Solar Power System | Plan It Effectively for Home
As you know, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions badly affect wildlife, ecosystems, and human life. This is where solar energy plays a crucial role in reducing climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, solar power systems do not contribute to global warming and air pollution, as they don’t use fossil fuels to generate electricity.
Solar energy is not only good for the environment but also an affordable source of power generation. Moreover, it saves you money and boosts economic growth by offering thousands of job opportunities. Furthermore, a solar power system for home or office promotes energy independence. Let’s look at what a solar energy system is and how to plan a dependable system for your home.
What is a solar power system?
A solar power system is also known as a solar panel system or a photovoltaic system. It is a simple but amazing technology designed to capture energy from the sun's rays and then convert it into power or electricity for a wide range of purposes.
Solar power systems are a combination of different components which we will discuss later in this article. Each component has a special role and they all contribute to generating electricity. It is the cheapest form of producing reliable electricity to power up your electric appliances.
Whether you need a dependable power source for your home, office, or commercial building, a solar panel system will be your go-to partner. Millions of homeowners have shifted to solar energy in the last few years.
At the same time, many solar farms have been developed in the US and around the globe to meet industrial requirements. Different types of solar systems exist. We’ll explore them in detail in the section below.
Types of solar power system
Solar power systems are divided into three main categories: grid-tie, off-grid, and hybrid. Let’s look at each type one by one.
1. Grid-Tied Solar Energy System
It is also known as an on-grid solar system. This type of solar energy system is most common among both commercial and residential users. In addition, if you are looking for the most affordable solar energy solution for your home or office, make sure you install a grid-tied solar system on your building.
The reason why on-grid solar systems are cost-effective is that they don’t need batteries. The net metering programs allow this system to export extra electricity to the grid and get credit for it.
2. Off-Grid Solar Panel System
This type of system is installed in places where there is no access to electrical grids. Similarly, if you want complete energy independence, go for an off-grid solar system. It is also called a stand-alone solar battery-powered system.
Unlike on-grid solar system setups, an off-grid is completely disconnected from the electrical grid. Therefore, this system has to store the energy (produced in the daytime) in the attached batteries so that it can be used in the nighttime or cloudy weather.
3. Hybrid Solar System
This solar system type shares the features of both grid-tied and off-grid setups. A hybrid solar system setup is connected to the electrical grid. At the same time, it uses batteries to store excess energy.
The reason why most people don’t prefer installing hybrid systems is their higher cost which increases due to the addition of batteries. However, the benefit of a hybrid solar power system is that it can provide you with 24/7 electricity even if the power supply cuts off from the grid for a couple of hours. The backup time depends on the size and health of the batteries installed.
Components of a solar power system
As stated earlier, a solar power system is made up of different components, including solar panels, inverters, mounting structures, batteries, charge controllers, and disconnect switches. Let’s understand each component individually.
1. PV Panels
A solar panel is the backbone of each solar energy system. It is the main component that captures solar energy when exposed to sunlight. One PV panel consists of multiple solar cells soldered together. Each PV module captures sunlight, processes it, and converts it into direct current.
The process by which sunlight is converted into electrical power is known as a photovoltaic effect. These days are the best time to purchase solar panels, as a huge drop in their prices has been seen. If you want to buy reliable PV panels at a fair cost, make it happen with Renogy solar panels.
2. Installation Structure
Installing solar panels at a specific angle (considering the direction of the sun) is something that pays off. A solar expert can tell you which angle would be the best to deploy your PV panels. The mounting structure helps you set the desired angle from the roof.
An installation structure can be made with different materials. You can find this structure in the market made with cold-formed steel, stainless steel, iron, galvanized iron, aluminum, and more.
3. Inverter
It is another key component of a solar system. PV panels generate DC power and the inverter converts it into AC electricity. AC current is the standard form used to operate appliances in commercial and residential buildings.
Simply put, a solar inverter makes sure that the generated solar power is highly compatible with your existing electrical system. If you are looking for a trusted seller to buy long-lasting inverters with a warranty, look no further than Renogy solar inverters.
4. Batteries
They have proven to be an unmatched tool to store excess electricity generated by your solar panel system. You can use solar batteries to enjoy free electricity in cloudy weather or at night. The best thing associated with these batteries is that they provide you with complete energy independence.
Do you need reliable solar batteries to store excess electricity produced by a solar system installed in your home? Try solar batteries offered by a highly trusted solar equipment supplier.
5. Circuit Breakers / Disconnect Switches
A disconnect switch or a circuit breaker is used for protection purposes in your solar-powered systems. This switch or breaker disconnects the electrical supply in abnormal circumstances, such as higher current than usual, high voltage spikes, or other similar situations.
Moreover, disconnect switches also lend you a helping hand when performing repair and maintenance. If you are searching for efficient DC circuit breakers or disconnect switches for your solar system, using Renogy circuit breakers will be worth it.
6. Charge Controllers
A device designed to manage the electricity flow from PV panels to the battery is commonly called a charge controller. It is a key component of a solar power setup. A charge controller is only required if you have attached solar batteries to your system.
A solar charge controller helps your batteries live longer by ensuring they are charged to an optimal level. Two types of solar charge controllers are available in the market: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). Buy premium-quality charge controllers from Renogy to increase the lifespan of your batteries.
How to plan a home solar electric system?
Do you want to install a solar power system in your home? Looking forward to effective planning to get the maximum out of solar energy? Here’s a step-by-step guide to planning a dependable solar electric system for your home.
Step 1: As a homeowner, calculate your total energy usage to understand how big or small a solar power setup you need for your home.
Step 2: Now, considering your energy usage, determine the size of the required solar electric system. A number of digital tools are available these days to estimate the solar system size for specific locations or sites.
Step 3: This step is about exploring and choosing options for solar energy usage. Though buying a solar system with cash is the best option to proceed with, there are other methods you can choose from. If you don’t have enough space to install a solar system on your roof, you can go for shared solar. Other options include solar leases, solar programs, and power purchase agreements.
Step 4: Contact solar installers to visit your site and give you a quotation, considering your solar energy requirements. Always ask for quotations from multiple installers to draw a strong comparison between the quality they offer and the price.
Step 5: Now, you can explore different solar financing and incentive programs to get funding from. You can also find a couple of government programs to benefit from.
Step 6: As soon as you arrange all the solar equipment and funds, hire a solar installer to start installation on your site. Don’t forget to keep a close eye on what an installer does. If you don’t have enough understanding about the solar power system, you can hire the services of a solar electric system’s QA specialist.
Following the steps above assists you in planning a solar system for your home.
How much does a solar power system cost?
The cost of a solar panel system may vary from one site to another. It all depends on your energy requirements. The higher the energy needs, the more the cost of a solar system will be.
If you want to calculate the cost of your solar system, you can simply add up the prices of PV panels, inverter, battery (if purchased), mounting structure, circuit breakers, charge controllers (if bought), and charges of installation services.
The average cost of a home solar electric system lies between $20,000 and $32,000. If you need to install a 6kW solar power system for home, the average cost would be around $18,000. Remember, these prices do not include tax credits or any sort of incentive.
You can explore the official Renogy website to find out the prices of solar equipment to calculate the cost of your solar system. Learn more about who invented solar panels and how their recycling works.
Conclusion
A solar power system is known for converting sunlight into electrical power within nanoseconds. This system combines different components to form a complete package. The components include PV modules, inverters, batteries, installation structures, charge controllers, and disconnect switches.
Read the discussion above to understand how to plan a solar system for your house and how you can calculate the cost of your solar system. If you are searching for a high-quality solar equipment seller, get in touch with Renogy.
FAQs about solar power system
Q: How much solar power does it take to run a house?
A: In most cases, a solar system of 10kW is enough to power up houses. However, the requirements vary depending on the energy usage. The average solar energy requirement for US-based homeowners is between 5kW and 8kW solar energy systems.
Q: How much is a solar system for a 2000 sq ft house?
A: The cost of installing a solar electric system on a 2000-square-foot house is between $18,000 and $20,000, excluding taxes application.
Q: Can a house run completely on solar power?
A: Yes, it is very much possible to meet your 100% energy requirements with a home solar system. However, you should consider a few factors, such as space available for installing the desired system, funds, and energy requirements.
Q: Can you install a solar power system yourself?
A: If you are familiar with this technology or are a fast learner, you can absolutely power up your home with solar panels on your own. If you don’t have an understanding of this domain, hiring an expert installer will be the right option.
