More people are becoming aware after seeing increasing numbers of solar panels on the roofs of homes and businesses.
You may not be familiar with the term hybrid solar system. Hybrid systems let you get energy from the grid, even if your solar panels aren’t producing enough electricity to power your home.
It is possible to live completely off the electric grid. However, it is not common to have a solar battery to store power for low-energy days.
What is HYBRID SOLAR?
Solar panels are installed on homes and businesses to absorb solar power from sunlight. Photons hit a solar cell, causing electrons to be released from their atoms. They then flow through a conduit to an inverter.
A hybrid solar system offers additional benefits, as it allows you to access the grid. You don’t have to rely on one source of energy.
Hybrid solar panels are not as expensive as you might think. You can save more money over the long term by earning credits through Net Metering (assuming your utility company has a net metering program).
Is a HYBRID SOLAR SYSTEM right for you?
It can feel overwhelming to decide to include solar panels in your house or company. Solar energy can be a great solution for any goal.
Are you ready to:
- Use renewable energy to meet your electricity needs
- How to cut your energy bill with solar energy
- Do you no longer rely solely on the electric grid?
- You can sell excess electricity back to your utility company.
A hybrid solar system might be the right choice for you if the answer is yes to any of these questions.
It would be best to consider the days when it is cloudy or dark — your panels will not have enough solar energy to produce electricity. You can still use a hybrid solar panel system to power your home or commercial building by connecting to the electric grid.
If your hybrid solar panel system produces excess electricity, it will be rerouted to the grid. This will earn you net metering credits from your utility, which can help you save money on your monthly electricity bill.
HOW HYBRID SOLAR PANELS ARE DIFFERENT
A hybrid solar system and an off-grid system work from the same principles. They first convert solar energy into DC power using the photovoltaic effect.
The DC power can then be stored in a battery or run to a solar converter. The solar inverter converts DC energy into AC power. This is what powers your appliances and home. Solar panel owners often generate more DC power than they need to power their homes, which is why batteries are so useful.
You have two options for handling excess energy. You can either invest in batteries or transfer excess energy to the grid to get credits.
Both options can reduce your utility bills over the long term. Depending on your individual needs, one option may be better than the other.
The electrical grid backup makes a hybrid solar panel different from an off-grid system. An off-grid system allows you to completely rely on solar energy, allowing you to be energy independent. You are not at risk of losing power due to grid outages or fluctuating costs. Let’s hope that your panels can generate enough power to provide what you require throughout the day.
Although going off-grid can reduce your carbon footprint and make it more sustainable, it is not a fail-safe option. There is no backup for cloudy days or months.
RELIABILITY OF HYBRID SOLAR SYSTEM
A hybrid solar system will allow you to use less electricity but still have access when you need it. A hybrid solar system allows you to access power even when the sun isn’t shining.
You can also store your excess energy and make a sale to reduce your utility costs. You would not be able to send excess energy back into a grid if you were completely off the grid.
Hybrid solar systems are generally more reliable than an off-grid systems.
HYBRID SOLAR PANELS – COST
The type of inverter you choose will determine the cost of your solar panels. There are three types of inverters.
- String Inverter: This is the cheapest, but it makes it difficult to assess panel performance as DC electricity is routed through one inverter.
- The most expensive because one must be attached to each panel.
- A hybrid inverter is Less expensive than a micro-inverter but offers similar benefits. This inverter uses a central inverter and power optimizers on every panel. The DC-to-DC converter technology allows these optimizers to tune their power output to match the inverter.