Off Grid vs On Grid Solar: Which Solar Power System is Best for You?

Introduction

“Every 24 hours, enough sunlight hits the Earth to supply energy to the whole world for the whole year.” – Martha Maeda.

Solar power is a renewable and clean energy that is globally being accepted in large scale. With rising demands for energy autonomy and environment-friendly solutions, home and business consumers have been on the lookout for more solar energy solutions. Off grid on grid solar systems are the two wide categories of solar power systems used today.

Having the knowledge of solar on grid versus off grid is essential in coming up with the decision of what works best for your energy requirement. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, and selecting the right one is based on where you are, how much electricity you use, and your purse. The article will take you through comparing the two systems and making the choice of the right system that will best meet your usage.

What is an On-Grid Solar System?

Grid-connected solar system or on-grid solar system is an installation of solar power that is installed on the local electricity grid itself. It is meant to be utilized together with the utility grid so that the homeowners and businesses can both produce their own electricity and can still draw upon the grid if required.

This is the most widespread solar configuration found in homes and businesses because of its affordability, ease of installation, and power to lower the bills for electricity. Because the system is grid-attached, there is no need for expensive battery backup, thus it is cheaper compared to off-grid systems.

In an on-grid system, the consumer can harness solar energy during the day when the sun is high and make a transition to the grid in case of a lack of solar generation, i.e., late evening or rainy days. Most utility companies provide net metering where the consumer can feed back excess solar energy to the grid and receive credits or monetary compensation in return.

How Does an On-Grid Solar System Work?

An on-grid solar system functions with a set of processes that include the collection of the sun’s energy, conversion of electricity into usable electricity, and synchronization of energy production with consumption. The following is step-by-step documentation of each of these processes:

1. Solar Energy Capture

The process starts when solar panels capture sunlight and transform it into direct current (DC) electricity. Solar panels or photovoltaic (PV) panels consist of semiconductor materials (like silicon) that generate an electric current when exposed to sunlight. The quantity of electricity generated is based on sunlight intensity, panel efficiency, and installation angle.

2. Conversion to Usable Power

As most domestic appliances and home electrical devices operate on alternating current (AC) electricity, the DC electricity from the solar panels has to be converted. A solar inverter converts the DC electricity into AC electricity that is used to supply homes, offices, and commercial buildings.

There are two principal types of inverters employed in on-grid solar systems:

• String Inverters: Centralized inverters to handle the power conversion of a group of solar panels.
• Microinverters: Placed on every single solar panel, it gives higher efficiency and improved energy optimization, particularly where there is partial shading.

3. Exporting Excess Power into the Grid

Another significant benefit of an on-grid solar system might be the power to export excess power into the grid.

• In the daytime, solar panels might be able to produce more electricity than the household or company is currently consuming.
• Rather than allowing this surplus energy to be wasted, the system automatically returns it to the utility grid.
• This is achieved through a bi-directional energy meter, which monitors both the energy taken from the grid and the energy returned to the grid.

Where there is a net metering policy, people are given credit for electricity on their bill in return for electricity fed into the grid. The power can then be offset to pay for power drawn from the grid during night or cloudy days and low solar power output.

4. Borrowing Power on Credit

As there is no battery storage in an on-grid system, it uses electricity from the utility grid when solar power is not available.

• During nighttime, when solar panels are not producing electricity, the system automatically takes electricity from the grid to meet the user’s energy needs.
• On rainy or cloudy days, when solar output is below normal, the grid acts as a backup source of energy.
• This provides constant supply of energy, and therefore on-grid systems become extremely reliable and hassle-free.

Principal Advantages of an On-Grid Solar System

✅ Lower Upfront Cost – No costly battery backup is needed, thereby installation costs go down.

✅ Net Metering Benefit – Enables the user to gain credits by transferring excess power to the grid.

✅ Fault-Free Power Supply – At times of insufficiency in solar power supply, power comes from the grid.

✔ Low Maintenance – Less equipment to replace (no batteries) = reduced maintenance and future costs.

Advantages of On-Grid Solar Systems

• Less Upfront Cost: Solar on grid and off grid systems not having batteries makes them inexpensive to install.

• Excess Power Compensation: Most jurisdictions provide net metering, where homeowners receive compensation for excess energy supplied to the grid.

• Sustainable Power Supply: Grid supply is supplied by the system when solar supply is low, providing a power supply that never cuts off.

Disadvantages of On-Grid Solar Systems

• No Standby Power: An on-grid setup will not supply electricity during a power failure unless it has battery backup.

• Grid Dependency: The network is based on an electrical grid to work.

What Is An Off-Grid Solar System?

Off-grid solar system does not have the electricity grid and utilizes leftover electricity stored in the battery during the hours that sunshine is not accessible.

How Does An Off-Grid Solar System Operate?

• Collection Of Solar Energy: Solar panels absorb sun light and create DC power.

• Power Flow Monitoring: A charge controller controls the power flow to avoid overcharging of the battery bank.

• Excess Energy Storage: The battery bank saves excess energy for nighttime or cloudy days.

• Converting Energy for Domestic Use: An off-grid inverter converts saved DC electricity into AC electricity for domestic use.

Solar Off Grid System Advantages

• Independence of Self-Energy: A solar off grid system enables homeowners to produce and store power on their own without relying on the grid.

• Extremely Reliable for Remote Regions: Perfect for areas with undependable or no grid supply of electricity.

• No More Electricity BILLS: After the initial installation, a solar off grid power system does away with the dependency on utility companies, hence it is cost-effective in the long term.

Drawbacks of Solar Off Grid Systems

• Higher Initial Investment: Needs costly battery storage, charge controllers, and higher maintenance.

• Limited Energy Supply: If there is a higher energy demand than the capacity of the stored battery, other power sources are needed.

• Needs Proper Sizing: The system needs to be sized appropriately so that it does not run out of power during long cloudy days.

On-Grid vs. Off-Grid Solar: A Detailed Comparison

Can I Be Off Grid Using Solar Panels?

One of the most popular questions is, can I be off grid using solar panels? The response depends on some variables, such as energy requirements, location, and finances. Being fully off-grid is technically possible, but you will need to size your off the grid solar power system to supply all energy demands throughout the year.

Some points to consider are:

• Battery capacity to store: There needs to be a big enough capacity to allow for night and cloudy days.

• Daily power use: Knowing how much energy you use allows for system sizing determination.

• Sunlight variation by season: Make sure your system is able to deliver enough energy even during winter months.

• Backup power sources (e.g., generators): A backup generator can give extra assurance.

Which Solar Power System is Best for You?

Choosing between on-grid systems and solar off grid power is dependent on your specific circumstances:

Choose an On-Grid Solar System If:

• You reside in an area where there is an established power grid.

• You would like to cut electricity expenses and gain net metering benefits.

• You possess a small budget for solar installation.

Choose an Off-Grid Solar System If:

• You reside in a distant region with no grid availability.

• You desire full independence from energy resources.

• You can buy the higher initial investment as well as maintenance.

Conclusion

Off grid and on grid solar systems are both clean energy solutions having their own advantages. If you choose an affordable and dependable solution, an on-grid solar system is the best choice for you. But if you desire absolute energy autonomy, a solar off grid system is the answer.

We at Easy Solar Perth deal in on-grid and off-grid solar electricity solutions. Our professionals provide premium solar panels, battery storage solutions, and expert installation to help you transition to clean energy. If you want reduced energy bills, grid independence, or a reliable backup system, Easy Solar has the right solution for you.

Discover our array of residential, commercial, and off-grid solar packages today and make your first move towards a greener future!