HOW A GRID-TIED SOLAR SYSTEM WORKS

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What is Grid tied solar system? 

A grid-tied solar power system is a type of solar energy system that is connected to the local utility grid. This means that the solar panels on your roof or property are not the only source of energy for your home or business. Instead, any excess energy that your solar panels produce is sent back into the grid, and you can draw power from the grid when your solar panels are not producing enough energy.

Grid Tied solar system

How does a Grid tied solar system works

In a grid tied solar PV system, you are not actually powering your own home. You are producing power to send to the electrical grid which is known as micro-generation.

When you produce more electricity than you consume, your utility provider will credit you for the additional electricity through net metering. You will still have a utility bill because the grid is still being operated.

Your fees may include your distribution charge, transmission charge, local access fee, and delivery charge. If you do not produce quite enough energy to cover the amount of electricity you consume, you will also need to pay the difference for electricity use.

4 Common Myths About Grid-Tied Solar Systems

This means that no matter how much electricity your solar panels produce:

  1. You will have full electricity if the grid is operational (an example of a non-operational would be a local power outage).
  2. Your lights will not be ‘dimmed’.
  3. You will have full power for your electric water heater, electric vehicle charging station, computers, TVs, microwave, and other electrical needs.
  4. You will have electricity at night and in the middle of winter.

Check out these 11 Solar Myths Busted in Canada for more myths about solar panels.

Your panels are intended to offset your carbon footprint, so while you still are using the electrical grid, you are ensuring that the amount of electricity you consume is being provided by clean energy sources.

 

Solar Panels in Winter

What about in the winter when there is less light

Cold winters provide an ideal setting for solar panels to produce electricity. There will be times through the year when your panels do produce more or less electricity based on the amount of daylight hours, shadows, and temperature.

Read this blog: Do solar panels work in winter in Alberta? for more info.

The reason micro-generation works is because you are credited when your panels produce more electricity, which you can carry forward for 12 months.

These credits can then be applied to your bill during the months when your panels produce less electricity than your household consumes. This essentially zero’s out your electricity costs, so all you have to worry about is the utility company fees.

Now that you are ready to save on your electricity bills, build equity in your home, and help protect the environment, give us a call for a free estimate!

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