Integrated Residential Solar Power System
March 21, 2008
Residential Solar Power System: Three Main Types
Residential solar power systems can be integrated into the home or business in three different types. These are utility-tie, utility-interactive as well as stand-alone systems. The first type of residential solar power system is called the utility-tie or Grid-tie. It is a system that does not have a battery or battery related equipment and only has a single function, which is to feed all electric power. It is produced by the solar panels through a synchronous utility-grade inverter and it offsets the amount of electricity that would normally be consumed from the utility company.
Residential Solar Power System cost less
This type of residential solar power system would slow, stop or reverse the utility meter. It shall depend on what time of the day it is as well as the present load and size of the solar systems installed. Such a system does not have any batteries that need to be replaced and hence such a system costs less than other types. It is an extremely popular residential solar power system that essentially wakes up in the morning and shuts off at night. Such a system is most suitable for where there are not many power failures or if one has a backup generator and they cost about $4,500 for a small entry-level system and the cost for larger ones could run into tens of thousands of dollars.
The Utility-Interactive Residential Solar Power System
The utility-interactive system does have a battery as well as additional controls and is able to both feed into the utility meter to slow or even reverse in case of excess power as well as providing backup during power outages. These systems are very much like those that are used in homes that are totally off-grid and depending on the size of the residential solar power system used as well as the appliances or devices that require power, such a system may support the complete home or only those items that need necessarily be powered up, during a power outage. Because such a residential solar power system uses batteries as well as additional controls, they cost more and depending on the amount of battery reserve these systems may be thirty percent costlier than the utility-tie systems. However, in places that have many power failures, such a system that is automatic and silent is a great advantage. The cost of such a residential solar power system begins with a price tag of five to seven thousand dollars that would be enough to buy a small but expandable solar power system.
The stand alone residential solar power system is normally used where there is no public utility power available and it may be supplemented with a fueled generator for short term support or for shaving peak loads and otherwise such a system is completely independent of the power grid and has no interaction with the public grid at all. They cost anything from five to seven thousand dollars though small cabin-sized systems may only set one back a couple of thousand dollars.
Summary:
Residential solar power systems t can be integrated into the home or business in three different types. These are utility-tie, utility-interactive as well as stand-alone systems. This type of residential solar power system would slow, stop or reverse the utility meter. It shall depend on what time of the day it is as well as the present load and size of the solar systems installed. The utility-interactive system does have a battery as well as additional controls and able to both feed into the utility meter to slow or even reverse in case of excess power as well as providing backup during power outages.
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