There Are Two Main Types Of Residential Solar Power

When we refer to solar energy for home use, we are differentiating it from the solar power used by commercial enterprises or the electricity derived from solar power which can be purchased by customers. The two examples of residential solar energy are “off grid” and “grid tied” – also called net metering.

Off Grid

Off-grid solar energy refers to that power not related to an electric utility or its grid. In this type of residential solar power, you won’t find any power lines that run to the home and the needs are also different, such as needing to have a battery system which will provide back-up power and which can even provide electricity during the times when the sun has gone down. 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 other type of residential solar power is grid tied or net metering system in which there is need to have power lines that are connected to the electricity utility system which takes the place of the batteries and acts as a huge battery array. The electric meter will spin backwards in the presence of sunlight, but darkness causes a lack of solar energy which means the meter will spin in a 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.