Why is Best On Grid Solar System Better?

There are three types of solar panel systems: grid-tied (on-grid), off-grid, and hybrid solar systems.

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Each type of system has a unique setup that affects what equipment is used, the complexity of installation, and, most crucially, your potential costs and savings.

What would be the best in your situation? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of different solar system types.

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Grid-tied solar systems

Grid-tied systems are solar panel installations that are connected to the utility power grid. With a grid-connected system, a home can use the solar energy produced by its solar panels and electricity that comes from the utility grid. 

If the solar panels generate more electricity than a home needs, the excess is sent to the grid. In some places, a utility will purchase the solar energy sent to the grid in the form of a bill credit to offset future electricity costs thanks to a billing structure called net metering. 

Grid-tied solar panel systems are so popular because they provide the best value for how much they cost, especially in areas with full-retail net metering. Their cost is low because they require less equipment than other solar system types. However, this also means grid-tied systems can’t keep your lights on when the power is out.

See how much a grid-tied solar system can save you annually

Off-grid solar systems

An off-grid solar system is a solar panel system that has no connection to the utility grid at all. To keep a house running off-grid, you need solar panels, a significant amount of battery storage, and usually another backup power source, like a gas-powered generator.

Sometimes called standalone systems, they’re common among homeowners who don’t have access to the grid, like in rural areas or remote cabins.

Believe it or not, there are plenty of places throughout the country that the utility grid doesn’t service. Off-grid systems give these remote areas access to electricity. Being off-grid also makes you more self-reliant; you’re not beholden to a utility company, and the power is in your hands. 

But, off-grid systems are very expensive. You need a lot of battery storage to power an entire home without help from the grid, and the cost adds up. Going off-grid also requires certain lifestyle changes. You have to be very energy-conscious when you don’t have a grid with unlimited supply. Off-grid homeowners need to monitor their consumption and solar production to ensure they have the electricity needed. 

Hybrid solar systems

Hybrid solar systems combine the best of grid-tied and off-grid solar systems; the solar panels are attached to batteries and the utility grid. You’ll commonly see hybrid solar systems referred to as “solar-plus-storage” systems. 

Solar-plus-storage systems are popular in areas that experience frequent grid failures or in places that don’t have full-retail net metering. Without a battery, solar panels can't run your home when the power goes out. Batteries also allow you to rely less on the grid by using stored energy when your solar panels aren’t producing electricity. This also maximizes the amount of clean energy your home uses! 

Plus, batteries can even save a bit more money if you don't have access full retail net metering. However, the high upfront cost of batteries means they often don't pencil out financially.

Here are some of the pros and cons of installing a hybrid solar-plus-storage system

How to pick the best solar system for you

A simple grid-tied system will usually be the best financial choice. Grid-tied systems generally provide the best return on investment because of their low upfront cost and simple system design. 

However, there are some cases where a hybrid system may make the most sense for you, especially if you experience regular power outages. If you really value energy independence and maximizing the amount of renewable energy your home uses, then a solar plus storage system could be just what you’re looking for. 

Off-grid systems are probably the least practical for everyday homeowners. But they are excellent for remote areas and may be the right choice for your mountain cabin.

The best way to figure out the right solar system for you is by contacting solar companies near you. Local solar installers will have the best understanding of the right solar system to install in your area and how you can get the most out of your solar panels. 

Farms have unique energy and water needs. So whenever people talk about solar power, it’s really important to distinguish between the needs of residences, commercial businesses, and farms.

The company is the world’s best Best On Grid Solar System supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

But even within farming, such a diversity of farm types exists that you really need to break it down further. Is it a poultry farm? A livestock farm or ranch? An agricultural crop farm of some type? Is it a large commercial farm, or a smaller local farm?

Once you’ve considered your farm’s energy needs and decided to go solar, the next question is, should you get off-grid or grid-connected solar power? Should you ever buy a grid solar kit? The answer depends on the purpose of the panels and your unique energy needs.

On-Grid Solar Power – Less Costly but Less Versatile

An “on-grid” or “grid-connected” solar energy system is one that’s tied in to the utility lines. This type of system has surged in popularity in the last 20 years, now accounting for about 95% of solar energy capacity worldwide.

However, in the US grid-connected solar power is now used for only about two-thirds of the capacity. The reason we have a higher share of off-grid solar power than the rest of the world? Lots of farms – even big commercial ones – use off-grid solar panels. See the next section for why.

But on-grid solar systems are the most common for one simple reason: They’re less costly.

Why do they cost less? There are two main reasons.

1. Sell your excess power. When an on-grid solar system takes in more energy than that location needs, the excess energy is fed back into the power grid. This “sell-back” saves money for the owner of the solar panels. This is where “net metering” comes into play. Not every state offers it, however, and for those who don’t, on-grid solar loses one of its major cost benefits.
2. Batteries not included (or needed). Because the solar system is connected to the grid and can draw power from the grid, even if the sun doesn’t shine for several days no battery storage is necessary. While storage batteries make it possible to have consistent power from off-grid solar panels, they do increase the cost.

Georgia does allow net metering, but does not require utilities to offer it. And they limit residential solar systems to 10kW and commercial ones to 100kW. South Carolina allows unlimited net metering.

However, for most residential homes, 10kW is more than you need, so on-grid solar power is something to explore if you’re looking for the less costly option and like the idea of selling power back to the electricity grid.

For small farms, it’s a different story, because they often need more than 10kW. Though if you’re a commercial farm, in Georgia, you get the higher limit. Look at the benefits of off-grid solar next, and then we’ll walk through some of the questions you should ask yourself to help decide which system is best for you.

Off-Grid Solar Power – Freedom and Independence (and Sometimes the Best Option)

Off-grid solar energy is just what it sounds like – totally unconnected to the power grid. So if the power goes out everywhere else, your farm keeps humming. And if it’s winter, all your neighbors will be over for hot cocoa.

As stated, off-grid is usually more expensive because you need battery storage. But for farms – this isn’t always the case. Here are three situations where off-grid solar may actually be less expensive.

1. Remote water pumping. If you have a large storage tank for the water once it’s pumped from the well, you can feed your livestock or water your crops for a few days even if the sun isn’t shining. So for a solar water pumping system, you may not need the battery. You just need a big enough water tank to handle longer stretches of limited sunlight. See this article for more on remote solar water pumping.
2. Fencing and lighting. For farms, these systems are often solitary and small. Running power lines to all the locations can be quite costly. And because the power needs are relatively small, it is often cheaper to just install small solar panels at each location.
3. 60% lower cost for remote solar power. The farther away you get from the power grid, the more expensive it will be to install power lines and voltage boxes to reach the location. A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) study found that for off-grid water pumping that was one mile from a power source, a PV solar energy system would cost 60% less than conventional electricity. This includes both installation and annual operating costs.

If you’ve got water pumping or lighting more than a mile away, then the savings are even greater, because solar is a fixed cost not related to distance. To be clear – solar power is actually less expensive than grid electricity for many remote farm uses.

And of course, the other reason to prefer off-grid is good ol’ freedom and independence.

You don’t have to worry about the utility bill any more. You don’t have to worry about Georgia Power or the state government changing their policies on net metering, or increasing utility taxes. Off-grid power simplifies your life and your farm operations, and gives you predictable and long-term cheap energy.

Off-Grid or On-Grid Farm Solar Power? 6 Questions to Help You Decide

Now that you’ve read a bit about the benefits and drawbacks of each for your farm, here are a few questions you’ll want to answer.

1. Do my state and city support net metering? If not, then on-grid solar loses one of its two primary benefits.
2. How much power (in kWh) do I use each month? This will affect the cost of your solar system, since more panels mean more costs.
3. How many systems on my farm can be connected to solar power? Be detailed here. Think about lights, refrigerators, freezers, air circulators, food processing, feeders, fences, water pumping from wells and for irrigation, sprinklers, heaters, and stuff way out on the edges of your property like gates. Note: Consider questions 2 and 3 in tandem. You may find that solar power is a good option for certain systems on your farm, but not all of them. Or, you might want off-grid solar in some cases, and on-grid in others. How much power each of your systems require is a big factor in this.
4. Of those, how many are “remote”, meaning pretty far from any grid-connected power source? Even 100 yards away is a long way if you have to install power lines. It’s expensive. Call the utility and see how much it costs to do this in your area. Solar is often the more affordable choice for remote power needs.
5. How important is it to me to be totally disconnected from the utility lines? You can have practical or philosophical reasons for this. Think about your personal values on this. It’s not just about the costs sometimes.
6. How long are you willing to wait to recover your costs? For on-grid, this will happen sooner in most cases. But if you have a lot of remote power needs on your farm, then off-grid may pay off even sooner.

The key to making your money back with an off-grid system is high quality storage batteries. The longer your batteries last, and the more effectively they store solar energy, the lower your costs.

Ag Solar Solutions has partnered with premium solar battery companies, which guarantee a minimum of 10 years or 10,000 cycles with their lithium iron phosphate technology. Even the best lead acid batteries only last about 3 years or cycles. The sonnenbatterie is the solar energy storage battery of the future. And there’s no having to deal with DIY solar installation or solar kits that ruin any reliable power system.

Poultry Farmer Saves Big with Solar

Check out this poultry farmer who will recover the cost of his new solar panels in just 5 years. Click here to read his story and watch a video of the installation.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Thin Frame PV Module.

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