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ADVANTAGES OF GRID-TIED 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)
·
Power Meter
·
Module Mounting Structure (MMS)
Grid-Tie
Inverter (GTI)
What
is the job of a solar inverter? They regulate the voltage and current received
from your solar panels. Direct current (DC) from your solar panels is
converted into alternating current (AC), which is the type of current that is
utilized by the majority of electrical appliances.
In
addition to this, grid-tie inverters, also known as grid-interactive or
synchronous inverters, synchronize the phase and frequency of the current to
fit the utility grid (nominally 60Hz). The output voltage is also adjusted
slightly higher than the grid voltage in order for excess electricity to flow
outwards to the grid.
Micro
Inverters
Micro-inverters
go on the back of each solar panel, as opposed to one central inverter that
typically takes on the entire solar array.
There
has recently been a lot of debate on whether
micro-inverters are better than central (string) inverters.
Micro-inverters
are certainly more expensive, but in many cases yield higher efficiency
rates. Homeowners who are suspect to shading issues should definitely look
into if micro-inverters are better in their situation.
Power
Meter
Most
homeowners will need to replace their current power meter with one that is
compatible with net metering. This device, often called a net meter or a
two-way meter, is capable of measuring power going in both directions, from the
grid to your house and vice versa.
You
should consult with your local utility company and see what net metering
options you have. In some places, the utility company issues a power meter for
free and pay full price for the electricity you generate; however, this is not
always the case.
Module
Mounting Structure (MMS)
Mounting
your solar panel array is a crucial part of your solar system. The racking must
meet local building code requirements, and be strong and durable enough to
withstand the wind, snow, and whatever else Mother Nature throws at it for
decades. Several options for mounting solar panels are available; they don’t
always have to go on your roof. Ground mounting and pole mounting are available
to move your solar array off the roof and expand your options.
Solar
Array Racking for Roof
·
Roof Mount (Raised mounting for required tilt angle)
·
Roof Mount (Tilt angle as roof is)
·
Flat Roof (No roof penetrations or ballasted)
Ground Mounted Solar Array Racking
·
Pole Mount (top of pole or side of pole)
·
Ground Mount (fixed tilt or seasonably adjustable)
Sun Tracker Solar Array Mounts
·
Axis (single and dual axis)
·
Seasonal Tracking