How to choose between a on-grid and a off-grid system

On Grid or off Grid

Firstly, we should probably explain just what a grid is. A grid is a network that supplies electricity to consumers. Nothing is too complicated - it's the vehicle which supplies electricity to businesses and residences. But what’s the difference between on-grid and off-grid? Before you make decision, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons.

On grid Solar System

On-grid solar systems allow you to connect your solar panel system to the electrical grid. Electricity generated by the solar panels is put into the grid during peak production. It is stored and then recovered whenever needed. On Grid systems do not require a battery, because the grid acts as the battery. With "net metering", the utility meter spins backwards and credits the solar system owner for their energy production to keep track of it. 

Advantage

Using renewable energy on the grid avoids most, if not all, the disadvantages of being off grid. The utility is like a big, 100% efficient battery that can absorb all your surplus energy. In addition, you can lean on it as hard as you want to for as much additional electricity as you might need. If you can’t afford a renewable-electric system large enough to supply all your needs, you can install whatever portion you can afford. If you’re off grid, you have to make it all, one way or another, and if you’re strapped for cash when you’re putting your system, you’ll end up making a lot of it with fossil fuels. When the grid uses fossil fuels, at least it uses them more efficiently, and with less noise and pollution than a home generator.

With grid-tied renewable energy systems, there is no absolute need to conserve electricity or change your lifestyle. You can choose to live the same way you lived before you installed an RE system. Your system will make up some or all of your usage, and your daily life can continue unchanged.

If you decide on a grid-tied system with battery backup, you can have the best (and some of the worst) of both worlds: You can have the independence and backup of a stand-alone system, still be able to use at least some energy during utility outages, and have the ability to sell your excess energy to the grid.

Disadvantage

One major disadvantage of having a grid-tied system is that you have less incentive to storage. That inviting wall receptacle will take whatever you plug into it, and no “depleted battery” warning will sound when you use a lot of electricity. If you can manage to bring an off-grid mind-set to your on-grid home, you’ll make the most of your RE investment.

For all grid-tied systems, you also have interconnection red tape. This can range from simple to difficult, depending on the authorities and utility you have to deal with. In places where RE systems are becoming common, there may be a greased path through your inspection agencies and utility, once you know the right people to deal with and the right forms and procedures. If you’re pioneering a new path, you might run into a lot of roadblocks, such as public servants or utility personnel who are ignorant of these systems, or heavy gear or paperwork requirements.

Off grid solar system

Off-grid solar electricity creates a self-contained home that gets all its power from solar and, sometimes, other sources like wind. If the grid does not extend into remote areas, solar may be the only working alternative. Off-grid systems are completely independent from the grid and capable of providing power systems in remote locations. Additional components of an off-grid system include a battery bank and generator, because the system must provide its own back-up power while the panels are not producing.  

Advantage

Independence is chief reason for wanting an off-grid system where the grid is available. Off-grid systems are not subject to the terms or policies of the local utility, nor are system owners subjected to rate increases, blackouts, or brownouts.

If you’re shopping for rural property, you’ll probably find that off-grid parcels are less expensive. Most people aren’t ready to take on being their own utility, and the land is priced according to this value system. Being off-grid can also be cheaper than getting a utility line extended to a property. But bear in mind that with off-grid renewable electricity systems, there are up-front and ongoing costs.

Unless you can afford an oversized system, off-grid systems tend to force you to use electricity efficiently. This is a big advantage if you also hold environmental values. Some of the most energy-efficient homes in the country belong to off-grid folks. When you have to make all your energy with only the available resources at your site, you think about how to use that energy wisely.

Disadvantage

Off-grid systems use batteries to store electricity and provide it for your home, but batteries don’t last forever. In fact, they will need replacement every five to fifteen years (typically less than ten, unless you have deep pockets for high-quality, industrial-type batteries). A minimal bank of batteries will cost at least $1,000, and long-lasting industrial batteries for the same application might cost three to four times. There’s maintenance and replacement time, aching backs from lifting heavy metal, and perhaps labor cost—and then there’s the environmental cost of making, moving, recycling, and replacing all that lead. When you make the decision to go off grid, you take on the duties of the cursed utility you were trying to avoid. My experience is that you tend to curse them less and appreciate them more as you tackle these responsibilities.

An off grid system tends to be more expensive simply due to the amount of equipment needed to build such a system. In addition, most off grid users also use a backup generator in case of emergency, adding further to the cost of an off-grid system