You Can Choose Between Two Main Types Of Residential Solar Power
Friday, January 2nd, 2009There is a difference between solar energy in residential use and that electricity produced for customers or used in businesses. When you think about residential solar power, there are two possible types that are solar power that is ‘off grid’ and that which is known as ‘grid tied,’ or which is also known as net metering.
Off Grid
The first type of residential solar power or off grid is something that is not in any way connected to the grid, and is actually separate from the electric utility system. Solar energy such as this does not involve residential power lines or the batteries required to store electricity for those times when the sun not available. In the daytime however, the photovoltaic array can store the excess energy in the batteries which is then turned into electricity and given off into the system through the batteries.
In the off grid type of residential solar power systems, there is also need to have a generator which is useful when there is no sunshine as it helps in charging up the batteries rather than use the power from the sun.
Grid Tied
The second kind of solar energy is a net metering system or grid tied, and this type will have power lines connected to a utility company’s electrical system and it does not require batteries for storage. When the sun is out, the electric meter actually spins in a backward direction, while when the sun has gone down, or when there is a pressing need for solar power, the meter spins in the forward direction. This form of residential solar power is administered in a manner quite different from one electric utility company to another with each using its own set of rules and regulations.
There is a lot to recommend using residential solar power in either form since it is a means to get energy that is not only long term, but which is also renewable, and with it, you don’t have to depend any longer on your utility company, and you are also not dependent on foreign governments, and best of all, you don’t need to pay for it. There no doubts that residential solar power is the way to go.