Alternative Energy for the Beginner: Off-Grid vs. Grid-Tied
Alternative Energy Basics
What’s REALLY the difference between going off-grid and grid-tied?
3 Things to Know Before You Start:
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Own your own equipment- don’t lease!
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Know your local codes- may not be permissible under local codes and need to know what your power company will allow you to do
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8 year payback on purchases- especially if grid-tied, doesn’t matter what size system
Off-Grid
- Not connected to the power system- no grid power
- Wind, solar, hydro or combination to power
- When generating your own power you need a way to store power- BATTERIES
Grid-Tied
- Connected to grid- if the grid goes down you go down
- Pulling in power from your alternative energy source to net out your energy
- Power company wants to protect linemen- make sure equipment is not feeding back into grid
- Grid-Tied with Batteries
- Store backup energy in batteries if the grid goes down your controller will switch to power from batteries-only critical loads: refrigerator, medical devices, emergency lights
- Can grow this system to go off grid
