Q1. Which Solar PV system is suitable for me?
Depending on your energy consumption pattern (consumption during day vs night), power outage pattern, availability of policies like Net Metering and access to grid power (for rural areas), you can choose between an on-grid and an off-grid Solar PV system. On grid systems are the most commonly used systems and are the least expensive and require very little maintenance. Off-grid systems use batteries which cost significantly more and need high maintenance.
What is an on-grid and an off-grid Solar PV system?
On-Grid: An on-grid system is interconnected with your existing electrical system. The solar energy generated is simultaneously consumed, and if the solar panels are not generating sufficient energy to cater to your consumption, the differential is automatically sourced from the grid. It is also possible to connect the system with batteries, home inverters, diesel generators, etc.
Off Grid: An off-grid system is an independent, battery-backed Solar PV system which is not connected with grid. During daytime, solar energy generated runs your appliances. Any excess energy is stored in the batteries, which can be utilized at night. Off-grid systems are used for standalone applications like traffic & streetlights, billboards, agricultural pumps, telecom towers, rural applications, etc.
How can I use Solar during a power outage?
On-grid Solar PV systems are designed to run with grid power. Therefore the system will not be able to function if grid power is not available. This is a safety feature to avoid feeding power back into the grid while the line-men are working on the grid. If you want power from solar PV system during grid failure, you can choose an inverter that can use other sources of power like diesel generator or batteries etc.