You may be considering an off-grid solar system to provide a steady supply of electricity. Switching over to alternative sources to power your home or business may be very tempting, especially with ever-rising inflation and the cost of electricity.
Making use of an off-grid solar system is a clean and environmentally friendly way of powering your home or business, as it meets your energy requirements by harnessing the energy of the sun. Sunlight is one of South Africa’s most abundant resources, and harvesting it causes no environmental disruption or pollution. However, as appealing as these systems may sound, the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits. There are much better alternatives to consider.
How Does An Off Grid Solar System Work?
An off-grid solar system works in conjunction with a storage device such as a solar battery, and such systems are much more attainable and accessible now than ever. However, it’s important to understand the risks and disadvantages associated with going completely off-grid. Keep reading to learn a little more about how off grid solar systems work. We will also be covering some convenient alternatives to off-grid solar energy systems like the hybrid systems from Alumo Energy.
Alumo offers a number of solar solutions to help you limit your dependance on the national electrical grid. From solar rentals, to backup batteries, we have it all. Reach out to us for a consultation and quote today!
What Is An Off-Grid Solar System?
In simple terms, an off-grid solar system can be used to meet your electricity requirements with solar power. This means your property will not need to rely on the national power grid to keep lights and appliances on.
As an off-grid solar system operates independently from any national electrical grid, issues that impact electrical distribution and supply for others will not affect your property. It is important to note that an off-grid solar system cannot work in conjunction with a hybrid system, but only independently.
While this may sound good in theory, relying on an off-grid solar energy system to power your property can come with a new set of issues. We will be covering some of these hidden issues further on.
How Exactly Does An Off-Grid Solar System Work?
After collecting and converting solar energy into electrical energy, the solar panels send this energy to a solar inverter. The power is then channeled directly to a battery-powered inverter. From there, the energy stored in the battery is distributed throughout your home to power your electrical appliances.
If any excess power is generated, it is transferred directly to the battery bank for storage. The battery bank is used at night or on cloudy days. There are a number of components that make up an efficient off-grid solar system, and these are vital in ensuring electricity generation runs smoothly. These include:
Solar panels: Solar panels are made up of many silicon photovoltaic cells – also referred to as PV cells.
PV cells generate direct current (DC) from sunlight. All PV cells are connected and linked to adjacent panels by cables. Solar panels are linked together in series to form a solar panel. When the sun’s rays hit the solar panels, they convert the sun’s energy into electrical energy and power the battery.
Solar batteries: Multiple batteries are connected to wires in a large power supply. Without a battery, there is no stored energy to power your devices overnight. The battery should be large enough to store solar energy for at least two days for maximum comfort. Deep cycle batteries are required for an off-grid solar system to retain large amounts of energy. They are made of thicker plates for deep discharge and frequent refills.
Off-grid solar inverter: The inverter converts the direct current generated by the solar panels into alternating current, which is then used to power your home appliances. Grid-connected and off-grid inverters differ in nature and performance. Unlike an on-grid inverter, the frequency of an off-grid inverter does not need to match the frequency of the mains.
Solar charge controller: The charge controller regulates the amount of power sent to the battery for optimal performance. It is one of the essential components of an off-grid solar system as it protects the battery from damage for a lifetime. It basically regulates the charging of batteries and prevents them from overcharging. The solar charge controller determines the efficiency of the solar system.
DC disconnect switch: The DC disconnect switch is located between the off-grid inverter and the battery pack. This is an additional switch that makes it possible to stop current flowing between these two components. It is an integral part of off-grid systems and is used for troubleshooting, maintenance, and short circuit protection.
Back-up generator: This is an optional component of your off-grid solar system. When your battery isn’t accumulating enough energy to power your home, mainly due to bad weather, you’ll need a backup generator. However, if you don’t mind giving your electrical equipment time off, you don’t need to invest in a backup generator.
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What Are The Benefits Of An Off-Grid Solar System?
- Your home or business will not be affected during a power outage because you are not connected to the electricity grid.
- Grid-free living means you won’t have to pay monthly fees to stay connected to the grid.
- Since the devices involved in off-grid solar systems do not depend on the grid, the installation process is much simpler than having to rely on complex infrastructure to operate.
- If you live in a rural area, an off-grid solar system can make your home more self-sufficient and independent from the city’s fluctuating electricity supply.
What Are The Disadvantages Of An Off-Grid Solar System?
While there are new technological advancements being made to ensure off-grid solar systems are reliable and stable, there are still some things to keep in mind before purchasing such a system. These include:
- Power can run out, especially after a few days of cloudy weather. Additionally, going off-grid can mean not using certain power-hungry appliances like air conditioners and electric heaters to save energy. When the battery is fully discharged, even the refrigerator or light no longer works. Sometimes owners of off-grid systems have to distribute their electricity and wait for sunny weather to run power-hungry appliances and equipment. It requires lifestyle adjustments and advanced planning, like checking the weather forecast – in some instances, your solar panels can generate more renewable energy than your batteries can handle.
- Because you can’t send excess electricity to the grid, electricity is wasted. Normally, the solar system is used daily to ensure the lights work 24/24. In most climates, the winter months are the hardest, but this depends on the local climate.
- The design life of solar panels is between 25 and 30 years, but less for solar cells. Unfortunately, owners of solar systems may need to replace batteries throughout the life of the system.
- Although solar panels and batteries do not produce carbon emissions during operation, there is an environmental impact associated with the extraction of materials and the production of renewable energy systems. At the end of their life, it can be difficult to recycle solar panels and lithium-ion batteries.
- To get electricity when the solar batteries are running low, some off-grid homeowners have equipped generators. Unfortunately, generators use fossil fuels, causing air pollution and noise.
How To Maximise The Sunlight Your Solar Panels Can Access
The PV cells that make up a solar panel need direct sunlight to work efficiently. There are some things to keep in mind when your off-grid solar system is being installed, namely:
- Placing your solar panels in the shade is one of the main factors affecting the efficiency of your solar power system. As you know, solar panels need sunlight to work. So, for your solar panels to perform at their best, make sure that they are not placed in shaded areas.
Don’t expect them to work well without providing enough solar power. Ideally, you should place your solar system in a location that can receive direct sunlight. If there is a shadow in even one corner of the panel, it can have a significant effect on the output of your entire system.
- This is another essential step if you want to maximize the power of your solar panels. When dust accumulates on the surface of your solar panels, it reduces the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells. This happens because the sun’s rays hitting the solar panel cannot hit the photovoltaic cells directly. This is why you need to make sure that there is no dirt on your solar panels. You can clean your solar panels every year if you want them to continue to function properly.
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- A major factor that can affect the amount of electricity produced by solar systems is the temperature at which they operate. Most people assume that more sun means more energy, but that’s not entirely true. Different solar systems react differently to operating temperatures, but in the maximum case, the efficiency of these systems decreases as the temperature improves. The effect of increasing temperature on the strength of solar systems is known as the temperature coefficient.
- Remember that the efficiency of the photovoltaic panel is strongly influenced by the temperature level. Its effectiveness decreases as the temperature increases. Therefore, it is necessary to take proper precautions and ensure that there is enough distance between the roof and the solar panels. This aids air circulation and prevents heat from impacting PV levels.
How Alumo Can Help You
We believe in making solar systems as attainable as possible. At Alumo, we offer clients the option to rent hybrid solar energy systems or buy a system outright. Our versatile options also allow clients to start small and upgrade their solar system over time. Rather than dealing with the hassles and exorbitant costs that come with running an off-grid solar system, Alumo’s hybrid solar systems are far more affordable and will help you keep the lights on with ease.
There are some simple steps to follow when applying for a solar rental. The first step is to complete a credit check through the official Alumo website and our team will let you know if you’ve been approved within a day.
Once you have been approved, the rental agreement will be sent out. It is a completely paperless process and the lease can be signed anywhere and at the earliest convenience for you. Once the signed lease is signed, Alumo will create a debit order to ensure the rental is paid on time each month. Alumo agents will then proceed to the site to properly install, configure, and connect your rental solar system.
During the rental period, you have the option to purchase the system if capital is available. Rental solar systems can be purchased at any time during the rental period. Other options include renewing your lease or upgrading your rental solar system.
The cost of load shedding adds up. It can become expensive to rely on electricians, electrical engineers or plumbers to come to your property if blackouts negatively impact appliances, electrical lines or plumbing.
Conclusion
Now that you know how a off grid solar system works, you can start investing in your very own system. With Alumo’s rental option specifically, there is no need to stress over the cost of maintaining your solar system. We will ensure the system is in perfect working condition throughout the lease. Don’t hesitate to check out our solar rental guide to learn more about renting a hybrid solar energy system for your property.