Hybrid Solar Energy Systems:
A hybrid solar system (aka “grid-tie with power backup”, “grid fail over” or “grid fallback”) is basically a grid connect solar system with batteries and some electronics. The electronics continuously monitor the batteries, the solar panels and the grid and decide:
This may sound very similar in cost and complexity to an off grid system. But the crucial point to understand is that, because your system is not totally disconnected from the grid, you save a lot of money on system Components. The grid is always there if you need an electricity top up. This means that your system needs fewer batteries and no backup power source (i.e. expensive and smelly diesel generator set).
- When to charge/discharge the batteries.
- When to connect/disconnect from the grid.
This may sound very similar in cost and complexity to an off grid system. But the crucial point to understand is that, because your system is not totally disconnected from the grid, you save a lot of money on system Components. The grid is always there if you need an electricity top up. This means that your system needs fewer batteries and no backup power source (i.e. expensive and smelly diesel generator set).
