An on-grid solar system, also known as a grid-tied solar system, is the most widely deployed form of rooftop solar across the world. These systems do not need any batteries and are connected to the utility grid power.
It is best suited for customers with stable grid power and minimal power cuts. Other than homes, even educational institutions, industrial units, commercial establishments use these systems as their primary source of power.
An on-grid system is designed to first allow solar energy to be consumed by the customer. Beyond this, if the customer needs any excess power, it is drawn from the grid. If the customer’s energy requirement is lower than power generated from the solar system, excess solar units are exported to the grid. This is possible through a ‘Net-meter’’.
Net-meter is a device that records the energy supplied to the grid and the energy drawn from it. At the end of each month, the net energy consumed is recorded and the consumer is provided with a bill. This feature makes the on-grid solar system a great investment with high returns.
Benefits of on-grid solar
1. Huge reduction in electricity bills
With net-meter in place, the consumer has to pay only for the surplus electricity he consumes, ensuring the bill generated every month is reduced drastically. Many of our customers have been able to reduce their monthly bills by 90%.
2. Easy maintenance
The elimination of batteries in the on-grid system makes the maintenance quite easy. It also eliminates the cost of upkeep of the batteries
3. Synchronize with other sources of power
These systems can also synchronize with a diesel generator on site. This is important in case grid power is not available.
4. Better ROI
Cost of a On-grid solar system is lower than other types of solar systems because there are no batteries. It also generates the highest amount of power compared to other types of solar systems. The minimal maintenance and reduction in monthly power bills ensure the customer gets an ROI of 25 – 30%. This means the customer earns Rs.25,000 for every 1,00,000 they invest in solar.
With these advantages, an on-grid system is best suited for a customer with stable grid power and minimal power cuts. Other than homes, even educational institutions, industrial units, commercial establishments install an on-grid system as the system can synchronize with diesel generators to provide uninterrupted power.