Solar energy is the energy of the future. It is renewable, non-polluting, sustainable, and a free source of power. Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint or electricity bill, consider going solar.
When switching to solar, one of the most important things to decide is the type of solar system to opt for. There are three types of solar systems, and each type of system has its distinct advantages and drawbacks.
Your solar panel installation company in Vacaville will help you compare each type of system to help you pick the perfect fit for your home.
Read on to learn more about the different types of solar panel systems available to homeowners.
Grid-Tied Systems
Grid-tied systems, also known as on-grid systems, are semi-autonomous electrical generation systems. A grid-tied system connects to the local utility’s grid. Most families use this system as they are covered in case their system underproduces or overproduces energy to meet their needs.
When your system produces more energy than your family’s energy demand, the excess capacity is fed back to the local mains electrical grid. On the other hand, when it produces less energy than required, electricity is drawn from the main grid to make up for the shortfall.
There are several benefits of grid-tied systems. They are load-independent and help reduce electricity bills. If you opt for an on-grid system, not many changes will be required to the electrical line as your system will still be connected to the grid.
Off-Grid Systems
As the name suggests, the off-grid (or standalone) system is not connected to the utility grid. It has a battery inverter, a backup source (a battery bank), and a generator to provide backup power.
A battery bank is a set of batteries. Depending on the size of the system, the battery bank may consist of anywhere from 2-20 batteries. In some cases, solar panel installation companies use more than one battery bank to ensure they can meet the home’s energy storage needs.
Hybrid Systems
The hybrid system is a combination of the off-grid and grid-tied systems. A hybrid system connects to the grid and also has a backup battery system that stores energy for later use. The ability of a hybrid system to store energy enables it to be used as a backup power supply during blackouts.
An adequately sized hybrid system can be used throughout the night and can help reduce your electricity bill.
