How does An On-grid Solar Power System Work?

With the rapid development of solar energy technology, more and more people begin to install solar power generation system. On-grid or grid-tie solar systems are by far the most common and widely used by homes and businesses. 

This kind of system uses solar inverters or micro inverters to generate electricity and connects itself to the public grid. If your solar power system generates excess electricity, then this electricity can be automatically transferred to the public grid. In other words, the on-grid solar power system can store the unused energy in the grid so that it can be used at any time when necessary.

In order to further understand the on-grid solar power system, we will focus on the features and advantages of this system.

1. Features of On-grid Solar Power Systems

The solar systems can be divided into three different categories based on their grid-connectivity. They are on-grid solar systems, off-grid solar systems and hybrid systems. 

Unlike the latter two systems, the on-grid solar system is unable to operate or generate power during a power outage. Power outages usually occur when the grid is damaged, so if the solar inverter is still supplying power to the damaged grid, the safety of maintenance personnel cannot be guaranteed. Most hybrid solar systems with battery storage can be automatically isolated from the grid and continue to provide some power during blackouts. Therefore, on-grid solar system is a better choice to keep safe.

2. Working Principles of On-grid Solar Power Systems

This system works in two-ways——the power supply can be connected to the user's home from the grid to which it is connected, or it can flow from the user's house to the grid. This feature makes the system affordable and useful. 

Solar panels convert sunlight into direct current, which is sent to the inverter later. The solar inverter then converts direct current to alternating current to power electrical equipment. 

3. Advantages of On-grid Solar Power System

Even though the solar power system is connected to the grid, consumers only have to pay for the surplus electricity they consume. If they use less electricity than the solar panels produce, their monthly bill is zero. It means they don't have to pay any electricity bills.

The on-grid solar power system has little number of parts along with simple installation. The elimination of batteries makes the maintenance quite easy.

By connecting to the public grid, consumers can charge for the excess electricity which is generated by the solar panels. It not only eliminates your electricity charges, but also takes advantage of the extra cost of generating electricity. 

On-grid solar systems are most cost-effective and convenient to install. Whether it is for families or businesses, having such a solar power generation system can make a huge contribution to saving energy costs.