Solar hybrid Sytem

Hybrid Solar System, the best of both On-grid and Off-grid

Date: June 21, 2021Author: Kunwer1 Comment

Understanding On-grid, Off-grid and Hybrid Solar System

On-grid Inverter

On-grid or grid-tie solar inverters are the most common and widely used for homes and commercial purposes. These inverters do not require batteries, use solar inverters, and are connected to the electricity grid. Any excess solar power generated is exported to the electricity grid, and owners get paid a feed-in-tariff (FiT) or credits for the energy they export.

But there is a challenge, On-grid solar inverters or Grid Tied Inverters cannot work or generate electricity during a blackout due to safety reasons. Since blackouts usually occur when the power grid malfunctions. If the solar inverter were still feeding electricity into a damaged grid, it would risk the safety of the people repairing the fault/s in the network. It also stops working during voltage fluctuation. In both cases, there will be a waste of Solar Energy.https://suvastika.com/hybrid-solar-inverters-can-you-combine-off-grid-and-on-grid-solar-inverters-an-indian-start-up-shows-how/

Off-grid Inverter

Off-grid inverters are not connected to the power grid, so they require batteries for power storage. Off-grid solar systems must be designed to generate enough power throughout the year and have enough battery capacity to meet the home’s requirements, even in winters and monsoons when there is less sunlight.

The high cost of batteries and off-grid inverters means off-grid systems are much more expensive compared to on-grid systems, and so are usually only needed in places which are in remote areas and are far from power grid like vacation homes, resorts, farmhouses etc.

What is Hybrid Solar System?

A hybrid solar system has the best of both On-grid and off-grid. It combines solar and battery storage in one and is now available in many different sizes and configurations. Due to the decreasing cost of battery storage, systems already connected to the power grid can also take advantage of battery storage. This means storing solar energy generated during the day and at night. When the stored energy is less, the grid is a backup, allowing consumers the best of both worlds.

Hybrid Solar Inverter allows full control over your power while keeping you grid-connected in an emergency. Hybrid Solar systems generate power similar to a normal grid-tie solar system but use special hybrid inverters and batteries to store power for later use. This quality of storing energy enables most hybrid systems to operate as a backup power supply during a power outage like UPS.

Suppose there is a power failure, or the grid becomes unstable. In that case, the unit will immediately switch to the battery supply and operate independently from the electricity grid.

Why store solar energy in a battery?

Many governments and network operators have reduced the solar feed-in tariff or FiT. This means traditional grid-tied systems have become less attractive as most people are working during the day and not at home to use the solar energy as it is generated. Thus the power is fed into the grid for very little return.

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A solar hybrid system stores excess solar energy and can provide backup power during a power outage. This is perfect for domestic use, farmhouses, resorts, vacation homes etc.

Hybrid Solar Systems enable you to store and use solar energy when you face an electricity cut.

The ability to store and use your solar energy when desired is called self-use or self-consumption. It works like an off-grid power system, but the battery capacity required is far less, usually just enough to cover peak consumption (8 hours or less) instead of 3-5 days with a typical off-grid system.

Key benefits of hybrid systems

Hybrid inverters have many advantages – here are some of the top ones to consider:

Flexibility

A common misbelief about solar is that if you install a Grid Tied inverter, you’ll always have power during outages. In most cases, this is not true. Traditional GTI systems automatically shut off during power failure for safety purposes, cutting off power generation from your solar panel system.

If you want to keep your home or commercial establishment running on backup solar power during a grid failure, a hybrid solar system paired with batteries is the perfect solution. Some hybrid inverters have both on-grid and off-grid capabilities, allowing you to continue running on solar power even if the grid fails.

Easy Monitoring

A hybrid solar inverter converts all your solar electricity–whether sent to the grid, self-consumed on your property, or stored in your battery–through one component. This allows for “centralized monitoring,” which means you can monitor your solar panel system and battery performance through one platform.

Easier installation process

One of the biggest benefits of a hybrid solar inverter is that it combines the functionality of two separate pieces of equipment into one. This means an easier installation process for your solar installer. Depending on the prices of the individual components and the labour cost, you may save money by installing a hybrid inverter from the get-go instead of paying for both a solar inverter and a battery-specific inverter separately.

Future-ready (Add- On is possible)

A hybrid system is possibly the most expandable, future-ready home solar setup. With some customizable hybrid systems, you can expand capacity by buying more panels or batteries. Hybrid systems may also be compatible with newer solar technologies — for example, an electric vehicle (EV) might function as one of the ‘batteries’ in a hybrid setup. 

Latest Technology

While Off Grid is an obsolete technology, Hybrid Solar System is the latest, most cost-effective and more useful.