Advantages and Disadvantages of off grid solar system
May 06, 2021
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Those familiar with solar energy will have no problem differentiating between an off-grid photovoltaic system and a grid-connected one. However, for those who have not yet explored this domestic alternative to getting electricity from a clean source, the differences may be less clear. To dispel any doubts, we will tell you what each of these options consists of, in addition to its main components and, key, off grid solar system advantages and disadvantages.On-grid or off-grid solar system differences:
The very name of each of these options marks the key difference between them: the connection to the general electrical network or the independence of the same.
However, it is necessary to scratch a little more to fully understand what both alternatives offer. The first, photovoltaic with connection to the electricity grid, is the most common in homes and, in a sense, the most reliable, as well as economical. However, off-grid systems offer total and absolute independence, although they require a higher initial investment, due to the need for energy storage batteries to guarantee supply when the sun is not shining.
Off-grid systems: components:
With or without connection, the truth is that the panels for the collection of solar energy do just that, capture it, but do not store it or convert it into alternating current suitable to power the different equipment in the home.
For this reason, any domestic solar system will require the corresponding installation of panels that, in turn, will have to be accompanied by more components. In the specific case of off-grid systems, they will be the following:
Batteries for energy storage: This is the key element of this modality (and the one that pushes up the costs of it) since, without a good battery, the energy supply would be compromised at night or on cloudy days, to give a couple of examples. In this type of system, the energy captured by the panels goes to the batteries which, in turn, will provide the necessary energy to the different equipment in the home.
Inverter: For the above to be possible, the home solar system must include an inverter. Its function is none other than to transform the direct current that comes from the solar panels into alternating current.
Battery charge control system: This is another essential element since it guarantees that the battery does not suffer from overload. Thus, this optimizes the management of the energy that accesses and leaves the equipment for domestic storage.
Photovoltaic system with the connection:
Compared to the previous scheme, owners who choose to incorporate solar energy, but who want to remain connected to the grid, can enable their systems with fewer components. Thus, in this case, it would be possible to take advantage of the energy captured from the sun only by placing the panels and incorporating an inverter.
In these alternatives, the grid itself would function in a manner comparable to batteries: when more energy is produced than necessary, the excess would be diverted to the grid. The scheme would work in reverse at times when there is a deficit of energy captured by the sun, such as after sunset.
Confluence points hybrid systems:
As each of the previous systems has its pros and cons, there are also hybrid alternatives for photovoltaic installations connected to the grid, with the incorporation of domestic storage batteries. These are the following:
Hybrid system for feeding. In it, the batteries form the central core. Thus, the panels transfer the energy to this equipment and, from there, it would pass to the inverter. This would link with the network and, also, with a secondary system for the supply of energy to the basic equipment of the house, independently and, thus, safe against any blackout.
Hybrid support system. In this case, the interactive inverters are the part on which the system pivots. According to this scheme, which would be the one followed by Tesla's Powerwalls, the panels are connected to the inverter, which converts the energy and injects it into the electrical grid. The inverter would also be directly connected to the storage system and, usually, to the battery charge and discharge management system.
Which option to choose?
It depends on many things, including the area in which you want to mount the installation, the budget you have, or your energy needs, among many other factors.
The only case in which the recommendation is clear is when the solar system must be installed in an area where there is no connection to the grid, for example in the case of an isolated house. Now, for this, the initial investment will be greater since a good pinch of domestic systems is taken by batteries for energy storage.
Therefore, if you live in an area with supply, starting with a connected system and, from there, continue exploring, can be a good formula to reduce the consumption of energy produced by polluting sources and, at the same time, give a push down to your electricity bills. However, with the current situation of the energy storage market, it is expected that the costs of this equipment will go down to open up to many more people the possibility of being self-sufficient from an energy point of view.
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