Off-Grid & Grid-Tied Solar Power: What’s the Difference?

As with any renovation, installing solar panels at home requires asking yourself various questions. That said, not every homeowner knows all the right questions to ask. For instance, regarding off-grid and grid-tied solar power: what’s the difference between these options? If you don’t know the answer, we’ll help you learn below so that you can plan the best solar power system for your needs.

Grid-Tied

Understandably, some homeowners might expect a solar power system to be completely off grid. However, a basic solar panel system relies on the grid for storing power, hence the moniker “grid-tied.” As your panels absorb solar energy throughout the day, they store it using the utility grid.

Unfortunately, accidentally choosing the wrong option is among the costliest mistakes to make with solar power systems because off-grid systems use specific battery options that are helpful during blackouts. Don’t worry; as you’ll learn below, that battery is an invaluable asset to an off-grid system.

Off-Grid

If you want to go completely off grid with your utilities, then you’ll need a suitable solar panel system to match. A solar battery acts as an on-site storage solution for solar panels instead of the electrical grid. This storage solution is particularly helpful because it won’t lose power if a blackout occurs in your area. While grid-tied homes sit in the dark, you can rely on your off-grid solar battery to keep your property thriving. Likewise, if the clouds above hinder your solar power production, you can use energy from the solar battery to easily fix the problem.

Plan Accordingly

So when it comes to off-grid and grid-tied solar power, what’s the difference? Although both monikers aren’t very deceptive, it’s still critical to know the context of how both solar solutions work. That way, you can find the right installation professionals for the job, and you’ll also be able to successfully communicate with them. Thankfully, solar power system designs are more flexible and accommodating than you might expect. The more your contractor knows about the system you want, the better they can design it to meet your needs.