There is a growing number of households that are switching to greener sources of energy. One of the most common choices is having a solar power system installed in their home in Frederick. This can be an enticing choice because it can be good for the environment and it can help cut down your utility bills. However, before you decide to get one for your home, you should understand the three types of this source of green energy so you will be able to pick the best one for your home. Here they are:

1. Grid-Tied

Grid-tied is also known as utility-interactive, grid back feeding, or on-grid. This means that your source is connected to the utility grid. It is considered the standard among the three, which also means that it is the popular choice of many households. With grid-tied, you will need certain equipment to make it work such as a grid-tie inverter (GTI), microinverters, and a power meter. 

A GTI regulates the voltage and current received from your panels. It also synchronizes the phases and frequencies on your current to satisfy the requirements of the utility grid. It adjusts the output voltage to be slightly higher than that of the grid so that excess electricity can flow into the grid. Meanwhile, microinverters are found at the back of the panels. They have almost the same purpose as the GTI but are more efficient. However, they can be very expensive so many choose to have a GTI instead. Lastly, there is a specific power meter required for the grid-tied concept. The one you get must be compatible with the net metering. It measures the power going in both directions from your house to the grid and vice-versa.

2. Off-Grid 

Off-grid is the apparent alternative to grid-tied. If your home has instant access to the grid, going off-grid does not make sense. If you want continuous access to electricity despite going green, then grid-tied is still the better choice. However, off-grid can also provide that capability by having a battery bank. Take note that for safety, you should replace your battery bank every 10 years. Still, grid-tied is still desirable because battery banks can be inefficient and they are expensive to maintain. 

When you choose to use off-grid, you will need a solar charge controller, battery bank, DC disconnect switch, off-grid inverter, and backup generator.

3. Hybrid

You can combine the best of grid-tied and off-grid with a hybrid option. This option allows you to be connected to the grid but also have a battery bank as a backup. Hence, even if there is an outage, you can still have a backup via the battery bank.