Grid-tied, on-grid, utility-interactive, grid intertie and grid backfeeding are all terms used to describe the same concept – Grid-Tied Solar Systems that is connected to the utility power grid.
Advantages of Grid-Tied Solar Systems
1. Save more money with net metering
A grid-connection will allow you to save more money with solar panels through better efficiency rates, net metering, plus lower equipment and installation costs:
Batteries, and other stand-alone equipment, are required for a fully functional off-grid solar system and add to costs as well as maintenance. Grid-tied solar systems are therefore generally cheaper and simpler to install.
Your solar panels will often generate more electricity than what you are capable of consuming. With net metering, homeowners can put this excess electricity onto the utility grid instead of storing it themselves with batteries.
Net metering (or feed-in tariff schemes in some countries) play an important role in how solar power is incentivized. Without it, residential solar systems would be much less feasible from a financial point of view.
Many utility companies are committed to buying electricity from homeowners at the same rate as they sell it themselves.
2. The utility grid is a virtual battery
Electricity has to be spent in real time. However, it can be temporarily stored as other forms of energy (e.g. chemical energy in batteries). Energy storage typically 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) goes to waste with conventional battery systems.
Additional 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). At the same time you help to mitigate the utility company`s peak load. As a result, the efficiency of our electrical system as a whole goes up.
Equipment for Grid-Tied Solar Systems
There are a few key differences between the equipment needed for grid-tied, off-grid and hybrid solar systems. Standard grid-tied solar systems rely on the following components:
- Grid-Tie Inverter (GTI) or Micro-Inverters
- Power Meter
RELATED INVERTER PRODUCTS
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| Prostar MG5KTL single phase solar grid tie inverter 5000 watt 230Vac |
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| Prostar BG8KTR 3 phase solar grid tie power inverter 8000w for home |
See Also
- Advantages of Grid-Tied Systems
- How do solar panels work?
- PV Junction Box: purpose and connection
- How to install solar panels?
- How to assemble MC4 connectors and MC4 wiring cables
- Solar Solution
