Understanding Grid-tied Solar System
Consumer awareness of the issue of the environment, climbing energy costs and increasing acceptance of renewable energy have established a consumer base of solar energy systems. Hence, many homeowners are exploring the opportunities of using solar panels in their homes and buildings. But, the question remains, what is a grid-tied solar panel system? And what do those words mean? We will answer the above questions and more below.
Solar Grid-tied Rooftop System
Grid-tied system is connected to the utility grid and the system can only work when the grid is available. If there is a power outage, the system will not work, hence the grid-tied system is also called grid-connected system. The grid is needed because the reference voltage needs to be provided to the inverter and the inverter needs to be synchronized with the grid to export energy back to the grid.
Grid-tied system is suitable for areas where there is no power outage during the day or the power outage is less than 2 hours during the day. Such system is suitable for reducing electricity bills as it is cheaper than battery-based system and there is no recurring cost of replacing components.
Working Grid-tied Solar System
After generating power, solar energy is first delivered to the electrical load. After the load receives all the energy it needs, excess solar energy is sent to the electric utility (or grid). The utility company then "stores" this excess energy until it can be used elsewhere at another time. At nighttime or during periods when the solar power generation is insufficient because of cloud cover, electricity companies store the excess energy generated during the day for future use. This type of electric energy storage is commonly referred to as "grid energy storage." After each month, or the end of each billing cycle, the amount of excess solar energy generated and the amount of electricity imported from the grid, the utility will calculate the total net amount of electrical energy generated/consumed using the readings from the bidirectional metering system.
How Bidirectional Meters Work
The major difference between typical unidirectional metering systems and bidirectional metering systems is that typical unidirectional metering systems will only show how much electrical energy has been used from your utility company, while bidirectional metering systems provide three separate readings:
(1) total kWh consumed.
(2) total kWh produced.
(3) total difference between produced and consumed kWh.
Advantages of Grid-Tied Systems
Affordability: Because bidirectional metering does not require a high investment in battery storage, it offers consumers an upfront cost savings of an estimated 35%-45% when compared to an off-grid system.
Good for the Earth: Switching to renewable energy with bidirectional meters cuts back on using fossil fuels. These energy sources are cleaner, helping to slow down global warming. You can cut carbon emissions by about 2.26 lbs per kWh compared to using coal.
Always On: Bidirectional meters mean you've got a backup for power. So, even when the weather's bad, or your solar panels aren't making enough power, you'll still have electricity.
Save Money: Depending on where you live, net metering could slash your yearly electric bill by a lot maybe 40% to 90% for people with bidirectional meters.
Installation Process
Grid-tied solar PV systems are typically installed 2-3 days after an agreement has been signed. The following list includes the primary tasks associated with a grid-tied installation:
1) Check out Your Roof: See if your roof is in good shape and gets enough sun, then figure out how much power you need.
2) Get the Plans Okayed: Draw up the plans and get them approved by the local building folks.
3) Put in the Solar Panels: Set up the panels, hook up the inverter to your home's power, and link your system to the power company's grid.
The Future of Grid-Tied Solar
