Own Solar Power - Pros and Cons

If you are not connected to the centralized power, you have one very important advantage - the independence of the networks. You may even wish to be independent in fact if you are already connected to mains. You may not obey the rules set by the local power grid. You are not afraid of increasing prices for electricity in the networks of the accident, breaks in power lines, power quality deterioration due to overloads in the networks.


If you choose a site for a house, you're likely to find that areas away from centralized power networks are cheaper. Most people are not willing ( or psychologically, or lack of knowledge) to have its own power and to be ' himself grid '. Therefore, the value of land is formed according to the demand for such sites. To be unconnected to the network can be much cheaper than the cost of extension lines and connect to networks of centralized power. However, one must be prepared for the fact that if you are not connected to networks will need to pay for the purchase and maintenance of the system electrogenetating on renewable energy sources.

Except when you can afford to deliberately overload the system, the autonomous generation of stimulates you to use energy as efficiently as possible. This is a great advantage, especially if you care about your impact on the environment. The most energy efficient homes - it is not connected to the network at home. When you need to get energy from a limited source, you must think about how to most efficiently use the energy generated. There are also many less tangible benefits to be independent from the network. Including the satisfaction that you are using a power with responsibility and understanding. And maybe your neighbors will think you are ahead of its time.

Disadvantages of autonomous systems.

When you decide to disconnect from the network, you assume certain responsibilities, which are currently performed by the local power supply, the services you want to give up. Our experience shows that your frustration will be the smaller networks, the more their responsibilities you assume.

First, the generation of own electricity costs money. If you are already connected to the network, it is likely that stand-alone system with renewable energy sources will produce for you the more expensive electricity. An exception may be the case if in your area there are special measures for financial assistance to owners of power plants that use renewable energy, or the cost of electricity from the network is very high (or are both factors ).


Of course, if you are thinking about the long term, it changes the picture. But most people who think that disconnected from networks of centralized power, they cut their energy costs, will be disappointed. If you are already connected to existing networks, you do not need to pay for the stretch of power lines and connect to the service. If you need to pay for connection to the network - it is already possible to compare the cost of connectivity and cost of the equipment 's own power.

Secondly, maintenance and repair of systems is very important when the content of their own autonomous power system. When you pay your electricity bill, you pay for the hard work of electricians (as well as accountants, accountant, suppliers, managers, etc. Dr.. Staff electricity ) and consumables. If you're a power to themselves ', then you have to do this work yourself, plus bear the cost of purchasing all necessary equipment and supplies.

Stand-alone systems use batteries to store electricity. Batteries require regular replacement. The period of change can vary from 5 to 15 years (usually less than 10 years). And the battery needs to be changed all at once. At the same time, industrial batteries with long service life can cost 3-4 times more expensive than the commonly used. The replacement cost - not the only drawback there is the cost of service and spent time and energy by replacing AB. There are also some impact on the environment during production, transportation and disposal of lead contained in batteries.

In the battery also has the energy loss. In the best case, the efficiency of the charge - discharge battery is 90%. This means that if you take the battery to 10 kWh, then you will be able to get back less than 9 kWh. With aging decreases their efficiency battery charge- discharge. Efficiency is also dependent on battery temperature. Therefore, you will lose in the more battery power than they are older, as well as deviations from the normal operating temperature ( usually 25 C).

Compared with the combined network systems, autonomous systems have one serious drawback. This loss of surplus energy produced. When connected to a network system that generates electricity from renewable energy sources, produces more energy than is consumed in the moment in the house, this surplus may be sent to the network. At the same time or count turns in the opposite direction, or a network buy electricity at a higher price ( depending on what kind of incentive mechanism applies in your area.

Unfortunately in Russia and Ukraine there is not any mechanism, and legally connect a generator of electricity networks is very difficult and expensive ). At the same time the power of your solar or wind power stations are used entirely at any time, regardless of your power. Nothing is lost, and the network is a virtual battery with 100 % efficiency. If you are completely autonomous, your surplus should be used - or are they lost.

In the majority of PV systems. solar cell. just switch off when batteries are fully charged. In the majority of wind or hydroelectric power stations excess energy goes to ballast (usually a variety of water heaters or air). Informed the owners of stand-alone systems are aware of this and change their energy consumption in the schedule depending on the availability of surplus energy. For example, if you. solar cell. sufficient power, you can run a washing machine in the middle of the day. But such behavior can not be fully automated and requires changing some habits when switching from the waste of energy savings, depending on weather conditions.

Most of the autonomous systems contain a backup diesel generator, and this is another big disadvantage of such systems. Generated from the diesel -generator power is expensive (cost of fuel delivery systems, engine repair, etc. n. ). If you buy a cheap generator, it can happen that you will need to spend a lot of time and effort to repair it, and eventually replace it much sooner than you bargained for when buying.

The advantages of grid-connected systems.

The use of renewable energy in the presence of a network to avoid many, if not all, weaknesses of autonomous systems. Networking is a big battery with 100 % efficiency, which can take all your excess energy. In addition, you can get out of this ' battery ' because a lot of energy (almost) as you need. If you can not afford power from renewable energy sources such a size that will provide all your energy needs, you can set only part of it. If you are completely autonomous, you need some way to generate all the energy you need, and if you save on the amount of your solar (for example) the battery, this will lead to the fact that you'll spend a lot of fuel. When large power plants that supply network run on fossil fuels, they at least use it more efficiently and with less noise and pollution than your home, or diesel gasoline generator.

If your solar power plant is connected to the network, it is not necessary to strictly conserve energy and change your lifestyle. You can continue to live as well as setting up your own power from renewable energy sources. You can get all or part of the energy of your own power, but your life and habits thus can not be changed.

If you decide to use a network connected to the system with battery backup, you will receive the benefits of both cases. You will be able to be independent of electrical networks, and have all the advantages of autonomous systems. You will be able to continue using electrical accidents in the networks, and will be able to send any excess power generated by the network.

For all types of systems. solar panels. , Wind or hydroelectric power, you fix the price of electricity derived for many years. For example, if you install solar power, you actually buy the electricity for 40 or 50 years into the future at a fixed price, and thus will be able to enjoy all the benefits that provide us with a network of centralized power.

The disadvantages of systems connected to the network.

One of the main drawbacks of systems connected to the network is that you have less incentive to save energy and energy efficiency. You turn into an outlet different devices, and you do not hear the signal of the imminent discharge of the battery, which leads to the fact that you spend a lot more power. You will get the most out of their power from renewable energy sources, if you can transfer the energy consumption habits, as if you lived with an autonomous power plant.

Without the battery you will not have a backup power supply. This is not a fault where there is a reliable electricity supply. But in most cases, this is a big minus - to have an expensive system and not have electricity at frequent outages and failures in networks. Therefore, we recommend that you allocate at least some of the critical load and to ensure its power from the battery backup.

However, even having a battery connected to a network system usually provides only part of the load during the interruption of power supply. If prolonged interruptions in electricity supply, and the weather can be often not sunny, you may need a fairly large battery. This can lead to the fact that it will be expensive and reduce the effectiveness of your battery power.

source.