Grid connected Solar Power Systems

Grid-connected solar power systems are the very latest technology, and can be likened to having your own solar power station located on your house roof, that silently generates green electricity for your own use. As the grid power is always available, it is therefore not essential that the solar power system be sized to exactly match what your daily power usage is. If you generate more power than what you use, the balance excess power is fed back into the grid. When your system doesn't produce enough power, then you get power from the grid (e.g. night time). Grid interactive solar systems eliminate the need for a battery. In effect, the grid serves as your battery. This means that maintenance costs for your system will be less. It should be noted that without battery storage a grid connected system will shut down when there is no power on the grid.

Solar panels collect the sun’s energy as direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter converts the DC power into conventional 240 volt 50Hz AC power, as used in the home. This supply is then connected into your home’s normal power supply at the switchboard. Any difference between the power required in your home and the power generated by the system is provided through the main grid. If the system generates more solar power than your house needs, the excess is exported back to the main grid.

Generally in all countries, to install a grid connected system, the consumer needs to get the permission from the local Utility Company. The local utility company has rules and procedures that must be followed to connect any Solar Power System to the grid safely and legally.

Grid-connected solar generating systems don’t require choosing between solar electricity and the utility. Solar generating systems work in parallel to the grid, providing the best possible combination of reliability, pricing and sustainability benefits. The inverter automatically synchronises with the network; no additional controls are required.

The major components of a grid-connected solar generating system are as follows:

  • Rooftop Solar Array converts sunlight into electricity via the photovoltaic effect.
  • Inverter converts the direct current electricity from the solar modules to utility-grade alternating current that is perfectly synchronized with the utility grid.
  • Utility Energy Meter (reversible) measures the net energy consumed by the customer. The meter spins forward when the customer draws energy from the utility grid and the meter spins backward when excess PV energy is fed to the grid.
  • Electrical Distribution occurs via the building’s existing electric panel with no additional equipment required.
  • Utility Grid supplies electricity when the building load exceeds the solar generating system’s output and absorbs exported electricity when the system output exceeds building load.
  • Building Electrical Loads are fed from both the solar generating system and the utility grid, seamlessly and transparently.

We can offer various grid connected Solar Power Systems to suit your requirement and budget.