Grid Tied and netmetering – Off Grid Living

Do On Grid Solar Systems Make Money or Cost Money?

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 17:54:20 +0000

“Once you got a solar panel on a roof, energy is free. Once we convert our entire electricity grid to green and renewable energy, cost of living goes down.”

Elizabeth May

Why More And More Households Are Turning To On Grid Solar systems for Power

In 1950 the global population was just over 2,5 billion people. By the end of 2021, the number of people populating the planet will be just under 7,9 billion - a growth trend that is not expected to flatten significantly for at least the next decade. As the human population grows, so do demands on natural resources, from potable water to food. In tandem with this growth has come an explosion in urban numbers and industrialization - and a massive increase in the demand for on grid solar power.

For many years power requirements were met by large-scale power generation plants that used fossil fuels such as coal. The nuclear revolution saw the establishment of nuclear power plants which were once viewed as a solution to the growing crisis facing power generation, but each of these approaches came bundled with problems. Burning finite supplies of fossil fuels is highly polluting - and they will run out. Nuclear power has come on in leaps and bounds as far as safety is concerned, however, when malfunctions occur they can be catastrophic (witness Chernobyl). The disposal of nuclear waste is a challenge that has still not been adequately met - and nuclear power stations simply cannot match the output from those power stations which rely on those finite supplies of fossil fuels.

However, renewable power, such as solar, wind-generated power, hydrothermal power solutions, and even tidal power are beginning to make a real difference to communities across the globe.

Facts about oN Grid Solar Power Systems

Solar power especially has come on in leaps and bounds over the past two decades. The increasing efficiency of solar power has had an impact on the lives of ordinary homeowners who are turning to domestic solar power solutions in ever-increasing numbers. It is a 'green' solution to power generation and can save the household significant amounts of money on power bills - and, in certain cases even provide an income to offset the costs of installation.

One of the most popular home solar power options is on-grid solar power. What makes this such a popular choice for homeowners across the globe?

Firstly, it is important to know that an on-grid solar power installation does not mean that the household removes itself completely from reliance on the power supplied by power utilities, but for this reason (and others) it offers advantages that options such as off-grid systems (which operate completely independently from the power supplied by centralized providers) do not.

On Grid Solar is USed With Your Existing Utility Company

The first difference between the two systems is that on-grid solar power systems do not use batteries for power storage. The household makes use of solar power during the day - and at night reverts back to a reliance on the electricity supply grid. Battery technology has not advanced as quickly as other components of a solar power system (for instance panels). Batteries are still by and large expensive and inefficient, although the technology is growing more sophisticated, driven to some extent by research and production methods being used in electric vehicles.

On Grid Solar Doesn't Need Batteries.

On-grid solar power systems provide that middle point that leverages the ability of the traditional grid to provide power in the absence of sunlight and the cost-effectiveness of pure solar power when sunlight is available in abundance. This can help to reduce energy bills due to the fact that most power-hungry household appliances such as air conditioners, heaters and refrigerators can rely on the solar power input during the day and electricity supplied by the grid during the night. The benefits to the household budget are obvious.

The cost of installation can be a major hurdle that causes many householders to balk at the installation of solar power. However, the cost of off-grid solar power installations is hugely influenced by the cost of batteries. The most efficient of these batteries can represent a significant upfront expenditure (they can in fact double the cost of a solar power installation). However, as mentioned previously off-grid solar power systems do not require the use of batteries.

Generate Income From Solar

Traditional power supply companies feed power into the grid in a manner that would theoretically meet the needs of all of the consumers that are serviced by that grid - however, the reality is very different. Ever-increasing numbers of household consumers in urban and adjacent areas and the skyrocketing demands of industry mean that sometimes aging generation plants cannot keep up with demands.

The spare capacity is usually razor thin. In times when demands peak, such as heatwaves. Given that global temperatures are steadily rising, what were once abnormally high temperatures have become the new norm. More frequent power outages will inevitably become more and more common. Those households that have on-grid solar power systems will not be storing their excess power and, in certain regions can then supply that excess power back into the grid, reducing the load.

The power company will then issue credits in relation to how much power has been supplied. This can significantly offset the initial costs of installation by allowing the household to recoup those costs much more quickly than would be the case with off-grid systems. In addition in some cases, the value of the credits provided can cover the costs of energy of household energy consumption in its entirety.

Longevity

There is a common misunderstanding that solar power installations require almost constant maintenance. However, the use of modern materials and manufacturing methods means that the majority of solar installations are virtually maintenance-free. Studies indicate that solar panels will need to be replaced every 25 - 30 years. However, long before that time has elapsed an on-grid solar installation would have paid for itself - in some cases many times over.

It's Better for the Environment.

Although on-grid solar installations cannot match the 'Green' credentials of the off-grid solar power systems their impact should not be underestimated. The fact that they significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels cannot be ignored. There is also an argument to be made that the batteries used in off-grid systems contribute significantly to environmental damage both during their manufacture and when they are disposed of.

Conclusion

When all is said and done an on-grid solar installation makes sense for a household. It can reduce power consumption and save money and it contributes to a greener world. It is an option that every homeowner should seriously evaluate on its merits.

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Grid Tie vs. Living Off Grid

admin — Tue, 03 May 2016 21:08:29 +0000

Grid Tie vs. Living Off The Grid?

Repeatedly we are asked to provide advice and assistance for grid tie systems, their maintenance and installation. Granted we have done a ton of these in the past, but our true love is really off grid living. Why?

Well, let's have at it...

For those of you who follow this website and our newsletter regularly you will know that we have rather one sided opinions on some subjects, one of those is living off the grid vs. grid-tie in any form.

For us (especially Jane on this point) grid tie simply does not suit our life, our lifestyle and grid tie equated with a half way measure of sorts.

Why would we want to keep paying for electricity when we could produce our own?

Why would we keep connected to the grid when we can provide our own backup at a lower cost? Of course we understand that if you are close to the grid it makes sense from an economic standpoint to use the existing infrastructure.

It is much simpler, but is it better? If you were to get us to help with your renewable energy installation you would find out quickly our viewpoint on grid tie.

It would seem that taking a positive step, any step forward to using solar panels or wind generators or any other form of renewable energy would be better than doing nothing?

What if the experience does not fit the cost though?

And that is our viewpoint. We have experience. We Are talking from experience living off the grid and of course even more years being grid-tie. That is of course how we grew up.

Beware always of listening to someone, regardless of their status, if they are not speaking from experience. Anyone can pick up a text book, or a 'For Dummies Guide to Solar, and instantly think they have the answers.

And granted most of these guides (and we have read them all) are written by people who have a certain knowledge of the subject.

But when it comes right down to it, do they have experience with different forms of living to compare?

If you liked eating apples, but had never tried oranges, how could you speak authoritatively about how oranges tasted? It would all be speculation right?

The lack of knowledge is not the problem, lack of experience is the real problem holding most families back from living off the grid.

Here is the basic scenario (forgetting fear for the time being)

Your home in the suburbs is worth $300 k, or 100k or any large number for that matter.

You are tired of all the bills that go along with it, especially that $400 electric bill every month.

What can you do?

From our own pathway of experience, and the extensive experience of other families we have advised the best plan if you want to reduce your bills, have more time, and quality of life is to use a term we call...

Buy an off grid home (or build it yourself) and invest the difference.

The difference being the difference in the cost of the land itself. And it can be astronomical, even allowing you to reduce your work time, or even retire early. We have seen it!

And you would end up with more land too. More time, more wilderness, and the peace of a pioneer living off the land if you want it. Gardens, quiet, wildlife, the list is long...

Of course the trade off, a longer commute?? but you could work at home, or transition to split scheduling, or even reduced work time. It is possible.

So many transition strategies exist that it is no longer possible to just say, hey living off the grid would be nice, but it's not for me, it is possible.

That is why I sign off my emails with this,

Anything is possible Living Off The Grid, because it is, of course overcoming the fear is another critter all together, one that we will deal with next.