy Informative Grid-Tied Solar Systems Grid-ted, on-grid,uility-interactve, grid intertie and grid backteeding are all terms used to describe the same concept solar system that is connected to the utlity power grid witty arta Wu Me, sano 28 = = . Aas house Advantages of Grid-Tied Systems 1. Save more money with net metering, A grid-connection wil alow you to save mare money with solar panels through better efficiency rates, net metering, plus lower equipment and instalation costs Batteries, and other stanc-alone equipment, are required for a fully functional of-grid solar systom and add to costs as well as maintenance. Grid-ied solar systems are therefore generally cheaper and simplar to instal ‘Your solar panels wil often generate more electricity than what you are capable of consuming. With rot motoring, homeowners can put this excess electricity ont the ullily gid instead of storing it thomselves with batteries. [Net metering (or feed-in tari schemes in some counties) play an important role in how solar power is incentvized, Without it, residential solar systems would be much less feasible from a financial Point of view. Many utity companies are committed to buying electricity ‘rom homeowners atthe same rate as they seit themselves, 2. The utility grid is a virtual battery Electricity has to be spent in realtime, However, it can be temporarily stored as ather farms of energy (e.g. chemical energy in batter 5). Energy storage ypically comes with significant losses. “The electric power grid is in many ways also a battery, without the need for maintenance or replacements, and with much better efficiency rates. In other words, more electricity (and more money) goos to waste with conventional battery systems. >.> hitpienergyinformatwve.org/gte-sted-of-gré-and-hyrid-soar-systoms! 2155snsrore Gie-Ted, OF-Grid ang Hybrid Solar Systems - Energy Informative ‘According to EIA data"), national, annual electricity transmission and distribution losses average about 7% ofthe electricity that is transmitted in the United States. Lead-acid batteries, which are commonly used with solar panels, are only 80-90% efficient at storing energy, and their performance degrades with time. ‘Addtional perks of being grid-tied include access to backup power from the utility grid (in case your solar system stop generating electricity for one reason or another). AL the same time you help to mitigate the utility company’s peak load, As @ resul, the efficiency of our electrical system as a whole goes up. Equipment for Grid-Tied Solar Systems “There ae a few key diferences between the equipment nesded for griétid,efkria ane hybrs solar systems. Standard gri-tid solar systems rely on the following components: + Grid-Tie Inverter (GT) or Micro-Inverters + Power Meter Grid-Tie inverter (GTI) ‘What is the jab ofa solar invertor? They regulate the voltage and current received from your solar panels. Dect current (DC) from your solar panels is canverted into alternating eurrent (AC), whieh is the type of current that is uilized by the majority of electrical appliances. In addition to this, gree inverters, also known as grid-nteractve or synchronous inverters, synchronize the phase and frequency ofthe current to ft the ulity gra (nominally 60H2). The ‘output voltage is also agjusted eighty higher than the grd voltage in order for excess electricity to flow outwards tothe grid Micro-Inverters Miero-nverters go on the back of each solar panel, as opposed to one central inverter that typically lakes on the entie solar array. “There has recently been alot of debate on whether micrc-inverters are better than central (sting) inverters Micro-nverters are certainly more expensive, but in many cases yield higher efficiency rates. Homeowners wno are suspect to shading issues should definitely look into if micro-inverters are better in their situation, Power Meter hitpienergyinformatwve.org/e-sted-of-gré-an-hynid-soar-systoms! 55