The Four Main Types of Solar Power Systems
Did you know that you can choose from four main types of solar power systems?
Based on the latest Clean Energy Australia Report, there were over 310,000 new rooftop solar systems installed in 2022 adding 2.7 GW capacity to Australia’s electrcial generation.
Approximately 3.4 million Australian households now have rooftop solar systems installed, which is around one in three households!
Some of the benefits of solar power driving this uptake include:
- saving money on electric bills in the long run
- reducing carbon emissions
- minimal environmental impacts
- low maintenance costs
- increased energy independence.
Read more about the benefits of residential solar here.
There are different types of solar systems available. This post will explore the four main solar solutions.
1. Portable solar power system
One of the systems that is gaining popularity is the portable solar system. As you can guess, this solution is ideal for travellers who need to power small appliances or gadgets on their camping, caravan and 4WD adventures. Portable systems are also perfect for outdoor use and for use in remote locations. A portable solar power kit will include a Battery, Solar Panel and Battery Box Kit which can store up to 200W of power.
2. On-grid solar power system
On-grid solar is also known by its other names – grid-connect solar, grid-tie solar, or grid-feed solar. This means that your system is connected to the electricity grid. On-grid is the most common type of system in Australia and accounts for almost 95% of domestic solar systems. On-grid systems don’t require a connected battery.
Any excess solar power generated can be sold to the electricity retailer which is a big motivation for why many households and businesses opt to set up an on-grid solar system. Check your state’s policy when it comes to selling the excess power to the electricity retailer as the requirements vary from state to state. You can find out more about NSW feed-in tarriffs here.
3. Off-grid solar power system
Off-grid solar is a standalone system that can power any home or business appliance. Because this kind of system is not connected to the main power grid, anyone can use it anywhere. There’s a different set of componentry required for this kind of system, namely:
- solar panels
- charge controller which takes care of regulating the energy that flows from the panels to the solar batteries. This is basically a small computer.
- solar batteries used to store the converted energy captured by the panels
- solar inverter which converts the current from DC power (low voltage) to AC power (high voltage).
One of the biggest downsides of having an off-grid system is the cost. It is almost three to five times more expensive than an on-grid system laregely due to the cost of batteries to store energy – which need to be replaced from time to time.
4. Hybrid solar power system
Hybrid systems offer the best of both worlds: you get electricity supply of the grid, with the ability to store your excess solar energy in a battery for use when the sun isn’t shining. You can also switch over to your own battery reserves if the grid goes down. Hybrid systems are also at least half the price of an off-grid system
If you already have a standard solar system you can add batteries. Another option is the use of a wind turbine so that when there’s less sunlight available, wind energy can charge the system.
Determining the best system for your needs
It can be overwhelming to work out what type of system you need which is why finding a trusted solar power installer to guide you is crucial.
BT Electrical & Solar are solar experts in the NSW Central West.
We install and maintain solar power solutions for homes, rural and commercial properties in Dubbo, Dunedoo, Gilgandra, Nyngan, Cobar, Parkes, Forbes, Molong, Wellington & surrounding areas.
Our friendly team of solar specialists to help you decide on the perfect solar power system for you!
Call us now at 02 6837 1101 or email brett@btelectrical.net for a free quote.
