The range of Solar PV or Photovoltaic systems can be daunting when it comes to choosing the right solution for your domestic or commercial solar power needs. Simply broken down there are three types of PV Solar implementations:
Your selection of the type of Solar PV Solution that you require for your home or business will come down to your requirements:
I want to save on my monthly bills and get the fastest possible return on my investment.
A Grid-Tied solution is what you are after. It has the lowest financial outlay of the three and is a good starting point for those wanting to start implementing solar PV solutions. In addition to this any additional power that is produced over and above your requirements can be pushed back into the grid, depending on your utility provider. This can lead to rebates on your power bill, further increasing your Return On Investment.
*This solution provides no backup power as it shuts down when the utility power goes off for safety reasons.
I want to save money on my monthly bills but also want to have power during load shedding and power outages.
With the addition of battery packs and a hybrid inverter your Hybrid Solar PV system can now keep your business or home running during those dreaded power outages. This system is more costly than the Grid-Tied due to the introduction of battery packs, but still allows you to push power back into the non-backup loads and the grid. It still brings the benefit of reducing your monthly utility bills and providing a return on investment for your company.
I am tired of being dependent on my utility for power and would like to produce my own electricity.
An Off-Grid solution will supply power for your needs and allow you to be independent. This solution is more cost effective than a Hybrid solution due to the lower cost of the inverter, you will however need to cater for all of your power requirements and will need to balance your power requirements with your budget. This solution is also ideal for areas where it is not possible or practical to get power from the utility.