Off-Grid, On-Grid Hybrid Solar Systems—What Does It All Mean?
Installing solar photovoltaic panels on your Cape Cod or Greater Boston area home can help you dramatically reduce your energy bills, lower your home’s carbon footprint, and embrace clean energy consumption that’s better for the environment! But solar energy systems aren’t one-size-fits-all —there are a few different types of solar panel set-ups and configurations.
Today we’re going to discuss the differences between on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid solar systems and the advantages to each option.
What Is an On-Grid Solar System?
An on-grid solar system, also called a grid-tied system, is the most common solar energy set-up you’re likely to come across, and the most common residential solar panel option. On-grid solar power systems are connected to the utility grid. When the sun is out and your panels are producing, your home will draw power directly from your panels. But when you need electricity at times when your panels can’t provide, you’ll still be able to draw power from the grid.
The advantages of a grid-tied system:
-Utility-related solar incentives, such as Smart and SREC
-Improve the fuel mix on the utility grid for all utility customers
What is an Off-Grid Solar System?
Off-grid systems, by comparison, aren’t connected to the utility grid. For homeowners who want to be completely energy independent and use 100% clean energy to power their homes, off-grid solar systems are a great way to do this. However, an off-grid system will require installation of a bank of solar batteries (or a solar battery with an added backup generator) to provide power for your home at night and on cloudy days. Off-grid systems are usually only set up in very remote and rural areas where grid access is difficult. Here in Massachusetts, we would not recommend an off-grid system.
Hybrid Solar Systems
Hybrid solar energy systems, as you may have guessed, are both connected to the grid and use solar battery storage to reduce the use of electricity from the grid. Hybrid systems are like the best of both worlds—they give you many of the benefits of off-grid systems, with a grid connection that acts as a safety net to avoid having to add multiple batteries or a backup generator. However, in a power outage, your solar battery could stop working if it runs out of power and without internet connectivity, you wouldn’t be able to monitor your system.
Find the Right Solar Installers in MA with My Generation Energy
Not sure which system is right for your home and family’s energy needs? Luckily, you don’t have to make the decision alone! At My Generation Energy, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners install solar panels on their Cape Cod, Greater Boston, South Shore, and South Coast Massachusetts houses. We’ll take the time to learn more about what you’re hoping to get out of solar panel installation and find the right system for your home and budget.
Learn more about your solar options with a local solar contractor you can trust. Call 508-694-6884 or contact us today to schedule a site assessment.
What are Hybrid Solar System Components?
Power requirements for everyone are not the same, and it is applicable for solar panel systems too. Different types of solar power systems are available in the market to suit your requirements, namely on-grid, hybrid, and off-grid solar systems. You can completely shift to solar power and gain freedom from the utility grid with an off-grid solar system. And with an on-grid solar system, your solar system is connected to the grid but is not backed with batteries. Either of these solar systems may not guarantee a constant power supply, but a hybrid solar system is a mix of both systems. Come find out about Hybrid Solar System components. Well, not just this, you will find out about the working and specifications of a 10kW Solar Hybrid System.
What is a Hybrid Solar System?
In this type of solar system PV panels are connected to the utility grid and to batteries both. In this way, the power generated by solar panels is stored in the utility grid and battery. Solar panels produce electricity which is sent to solar inverters. The inverters then change this direct current into an alternating current and supply it to your home or battery.
Excess energy generated by solar panels is stored in a battery until required. And when the battery is sufficiently charged the power generated is fed into the grid to generate credit. Either way, there is no power loss.
What are Hybrid Solar System Components?
With a hybrid solar system, you will get a constant power supply. When there is insufficient power generation from panels, you will get power supply from stored credits in your utility grid. And in case of a power outage, you have a battery backup to power your house.
As the system is connected to multiple power sources, it is a bit more complex in comparison to on-grid and off-grid solar systems. It is the reason a hybrid solar system has comparatively more components.
AC Distribution Board/Box (ACDB)
This box is installed between the solar inverter and appliances or devices. The two main components of ACDB Box are SPD and MCB. Here, SPD is Surge Protection Device that protects the system against power surges by earthing the voltage. Miniature Circuit Breaker or MCB trips and breaks the circuit in case of high voltage. AC MCB is used for low circuit currents and for high circuit currents AC Molded Case Circuit Breaker (MCCB) is used.
With a system ranging between 1 kW and 6 kW, you need a single-phase ACDB box that has a live and neutral wire. Whereas a solar system with more than 6 kW capacity needs a 3-phase junction box that has 3 live wires and 1 neutral wire. Such wiring helps in the adequate management of higher voltages of the system.
Bidirectional (Power) Meter
A hybrid solar system needs a bidirectional meter to measure both the incoming and outgoing electricity into the grid from the solar panel system. Once the batteries are fully charged, the inverter supplies excess generated current to the utility grid which is not used by appliances and gets fed into the grid. Excess power stored in the utility grid is converted into credits and these credits are used to pay for electricity supplied from the grid. Bill received at month end will have entries for both, power fed from solar panels into the grid and power supplied from grid to house.
Charge Controller
Next in hybrid solar system components is a charge controller that maintains the health of battery backup. They regulate ampere and voltage delivered to loads, inverters, and batteries. Two types of charge controllers are mostly used with solar power systems, namely, PWM and MPPT. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) manage current and protect the components from overcharge, undercharge, and sudden voltage surges.
a) MPPT
This device integrated into the solar system provides voltage and current conversions. MPPT charge controller detects the point when solar panels produce maximum output. This charge controller regulates the current entering battery without breaking the circuit between the solar battery and solar panels. It ensures voltage entering batteries adhere to their voltage requirements. Preferably, this charge controller is used for negative ground systems because it basically uses a negative line as a reference and then again switches back to a positive line.
b) PWM
These series charge regulators use a transistor to reconnect panels with high-frequency batteries. A PWM self-adjusts the current by changing the speed, and length of outgoing pulses to the battery. Constantly, this charge controller works as a Rapid on/off the controller. A transistor in a pulse width modulation is placed in either a positive or negative line, allowing it to be used in both positive and negative grounds.
DC Distribution Board/Box (DCDB)
This protection device is installed between solar panels and solar hybrid inverters to protect them from short circuits and high voltage. A direct current distribution box has SPD. It protects the system against power surges and a fuse that breaks to stop current flow in case of high voltages. You have 2 options: single and three-phase junction boxes when purchasing this component that solely depends on the wattage of your solar panel system.
In case your solar system capacity ranges between 1 kW and 6 kW, you need a single-phase DCDB. But a system of more than 6 kW requires a 3-phase junction box.
Hybrid Inverter
The primary function of a hybrid solar inverter is not distinct from any other inverter. The hybrid inverter converts Direct Current (DC) generated from solar panels into Alternating Current (AC) that can be supplied to appliances and batteries connected to the solar system. A hybrid inverter is considered the heart of hybrid solar system components. It is capable of converting power supply from one source to another easily without human interference. Different wattages of hybrid inverters are available to suit your requirements and match the efficiency of solar panel systems.
Racking and Mounts
Every solar panel system requires racks and mounts to fix solar panels on the roof. You cannot just put the panels on your roof as every roof has a different inclination and panels get maximum exposure to sunlight. Solar panels need to be inclined to a certain degree to ensure sunlight absorption for longer hours of sunlight exposure. Different types of solar racks and mounts are available. The usage of types depends on the type of roof.
Solar Batteries
A hybrid solar system has a battery backup which enables a constant power supply to your house. Solar batteries with C ratings are preferably good for a hybrid solar system. The time for which they provide backup depends on their efficiency. If your solar panels are not sufficiently generating power and there is a power outage at that time, the battery will supply power to your house. Excess power generated from solar panels is stored in a battery which is used as per required.
Solar Panels
A hybrid solar system is incomplete without solar panels. Hybrid means power supply from different sources. Thus, PV panels are required for solar energy harvesting. Direct Current generated by solar panels is supplied to an inverter where it is converted into Alternating Current. Different types of solar panels have distinct efficiency and lifespan. There are mainly 3 types of solar panels, namely monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film (amorphous) solar panels. Mono panels last for most of their lives, about 30 years. Poly is less efficient than mono panels, but it does not last as long as mono panels. Probably around 25 years max, but these are mostly used for residential and commercial applications. Whereas thin-film solar panels are the least efficient and used for small applications and their lifespan is also less than others.
Hybrid Solar System Components and Hybrid Solar System Working: How Do They Work?
Hybrid solar system components work in sync with each other for the smooth functioning of the system. Power generation begins from PV panels that absorb photons from sunlight, which results in the vibration of electrons within the solar cell. Formed by two thin layers with one having a positive and the other one with a negative current, a solar cell has an electric field within. They respond to absorbed heat and light energy from the sun and result in the generation of direct current.
It generally moves in one direction, which is why it is termed a direct current. This power generated by solar cells is supplied to the inverter through strings connected by solar panels to the solar inverter. Since most appliances are powered with alternating current, therefore an inverter is required for conversion.
A solar inverter converts DC to AC and transmits the same to the solar battery and grid. Solar batteries are charged from this current and the grid supplies the current to power appliances and devices at your house. On a cloudy day when there is insufficient power generation from solar panels, the required power is supplied from the grid.
During a power outage at night, there is no solar power generation; thus, power stored in batteries is utilized to provide electricity to your house. I hope you understood about the hybrid solar system working.
What are the Specifications of 10kW Solar Hybrid System?
A hybrid solar system comes in different power wattages that can run appliances with different power requirements. A 10K hybrid solar power system is capable of generating 44-55 kW per day with solar battery storage of around 10 kWh. This amount of power is enough for a household with 5–7 people. A 10 kWh system has remote monitoring that can be controlled via an application and web portal. The following are the specifications of a 10kW solar hybrid system.
| Type | Hybrid |
| Accessories | Combiner box, PV Cable, MC4, and Mounting Support |
| Battery | 12V 250AH 20 |
| Certificate | TUV/CE/CEC/INMETRO/SEC/CQC/ISO/FIDE |
| Dimensions | Europe and United States Standard |
| Inverter | 10 kW (3-phase) |
| Max power | 11130w |
| Notion | System Capacity adjustable as per customer requirements |
| Package | System connecting drawings (installing) and Standard wooded package |
| PV Solar Panels | 42265W |
| System capacity | 10 kW |
| Warranty | 25 years |
So, now you know about hybrid solar system components. Other than solar panels, batteries, and solar inverters, charge controllers are equally important. A solar system installation is an expensive process, and no one wants the inverter of the battery to be damaged due to power fluctuations. To avoid such problems and for a healthy long-lasting solar panel system you need to incorporate efficient components. Then only you can ensure the hybrid solar system working is up to the mark and you get maximum output from the system.
Olivia is committed to green energy and works to help ensure our planet’s long-term habitability. She takes part in environmental conservation by recycling and avoiding single-use plastic.
What is a Hybrid Inverter? Types and Functions of Hybrid Inverter Introduction
New solar technology has been developed in the form of hybrid inverters. These inverters can combine the benefits of regular solar inverters with the flexibility of battery inverters into one piece of equipment. A hybrid inverter is a new option for homeowners who want to install a solar power system that can be expanded in the future to include other parts, such as a battery storage system.
Here, we look at what a hybrid inverter is and the different types and functions it has.
What is a hybrid inverter? How does it work?
A hybrid solar inverter is a piece of equipment that is created by combining a solar inverter and a battery inverter into a single unit. This allows the hybrid solar inverter to intelligently handle power coming from your solar panels, solar batteries, and the utility grid all at the same time.
The direct current (DC) electricity generated by your photovoltaic (PV) system is changed into the alternating current (AC) electricity that is used to power your home. This type of solar grid-tie inverter also makes it possible to send any excess electricity generated to the utility grid.
The process of converting the DC electricity that is stored in your solar battery storage into AC electricity that can be used by your home is managed by a battery inverter.
A solar hybrid grid-tie inverter makes the work of a traditional solar inverter easier and better by putting all of its functions into a single device. These features include grid connection and solar panel charging. Even better, because the amount of solar power that is available can vary depending on the weather and the time of year, a hybrid inverter can, if necessary, draw power from the electricity grid to charge your battery storage system. This is a significant benefit because the amount of solar power that is available can change.
What are the different functions of a hybrid solar inverter?
An inverter’s primary function is to change the direct current (DC) that is fed into it from your solar panels into alternating current (AC), which your house is able to make use of. This method is taken to a whole new level when a hybrid solar inverter is used, which brings with it a number of benefits, including the following:
DC-to-AC Power Conversion in Both Directions Solar batteries are often charged by direct current (DC) electricity that comes directly from solar panels or by DC electricity that has been converted from alternating current (AC) electricity using a solar inverter (AC coupled). The stored direct current electricity must then be converted by an inverter into alternating current electricity before the power may be released.
When it is a hybrid model, one piece of equipment can do the job of both the inverter and the battery. The hybrid grid-tie inverter can use AC electricity to power your home. It can also take AC electricity from the grid and turn it into DC electricity that can be stored in batteries for later use.
Regulation of the Power Supply Solar panels can produce different amounts of power depending on the time of day and the weather. This is because the amount of sunlight changes throughout the day. A hybrid inverter controls and regulates this electricity to make sure that the system as a whole works within the parameters that were set.
Power Monitoring Solar hybrid grid-tied inverters can be fitted with solar power monitoring software to measure and keep an eye on your photovoltaic system. This can be done through the display screen of the inverter or through an app on a connected smartphone. This can assist in locating any faults in the system.
Hybrid inverters with Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPT) measure how much electricity your solar panels make and compare it to the battery’s voltage. This is done to get the most power out of the system. This makes it possible for the most power to be made and for DC electricity to be turned into the voltage that gives the battery the most charge. Your MPPT makes sure that your solar power system will work well no matter what, such as how bright the sun is, how hot the solar panels are, or how much electricity is being used.
Types of hybrid inverters
Before making a decision about whether or not to add a hybrid inverter to your electrical system, you should know about the three main kinds.
Inverter/Charger Hybrid
The type of hybrid inverter that is used most often in off-grid power applications is an inverter/charger hybrid. This piece of equipment has all the features of a regular battery charger and inverter, as well as the benefits of hybrid inverters that we’ve already talked about.
With this kind of inverter, the electrical system can get power from the shore connection until the setpoint limit is reached. At this time, it will begin adding power from the battery to the mix in in order to prevent the shore supply from becoming overloaded. As soon as the extra load goes down, it will start charging the batteries again using the power it has in whatever way is best.
Inverter/Charger/Solar Charge Integrated
One type of hybrid inverter that is not very common is one that has MPPT solar chargers built in. These models have all the benefits of a regular hybrid unit, plus they have solar power built in. This makes them a great choice for anyone who wants to save space. The disadvantage of using them is that if one component fails for any reason, the whole system can become inoperable as a result.
Grid-Tie Hybrid
As was just said, these machines can do every normal thing a hybrid inverter can do. On the other hand, these are able to send power back into the grid, which is practically the same as selling power back to the power provider. Because of this, some of the costs that are normally incurred when pulling power from your home or another source can be avoided.
Grid-tie systems are subject to stringent regulations, and in order to put one into operation, you will need permission from the nearby utility.
Can a hybrid inverter help me go off-grid?
If you want to live partially or completely off the grid, you should seriously think about buying a hybrid inverter. This is because they are able to combine the electricity from a number of different sources into a single stream that can be utilized.
Imagine the possibility of creating an electrical system that is both more powerful and more capable by combining the power of a generator or a solar power system with the charge of your batteries. Because of this, living off the grid is much more bearable over the long run, since you are able to enjoy many more of the conveniences that are standard in a conventional house.
FSP’s hybrid inverter recommendations
At FSP, we believe that it is important for customers to do their research into significant purchases like this. We spend time looking into the best products on the market and only recommend ones we would use ourselves. Our recommendation for the best hybrid inverter is the PowerManager Hybrid 10kW. It has the following features:
- Programmable multiple operation modes: Grid-tie, off-grid and grid-tie with backup
- Pure sinewave and programmable priority for Battery or Grid
- Self-consumption and Feed-in to the grid
- Peak load shifting operation
- Alike UPS application
- User-adjustable charging current and voltage
- Monitoring software for real-time status display and control
- Parallel operation of up to 6 units
For more information on the PowerManager Hybrid 10kW. visit our website and click on ‘ inquiry ’.
Key Takeaways
An initial investment in a hybrid inverter may be more expensive, but it may be worthwhile in the long run because it will provide you with a solar inverter that makes the most of the operations of your PV system. With the help of a hybrid inverter, you can reduce how much you need to use the grid, lower your carbon footprint, use more advanced monitoring tools, and make more power.
For more information on hybrid inverters, get in touch with us today and speak to a member of our team.
About FSP
FSP Group is one of the global leading power supply manufacturer. Since 1993, FSP Group has followed the management conception “service, profession, and innovation” to fulfill its responsibilities as a green energy resolution supplier.
What Is Hybrid Solar System? | Hybrid Solar System Connection | Components of Solar Hybrid Power Systems
After installing solar panels, energy generated from them needs to be converted into electricity for your home. This is a few ways to do this; you can stay connected to the grids, go completely off-grid, or have hybrid systems. Hybrid systems are when your solar panels are connected to the grid’s power lines and have a backup battery system to store the excess electricity.
The sun’s energy absorbed by solar panels goes through an inverter to create usable electricity. From there, the electricity goes to either your home, your battery, or the grid. The advantage of a hybrid solar system is that you will always have electricity in any case.
With a backup battery, the extra energy that your solar panel makeup but your home doesn’t use will be stored in this battery. Then, when the sun isn’t shining, this battery will power you through the night during system blackouts or inclement weather.
With a hybrid solar system, if you use all of your battery power, you have the ability to draw powers from the electrical grid. A hybrid solar system works by sending solar power to your inverters, which then send energy to power your home. Excess energy that isn’t used to power your home goes to your home’s battery for storage. This battery can power your home when your solar panels are not producing energy.
After all those steps, if there is still energy left, that energy is sent to the grid. The hybrid solar system is a crossover between grid and off-grid solar systems. This gives the advantage of being connected to the utility grid at the same time and giving your home enough backup to power significant loads in the event of blackouts.
The basic idea behinds hybrids solars are that when the sun is shining, you generate electricity from your solar panels and store this power in a battery. Once your battery is fully charged, you will use the excess electricity from solar to power your home appliances, and if any more electricity is left, it will be exported to the utility grid.
The power stored in your battery will be used when your utility grid is turned off as source of power backup. Hybrids solar systems give you all the benefits of a grid-tied system while providing power backups in the event of powers outages.
In the event of a powers outage, the on-grid solar system shuts down. Solar panels and batteries alone don’t help generate electricity, and you also need other components that will help generate electricity.
Hybrid Solar System Connection:
Hybrid Solar System Working When There Is Power Outage:
If there is a powers outage in the early morning or afternoon when the sun is shining and your solar system is generating electricity, your solar system will not shut down as it does in an on solar grid system, but it will turn itself off. Will disconnect from the grid will continue. ,
The amount of electricity your home will need during a power outage will be drawn from the battery. Let me tell you one thing if your solar system is of 3 kW and you are running more than 3 kW of appliances on it at a time when the grid goes down, then your inverter will shut down.
Components of Solar Hybrid Power Systems:
#1. PV System (Primary Power Source)
A PV system consists of several PV modules and panels that form a complete photovoltaic power generating unit. Their panels absorb the sun’s rays convert the received energy into electricity. In other words, they convert solar radiation energy into direct current.
#2. Energy Management System (EMS)
It is a system that is responsible for monitoring the power demand as well as the rate of power generation at primary power sources to ascertain a consistent power output by simultaneously charging the supplementary power source as and when required.
Can you batteries or use them when appropriate. One of the advantages of using the EMS is that they can be configured based on various user preferences based on monitored system parameters.
#3. Solar Inverter
The direct current produced by the PV systems is not so useful. Solar inverters are used to convert the DC output of a photovoltaic panel into a good 240v alternating current (AC) output.
#4. Battery
Batteries store the excess generated energy for later use when there is not enough PV production or in cases where both the PV and the supplementary power source cannot produce enough energy to meet the power demand from the systems.
Solar Diesel Hybrid System:
As previously mentioned, solar-diesel hybrid systems couple photovoltaics and diesel generators, also known as diesel gensets. Diesel gensets are intended for these systems for fluctuating solar power generation, and there will be battery storage as well as an energy management system to increase the overall efficiency of the system, which will allow for the ups and downs of solar power and diesel Genset operation.
Than monitors. Distance from its power output limit, so as to decide when to charge the battery or use it for continuous power generation. Instead of connecting the solar system to the power grid, the use of diesel gensets in a solar hybrid power system will most likely occur when the grid strength is poor, and there are frequent power outages.
For all hybrid power systems, there is one main energy supplier. For this case, the main power system can be either a diesel power generator or a solar PV. In the first scenario, the goals are to reduce fuel expenditure by adding additional energy from the photovoltaic systems.
In scenario second, which is the actual purpose of these posts, diesel gensets are intended to compensate for energy output fluctuations of solar PVs with batteries and an energy management system to optimize both fuel efficiency and power generation stability.
There are several benefits to consider for a solar-diesel hybrid power system. The excessive power output will be stored in batteries for later use or may even be sent to the power grid.
However, with proper selection use of equipment, all energy can be used without being wasted or put back into the grid. The use of diesel gensets with batteries for these power systems ensures continuous and uninterrupted power generation, even if the PV generation is not sufficient or the grid fails.
In addition, these systems are certainly more environmentally friendly than systems that rely solely on fossil fuels for electricity generation due to their emphasis on the solar part of power generation and producing fewer pollutants such as carbon monoxide the way systems rely only on fossil fuels.
Solar PV-Wind Hybrid Systems:
The other important types of the solar hybrid power system are the solar PV-wind hybrid power system, in which the supplementary power source is wind. This is a really good combination as both solar and wind are among the renewable energy sources.
Another cool thing about interconnecting wind and solar power systems is that typically the peak of solar power occurs when the wind is not so strong, and the wind peak operating time is when the wind is not so strong. Energy is negligible or at least weak.
This means that these systems are inherently less volatile in terms of power output. Wind power systems and solar power systems individually are not as effective as their combination because there are times throughout the year when wind or solar power is not available as much as is needed.
Therefore, solar-wind hybrid power systems may be a better choice for continuous power generation. They can also be integrated with another supplementary power source such as diesel to guarantee consistent power output. Well, any hybrid power system requires the use of batteries, and these hybrid power systems are no exception.
Solar Thermal Hybrid Systems:
Solar hybrid power systems of the solar thermal type are slightly different from the previously mentioned solar power systems. These power systems are not only used for electricity generation, and as the name suggests, they are used for electricity generation as well as heating.
It is clear that a portion of the power generation will be devoted to heating for any power system, but these systems will separate the heating portion from the power generation portion and are, therefore, more efficient than other power systems. The logic behind their design is quite fascinating. Well, you can expect your photovoltaic cells to reach 20% electrical efficiency, which means they can only convert the Sun’s radiation into electrical energy.
However, about 65% to 70% of that radiative energy of the Sun will be converted to heat, raising the temperatures of the PV module. These hybrid systems are designed to absorb heat using components called PVT collectors to make better use of the solar spectrum.
Since these systems are designed to direct the heat absorbed from system surface areas towards heating purposes, where necessary, the surface temperature of the modules will be reduced, meaning their lifetime will be extended. Well, it certainly increases the overall efficiency of the system but will reduce the efficiency of the solar collector due to the low surface temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Is Hybrid Solar System?
A hybrid solar system is a renewable energy system that is grid-tied and includes battery storage. The system uses solar panels to produce energy during the day, while the batteries store excess energy for use later at night when there is no sunlight.
Hybrid Solar System
A hybrid system is when your solar panels remain connected to the grid’s power lines and have a backup battery system to store excess power. The sun’s energy absorbed by the solar panels goes through an inverter to create usable electricity.
PV Diesel Hybrid System
The combination of diesel generators with PV systems quickly pays for itself through large savings in fuel costs. Intelligent technology ensures optimum interaction between the photovoltaic system and the diesel generator.
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