There are three major kinds of solar power systems that can be used in Frederick and these are grid-tied, off-grid, and hybrid. Each has its own set of advantages. Read on to find out so you can choose the perfect one for your home.

Grid-Tied

The grid-tied system keeps your home connected to the grid despite having a green source of energy. Its advantages include:

1. More economical

The grid-tied system will allow you to have more savings because it is efficient, it offers net metering, and it requires a low cost of equipment and installation. It does not require the use of batteries, which are usually expensive. Moreover, since there are no batteries, maintenance cost is kept at a minimum. Overall, the grid-tied system is cheap to install and keep.

2. The grid serves as your virtual battery

Electricity is a resource that should be consumed in real time. However, this is not always the case so there is often a need to store it someplace else before using it. With the grid-tied system, the entire grid serves as your virtual battery where excess electricity can be kept temporarily. Since the grid works as a battery and there really is no inefficient battery involved, virtually nothing goes to waste in this system.

Off-Grid

When your home does not have access to the grid, your next best option is to choose an off-grid system. It almost has the same system as the grid-tied but instead of having a grid to connect to, it stores electricity in a battery. Here are the advantages of this system:

1. A better option for homes with no access to the grid

Instead of having miles and miles of power lines installed in your home to have access to the grid, the off-grid option is better. It is cheaper than having the power lines installed while still providing almost the same reliability as a grid-tied system.

2. Your home becomes energy sufficient

Back in the day, if your home did not have access to the grid, there was no option for it to be energy sufficient. With the off-grid system, you can have electricity 24/7, thanks to the battery that stores it for you. Having sufficient energy to your home adds a layer of security. Moreover, you will never be affected by power failures because you have a standalone source at home.

Hybrid

The hybrid system combines the best out of the grid-tied and off-grid systems.

1. More economical than the off-grid system

The hybrid system is less expensive to install and maintain compared to the off-grid system. With it, you don’t need to put a backup generator. Moreover, you can reduce the size of your battery. Additionally, the off-peak electricity from the grid is much cheaper compared to diesel.

2. It is a promising system

Although not a lot of homes have a hybrid system, it has a lot of potential. It is a good transition system to smart grids of the future.