When you decide to turn to Solar energy in South Australia, there is a crucial decision you need to make regarding which kind of solar installation you should opt for between on-grid and off-grid solar setups.

An on-grid also called a grid-connected and grid-tied solar system is one solar energy system that is still connected to the electricity grid whereas an off-grid solar system is completely cut off from the utility grid.

Difference between on-grid and off-grid solar system

1) Source of electricity

An off-grid system in South Australia has no connection to the electricity grid. Therefore, this setup’s main energy source is the sun’s energy. Your household will have power when the solar panels in South Australia are producing electricity. You will have power at night and on cloudy days only if you store electricity from your solar panels in Brisbane, South Australia in batteries. With an off-grid solar system, your only power is the power your solar panels in South Australia are generating and the power you have stored from them. If there is a need for extra energy, you do not have a grid connection to draw from. However, you can invest in a generator for such events.

If you have an off-grid installation though, you will always have electricity even if your solar in South Australia is not producing and if you do not have batteries. If your solar panels in South Australia are not generating or not generating enough to energize your home or business, you can draw electricity from the grid. This kind of solar system in Brisbane ensures you always have your power needs fulfilled.

2) Power Failure

There is practically no effect of a power outage on the off-grid solar as it is independent of the electricity grid. In the event of bad weather conditions when the grid experiences a power failure, you can enjoy an uninterrupted power supply from your panels and batteries.
With an on-grid solar system, your solar panels in South Australia are connected to the grid. When the grid experiences a power failure your solar panels also shut off for safety reasons. So, in the event of a blackout, this system will not provide any power. Therefore, if you want to have a power supply during a grid failure, you can consider adding batteries to your grid-connected solar.

3) Surplus Energy

The system size, energy usage, and usage timings all influence the amount of extra energy you will have from your solar in South Australia. It depends on the solar equipment you install where this extra unused energy should go.
Off-grid solar systems are usually planned to generate some excess energy to store in batteries. This battery storage can be accessed for use during the night and inclement weather when the panels are not producing. The system size can be manipulated to generate ample extra power to fulfill your energy needs around the clock. Extra batteries or power generators can be also added to your solar in South Australia to fulfill power requirements when the weather is bad for a few days in a row.

When there is extra energy production with on-grid solar in South Australia that energy can be sent back to the electricity grid. The utility company compensates you for that electricity. That way you save more on your energy bills. This is an advantage of the on-grid solar system over the off-grid one.

4) Electricity Bills

With an off-grid solar system, you do not get any electricity bills. However, this setup is often more expensive due to additional equipment like batteries which have a high initial cost.

On the other hand, a grid-connected solar providing 100 percent of your energy needs will still have a few mandatory charges on your power bills like the service fee and peak hour charges in addition to charges for any usage from the grid over the net metering credits.

Conclusion

All kinds of solar systems, whether grid-connected or not, are beneficial for energy independence and savings. However, it depends on your energy goals and budget which system type will suit your household or business the best. I hope this discussion could help you comprehend the key features of on-grid and off-grid solar installations.

Do contact Solar Power Nation for expert solar advice and some of the best solar panels and solar inverters in Australia!

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