There Are Two Main Types Of Residential Solar Power

Residential solar power, as the name suggests, refers to solar power that is used in homes and it is different to commercial solar power that powers up businesses, or even when it is electricity generated through use of solar power and which is then sold to customers. The two examples of residential solar energy are “off grid” and “grid tied” – also called net metering.

Off Grid

Solar energy generated at a home is not the same as the electricity produced by a utility company and supplied through the grid. In this type of residential solar power, you won’t find any power lines that run to the home and the needs are also different, such as needing to have a battery system which will provide back-up power and which can even provide electricity during the times when the sun has gone down. In the daytime however, the photovoltaic array can store the excess energy in the batteries which is then turned into electricity and given off into the system through the batteries.

In the off grid type of residential solar power systems, there is also need to have a generator which is useful when there is no sunshine as it helps in charging up the batteries rather than use the power from the sun.

Grid Tied

There is another classification of solar energy, which is grid tied or a net metering system; and, this type uses power lines to bring electricity from a utility company without the need for storage batteries. When the sun is out, the electric meter actually spins in a backward direction, while when the sun has gone down, or when there is a pressing need for solar power, the meter spins in the forward direction. This form of residential solar power is administered in a manner quite different from one electric utility company to another with each using its own set of rules and regulations.

There is a lot to recommend using residential solar power in either form since it is a means to get energy that is not only long term, but which is also renewable, and with it, you don’t have to depend any longer on your utility company, and you are also not dependent on foreign governments, and best of all, you don’t need to pay for it. There no doubts that residential solar power is the way to go.