Solar Storage And Backup On Oahu

PV solar energy is becoming more and more popular in the state of Hawaii. If you have been looking into solar energy or solar panel batteries you probably have several questions. How exactly does a solar energy system work? What happens to the power that isn’t used? How does solar panel storage work?

How a PV Solar Power System Works

There are many different types of solar panels systems. This includes a grid system, an off-grid system, and a hybrid system. All of these different systems might sound confusing but they are actually quite simple to understand when explained.

Grid Systems in Honolulu

A grid system for your solar panels is still by far the most popular option for home and business owners around Oahu. The way the grid-connected PV solar panels work is very similar to that of your standard energy means.

There are 5 main parts to your grid-connected PV solar panels:

• First, you have your solar panels that produce DC electricity from the sun.

• Second, you have what’s called a solar inverter that converts the energy that is being produced by your solar panels. The conversion that is happening takes the DC electricity that’s being produced by the panels and converts it to AC electricity that is used to power everything in your home.

• Third, you have the switchboard. This piece is what regulates all incoming and outgoing electricity.

• Fourth is your PV electricity meter. The meter simply monitors the production of energy.

• Last but not least, you have the main electricity grid. This is where all of the energy that your panels produce goes when it isn’t used. Simply put, when your panels produce energy that isn’t used the surplus energy gets sent back into the main power grid.

Whenever your panels aren’t producing energy (like at night) your system pulls the power back from the grid. This is why the switchboard is so important.

One of the best parts about sending energy back to the grid is that the power company will pay you (usually in the form of a credit on your bill) for whatever energy your system sends into the power grid. They use what’s called feed-in tariffs (FIT) to determine what the value of the energy sent in is worth.

Off-Grid Solar Panel Storage System

An off-grid solar power system works basically just how it sounds. This is a PV system that isn’t attached to a public grid. It works basically the same exact way that a grid system works with one key difference. Battery storage.

Instead of funneling surplus power back into the main power grid, there will be a solar panel storage unit called a solar panel battery bank. This battery bank will be where all of your solar power is stored. At night all of your electricity will come from the stored power in your battery bank.

There is only one real downfall to an off-grid system. During periods where there isn’t much sunlight (periods of serious rainfall or stormy weather), there is nowhere else that your energy can come from. When you use up the stored energy in your battery bank, there is no way for you to access power from the grid.

Hybrid System In Oahu

A hybrid system is a perfect marriage between off-grid battery storage and a grid-tied system. This is perfect for those who want to use an off-grid system and store their surplus energy in a battery bank but also want the security that comes with a grid-tied system.

Having access to backup power offers peace of mind knowing that you will never have to go without power.

To learn more about grid, off-grid, and hybrid systems give us a call today. We can give you a free quote and help you with getting started with your new PV or solar panel storage system. So call us today at (808) 784-8891.

PV solar energy is becoming more and more popular in the state of Hawaii. If you have been looking into solar energy or solar panel batteries you probably have several questions. How exactly does a solar energy system work? What happens to the power that isn’t used? How does solar panel storage work?

How a PV Solar Power System Works

There are many different types of solar panels systems. This includes a grid system, an off-grid system, and a hybrid system. All of these different systems might sound confusing but they are actually quite simple to understand when explained.

Grid Systems in Honolulu

A grid system for your solar panels is still by far the most popular option for home and business owners around Oahu. The way the grid-connected PV solar panels work is very similar to that of your standard energy means.

There are 5 main parts to your grid-connected PV solar panels:

• First, you have your solar panels that produce DC electricity from the sun.

• Second, you have what’s called a solar inverter that converts the energy that is being produced by your solar panels. The conversion that is happening takes the DC electricity that’s being produced by the panels and converts it to AC electricity that is used to power everything in your home.

• Third, you have the switchboard. This piece is what regulates all incoming and outgoing electricity.

• Fourth is your PV electricity meter. The meter simply monitors the production of energy.

• Last but not least, you have the main electricity grid. This is where all of the energy that your panels produce goes when it isn’t used. Simply put, when your panels produce energy that isn’t used the surplus energy gets sent back into the main power grid.

Whenever your panels aren’t producing energy (like at night) your system pulls the power back from the grid. This is why the switchboard is so important.

One of the best parts about sending energy back to the grid is that the power company will pay you (usually in the form of a credit on your bill) for whatever energy your system sends into the power grid. They use what’s called feed-in tariffs (FIT) to determine what the value of the energy sent in is worth.

Off-Grid Solar Panel Storage System

An off-grid solar power system works basically just how it sounds. This is a PV system that isn’t attached to a public grid. It works basically the same exact way that a grid system works with one key difference. Battery storage.

Instead of funneling surplus power back into the main power grid, there will be a solar panel storage unit called a solar panel battery bank. This battery bank will be where all of your solar power is stored. At night all of your electricity will come from the stored power in your battery bank.

There is only one real downfall to an off-grid system. During periods where there isn’t much sunlight (periods of serious rainfall or stormy weather), there is nowhere else that your energy can come from. When you use up the stored energy in your battery bank, there is no way for you to access power from the grid.

Hybrid System In Oahu

A hybrid system is a perfect marriage between off-grid battery storage and a grid-tied system. This is perfect for those who want to use an off-grid system and store their surplus energy in a battery bank but also want the security that comes with a grid-tied system.

Having access to backup power offers peace of mind knowing that you will never have to go without power.

To learn more about grid, off-grid, and hybrid systems give us a call today. We can give you a free quote and help you with getting started with your new PV or solar panel storage system. So call us today at (808) 784-8891.