Did you know that you can choose from different types of solar power systems?
Based on the latest Clean Energy Australia Report, there were 310,000 new rooftop solar systems that were added in 2022. This number of solar systems amounted to a 2.7 GW capacity – the same capacity as the Eraring Power Station in New South Wales.
This just shows that more people are now appreciating the benefits of using solar power. In fact, this country is now considered the global leader in solar power because of the high interest of more Australians.
Some of the benefits of solar power that are driving more people into it include the following:
- It can save you money on electric bills in the long run.
- It can reduce the country’s carbon emissions.
- It provides less health risk for its workers than those who work in fossil fuel industries.
- It has minimal environmental impacts.
- It can provide jobs in remote areas even with just the help of small-scale solar projects.
There are more benefits to using solar power, which can convince anyone to install a system for their house. However, before installing a solar system, it’s essential to determine the different types available.
4 different types of solar power systems
1. Portable solar power system
There are different systems available depending on the person’s needs or situation. One of the systems that is gaining popularity is called the portable solar system.
From the name itself, this kind of system is perfect for people who plan to travel long distances. For example, they are on a road trip on a car or train and would need their small appliances or gadgets charged.
Portable systems are also perfect outdoors and in remote locations like the outback, in forests or near the ocean. These smaller kits can usually store around 3W to 120W of power.
This amount of energy should be enough to power small devices. The only thing to watch out for is ensuring that the kit is appropriate for the user’s current environment.
2. On-grid solar power system
On-grid solar is also known by its other names, such as grid-connect solar, grid-tie solar, or grid-feed solar. This kind of system means that your system is connected to the country’s electricity grid.
On-grid is the most common type of system in Australia and accounts for almost 95% of systems in the country. This kind of system does not need a battery connected to it.
What happens is that any excess solar power generated by the system is sold to the electricity retailer. This is actually the main incentive why most households and businesses prefer to set up an on-grid solar system.
However, it’s best to check the state’s policy when it comes to selling the excess power to the electricity retailer. This varies from state to state, and it’s best to check this prior to having a system installed.
3. Off-grid solar power system
From the name itself, anyone can deduce that an off-grid solar system is not connected to the power grid. It’s a standalone system that can power any home or business appliance.
Because this kind of system is not connected to the main power grid, anyone can use it anywhere. They will not be bound by the inconveniences of being connected to the grid. For example, an off-grid solar system owner will not be affected by any blackouts.
There’s a different set of parts required for this kind of system, namely:
- Solar panels that capture energy from the sun
- Charge controller, which takes care of regulating the energy that flows from the panels to the solar batteries. This is basically a small computer.
- Solar batteries used to store the converted energy captured by the panels.
- Solar inverter, which converts the current from DC power (low voltage) to AC power (high voltage).
One of the biggest downsides of having an off-grid system is the cost. It is almost three to five times more expensive than an on-grid system.
Another downside of this kind of system is that it uses batteries to store energy. Take note that these solar batteries would also need to be replaced from time to time.
Battery disposal is a big environmental concern because of the chemicals that they contain. If these are not disposed of properly, they may cause harmful chemicals to seep into the earth.
4. Hybrid solar power system
Hybrid systems are gaining popularity because it addresses the main issue of the other types of system. This issue is regarding the longevity of solar batteries.
Generally speaking, a battery’s lifespan is greatly impacted by what is called the “depth of discharge.” This pertains to the amount of battery that is allowed to be discharged before being charged again.
A battery that reaches below 20% of its capacity is considered deeply discharged. Once a deeply discharged battery is charged again, the battery undergoes what’s called as deep cycle recharging.
Deep cycle recharging affects the longevity of batteries. One of the solutions to this is to consider a hybrid system for your house or business. An example of this is using a wind turbine so that when there’s less sunlight available, the turbine can charge the system. It’s a bonus if it’s both sunny and windy because the charging will be twice as fast.
Let Aztech Solar help you decide on the perfect solar power system for you!
It can be overwhelming to go through each type of system. This is why finding a trusted solar power installer to guide you is crucial.
Consider Aztech Solar for any questions and concerns about different kinds of solar systems. We offer a $0 deposit and do not charge any interest ever!
Call us now at 02 4067 2634 or email info@aztechsolar.com.au for a free quote.
