Off Grid Solar Energy System

An off grid solar energy system is not for everyone. It can demand many inconvenient things for people who have known no other power generation system than the main grid of the utility company. For example, it requires the installation and maintenance of an energy generation system best left in the expert hands of the professionals in most instances.

Then again, living off the grid has more than its fair share of benefits. These off grid power systems are targeted mainly at independent individuals with an uncommon combination of love for the environment and the plan to live within their means. Of course, everybody who wants to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy to the fullest can do so with an off grid solar energy system.

In this article, the basic steps, components and costs of living off the grid will be discussed. It must be emphasized that this can be a completely do-it-yourself project although expert instruction from the professionals in terms of e-books, video instructions and text resources are invaluable in achieving success from installation to completion and, finally, efficient energy generation and usage in the home.

Basic Steps

In most cases, living off the grid comes with a significant move in terms of geographical location. For example, a home within the suburbs is connected to the main electricity grid but the move to a rustic cabin in the woods means electricity is generated by a standalone off grid solar energy system. In such a case, it is essential to calculate the projected use of solar energy to power up the appliances in the rustic cabin, which will understandably be very different from the energy requirements of the home in the suburbs.

In most DIY instructional materials for living off the grid, a calculator is provided in which the homeowner can determine the best size for the system. Keep in mind that it is always advisable to run the figures twice through the calculator just to be on the safe side. Most calculators will provide for the minimum system requirements by asking for the following information:

• Average amount of electricity used for the past 6 months as stated in kilowatt hours (kwh)
• Percentage of the power that the off grid solar energy system will produce, which is obviously at 100 percent
• Number of hours of peak sunshine that the area gets in a day, which the solar map usually provided for this purpose can provide pertinent information

For example, if the household’s average projected electricity consumption while living off-grid is 100 kwh and the average number of peak sun hours is 8 hours per day, the minimum system size is then 416 watts. Then, 416 watts is divided by the wattage of the solar panels being considered for installation to get the number of panels to be purchased. If the panels are 125-watts each, then the number of solar panels to be purchased is a minimum of 4.

Take note that these figures are only approximate values. Homeowners planning to install an off grid solar energy system must learn how to factor in the variable efficiency ratings of the panels, the off-grid inverters and other factors affecting the systems possible performance. Again, expert professional assistance for first-time installers is highly recommended even when the plan is to work on the standalone solar energy systems as a DIY project.

Basic Components

When the expected energy demands on the off grid solar energy system have been determined with a certain degree of accuracy, the next step is to look into the components. In many ways, the standalone solar energy system is easy to understand, install and maintain with the help of the abovementioned e-book, video instructions and text materials. The main parts are briefly described below:

• Solar panels are the most visible components of the system with three main types to choose from – monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous. These panels collect the radiation energy from the sun and convert it to usable electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect, which explains their alternative names of photovoltaic panels or modules. Your choice from among the three types of panels will largely depend on the budget for and the demands on the off grid solar energy system.
• Standalone inverter converts the direct current (DC) energy into the appliance-friendly alternating current (AC)
• Batteries obviously store the energy generated by the solar panels for use in the future. The most commonly used type of battery is the lead-acid deep cycle model, which are manufactured to withstand the ongoing charging and discharging in the standalone solar energy system.
• Charge controller is an important part of the off grid solar energy system mainly because it prevents the battery from overcharging, which explains its location between the battery and the solar modules.

Other parts to the system include the backup generator, system meter and the AC breaker panel. Of course, wires and outlets are still present in the house since these are the safe ways in which the home appliances can receive electricity.

Basic Costs

Depending on the size of the off grid solar energy system, the costs of installation can start from $2,000 to $22,000 gross of the applicable federal, state and local incentives, rebates and grants provided by the government for homeowners switching to solar energy. If you subtract the cost savings once the standalone solar energy system is used to its fullest capacity, these initial costs are easily recouped.

Take for example a system size of 400-750 watts, which is considered as medium DC, with a monthly output of 60-112 kwh. The costs of DIY installation can be as low as $2,750 with more sophisticated features racking up a price tag of $5,000 before the government incentives that can run as high as 30 percent off the costs. In a few months’ time of living off the grid, these costs are recouped and you can start enjoying the benefits of electricity for free.

An off grid solar energy system is one of the best investments to amp up the value of your home while bringing down household costs, not to mention doing your share of environmental protection.