Different Types Of Residential
Solar Power That Work For You

Demand For Solar Energy

There are a variety of residential solar power systems available today. Manufacturers are stepping up production to meet the growing demand of people that want to lower their energy bills.

For those that want to minimize their dependence on the electric company, installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels is a great alternative allowing you do just that.

Every manufacturer describes their product as having the lowest price and the best quality available. There are several well-known companies in this sector including Shell Solar, Sanyo Semiconductor, Kyocera, General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, BP Solar and others. These companies are building solar panels in the US, Europe and China.

The most popular residential solar power systems are those that interface with the local utility companies electric grid.

In cities, electric utility companies establish a network of electrical lines that are referred to as the electric grid. This massive grid, which networks all over the city, supplies electricity to homes, businesses and industry.

You may not know it but your home is on this electrical grid unless you live in a rural area where grids don't exist. Once on the grid you start paying for electricity the day you move into a home and the utility goes into your name.

Would you like to slow your meter down? Is residential solar power something for you to consider? We know your answer to the first question and feel that a solar system is worth looking into. There may be more of a benefit than you realize for you and your family.

You can check out various websites for available brands and compare features and prices. First though, it is a good idea to understand what type of system that you want to consider. You may be asking, but how does solar energy work? Let us provide you with some of the solar energy facts.

Grid Intertied System

The simplest system is a grid intertied solar panel system. With this system the electricity that is created by the solar panels travels down to a device called an Inverter. This inverter converts the power from the solar panels (DC) to power that your home can use (AC).

From there the power flows through an AC disconnect and into the main breaker panel. It is now ready for you and your family to use.

If a surplus of electricity is generated by your residential solar power system, the excess is sent back out to the grid through your electric meter. When this happens your meter actually goes in reverse saving you money by reducing the amount of electricity used from the utility company.

The electric company keeps track of the power that you send back to them in the form of credit overages for you to use at a later time. Wouldn’t you love to see your meter go in reverse?

This system is no different than if you had conventional power from the electric company except for the fact that you are supplementing your energy requirements with solar panels. If there is a power outage, then your home has a power outage also, even though you have a residential solar power system.

Grid Intertied System With Battery Backup

The difference between the system described above and this system is the addition of a battery backup. You store electricity in the batteries and it is available to you upon demand. Some people prefer this type of system especially if they experience frequent power outages.

Solar batteries have reserve power to keep things running. If you have a power outage, you can keep things on like a refrigerator, computer, water supply pump and so forth. With the addition of solar batteries into the system there are more components required and it costs more and lowers the overall efficiency of the system.

Even though this type of system has some downside, it is invaluable to homeowners that need the backup power.

Off-Grid Stand-Alone System

In rural areas, far from the electrical grid, this stand-alone system is about the only choice for producing residential solar power. This is the system that works when no other power is available or electricity prices are too expensive to bring in from far away.

This system is set up very similar to the grid intertied system with solar battery backup although there is no meter involved. Also included with a stand-alone setup is the addition of a generator that can provide backup power if the batteries run down.

The batteries will store power for days depending upon consumption and then a fuel generator will kick in when called upon. This system however, is not as efficient or environmentally friendly as a grid intertied system.

When the solar batteries reach capacity the surplus power is dumped and the extra power is wasted. Although not perfect, the stand-alone system may be the only viable option for those that live in rural areas.

Each of the residential solar power systems varies in cost. Generally speaking, the more components involved the more expensive the system. They are very durable and most solar energy systems have a 25-year warranty with an expected life of twice that.

They have come along way over the past 50 years and now with government tax incentives could be another way you can save money over the long run. A home solar energy system may be right for you to buy today!



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