Solar energy works with the grid, using solar panels to generate electricity from sunlight and sending excess back to the utility grid. 

Grid-tied solar energy systems are the most common type of solar panel system: these systems connect directly to the utility grid and you can operate with or without battery backup equipment.

With the National Electric Code, a grid-tied solar system has to turn off every time the grid goes down. 

Even with solar panels, you aren’t guaranteed power during a grid outage. However, if you combine your system with battery storage, you can use your stored energy during an outage

Grid-Tied Solar and Off-Grid Solar

A grid-tied solar system means your property connects to your local power company’s line, allowing you to use solar energy to offset your electricity bill, while still relying on the company’s service.  

A grid-tied system is a great way to reduce your electric bill. 

An off-grid solar system is a self-contained energy system that independently produces and stores electricity from the sun, it uses solar panels to generate power – this power is transferred to a battery by a charger controller.

Can Kokosing Solar take me off-grid?

Unfortunately, Kokosing Solar can’t take you completely off-grid, but we can get you close. 

At this time Kokosing Solar does our best work installing full turnkey, grid-interactive solar energy systems. We do not install off-grid systems and do not recommend them if you are already connected to the grid. Off-grid systems are a whole different type of engineering and installation. 

You need to carefully engineer the solar system and battery bank to ensure they are large enough to fully support your loads at all times and in all seasons. Off-grid systems also require a generator to keep the batteries charged when the sun can’t, either at night or in the winter when there is less sun. With off-grid, you can expect your generator to run a lot. You also need to manage your loads carefully and avoid running multiple high-demand appliances, like the dryer, dishwasher, and TV, at the same time.

A grid-tied system provides energy from the solar panels during peak sunlight hours, the rest of the electricity will come from the grid. An off-grid system has no access to the grid, limiting your energy storage and production capabilities.   

A grid-tied system with a battery backup will offer self-reliance on days when the grid is down, at nighttime, and on days with little sunlight.

Pairing with a solar battery

Another option that ensures access to electricity when the grid is down is a grid-tied system with a battery backup. 

Although more expensive, a solar battery system can help you through outages. 

Solar panels alone won’t work during a grid outage. But, paired with batteries, they will.  When you pair batteries with a solar system, solar panels send the electricity they produce to your house, the grid, or a storage device. 

Grid-connected systems with and without energy storage

A pro that comes with having a grid-connected solar system is the cost savings. You can potentially save money by spending less on power and less dependency on the grid. 

A grid-connected system is a reliable power supply. By generating your own electricity, you can reduce your reliance on the utility grid, which can lead to lower energy bills. A grid-connected system is reliable and provides continuous power, as long as the grid is up and running.

In conclusion, grid-tied solar systems are a cost-effective way to lower utility bills, but they don’t provide power during an outage. 

If this is essential to you, adding battery backup to your grid-tied system is an option. If you seek complete independence, an off-grid solution is your best fit.