Home Improvement

Is a Hybrid Solar System Right for My Home?

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More than 3.1 million solar systems have been installed across the United States. These installations have helped reduce our carbon emissions by 127 million metric tons

While the layman may look at the plethoras of solar systems sprouting on rooftops across the country and think they are all the same, this is not true.

Solar power systems are tailored to the homeowner’s power needs and financial limitations. On-grid, off-grid, and a hybrid solar system are your main options.

These systems can help you live independently of utility companies, along with grid usage, or as a combination, thanks to powerful lithium batteries.

You may find a hybrid solar system with a battery to be more expensive but the most beneficial of the three types of systems.

In the following article, we’ll discuss hybrid solar system design and an off-grid vs hybrid solar system comparison. 

On-Grid and Off-Grid Systems

First, you need to ascertain your power needs. A recent trend has had people purchasing property in exotic or remote areas across the country and building homes there. 

These homes often have no access to municipal and rely solely on whatever the builders can provide. In these cases, the solar power system is truly off-grid. The system runs entirely on whatever sunlight it converts to electricity and stores in its batteries. 

The much more common solar system is the on-grid variety. Even though your power system generates electricity from the sun, it needs its connection to the power grid to convert energy from the sun to your home. 

The inverter, the piece of equipment that converts direct current to alternating current, runs off the utility grid and not the solar panels. Therefore, if a storm knocks out power to your home, you also lose your solar system power supply.

However, if you live in an area where losing power is rare, on-grid systems are the least expensive and most cost-effective solar systems. 

Benefits of a Hybrid Solar System

If you ask a top solar company, they’ll tell you that a hybrid solar system is more expensive than an on-grid or off-grid system. That stated, it is also the most versatile.

A hybrid system has a lithium battery pack. These batteries send power to your home when the sun is obscured. They also supply power to the inverter when the grid goes down. 

In effect, your home has three power sources: the grid, your battery system, and direct power from your solar panels.

So, if you live in an area that experiences significant storms, like Virginia Beach, Va., a hybrid solar system for a home will guarantee power. 

However, one expense people who install these systems don’t anticipate is that currently, the battery packs have a seven to eight-year lifespan before they need replacement. That’s a much shorter lifespan than today’s solar panels, which can generate power for more than 20 years if properly maintained.

The Right Solar System for You

As you decide on an on-grid, off-grid, or hybrid solar system, the most significant factors are your budget and how much you can depend on the power grid. Again, if you live in an area where losing power is a common occurrence, a hybrid system may be what you need despite the more substantial cost.

Did you find this article helpful? Search our website for more on solar power and off-grid living. 


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