Some people interested in solar are leaning towards the idea of going completely off the grid. But there are actually more benefits to staying connected to the grid and investing in a backup battery system.When you are connected to the grid, you can rely on the grid as backup power if your solar cells die. You can also sell the extra electricity back to the national grid through net metering, if local regulations allow it.This article will explain what a solar home storage system is, solar cells, and whether a hybrid system is better than an off-grid system.
After solar panels are installed, the energy they generate needs to be converted to electricity for your home. There are a few ways to do this - you can stay connected to the grid, go completely off grid, or have a hybrid power system.
A hybrid power system is one in which your solar panels remain connected to the grid's power lines and have a backup battery system to store excess power. Solar energy absorbed by the solar panels passes through an inverter to produce usable electricity. From there, electricity either goes into your home, your battery, or the grid.
The benefit of a hybrid solar system is that you will always have power no matter what the situation. With a backup battery, excess energy generated by your solar panels (but not used by your home) is stored in the battery. Then, when the sun is out, that battery will keep you powered at night, during system outages, or inclement weather.
With a hybrid solar system, you have the ability to draw power from the grid if you were to drain all the charge in the battery.
A hybrid solar system works by sending solar energy to your inverter, which then sends the energy to power your home. Extra energy not used to power your home goes into your home battery for storage.
This battery can power your home when your solar panels are not producing energy. After all these steps, if there is still energy left, this energy is sent to the grid.
In the US, most homes can be powered by a 6kW solar system at an average cost of $13,320 as of January 2022 after applying the federal tax credit. Solar panel system costs will vary based on the state of your home, contractor costs, and the amount of electricity your home uses.
For hybrid solar systems, backup batteries are what drive up the price. Batteries typically cost around $8,000 or more and need to be replaced about every 10 years.
