Many people have now made the choice to adopt solar energy in the Philippines due to the abundance of sunlight all over the country, making it an extremely viable choice when it comes down to it. Not only is it efficient, but using it also helps in the world’s efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change.
When adopting this kind of technology, though, keep in mind that it can come in three kinds: grid-tied, hybrid, and off-grid. Take your needs into consideration before choosing which one you’d rather go with.
Take a look at their differences in the article below:
Off-grid
Off grid systems are those that can stand alone. To be able to have electricity all the time, off grid solar systems should be connected to batteries that store the power, or in case of an emergency, a backup generator. In order to keep the system in good condition, battery banks that store the power harvested from the sun should be replaced every ten years. Aside from batteries, you are also going to need charge controllers, which will control the current of electricity going to the batteries and prevent them from overcharging. When the sun sets, you’ll be running on the power stored in the batteries.
Grid-tied
Grid-tied means that when you install your PV system, you use the electricity generated from the PV system in the day, but use the electricity from national grid at night. When your or any other homeowner’s PV system generates more electricity that you consume, some utility companies buy that electricity. Better that that let it go to waste, and better sell it than store it in batteries that you’ll have to replace every ten years.
One of the good things about being tied to the grid is that if your PV systems fail, you have back up and your house will immediately switch to consuming electricity from the national grid. This prevents any sudden interruption of power.
One of the other things you’ll need for this PV system is a solar inverter or grid-tie inverter. These regulate the current you receive from your solar panels by converting the direct current your solar panels generate into alternating current which is what electrical appliances utilize.
Hybrid
Hybrid means that you both have batteries to store your power in like off-grid systems, but you are also connected to the national grid. However, you don’t have a backup generator because you’re already connected to the national grid. If your PV system generates more than you consume, the power is stored in the batteries, or you can put it on the grid and sell it. You can also program your home to get off your PV system or the grid during off-peak hours.
You’re going to need most of the components for the off-grid and grid-tied for the hybrid except for the generator.
The type of system you want to install is ultimately up to you. So which kind of system do you think is perfect for your home? Either way, investing in green tech is never a bad idea.
