Residential Solar Power

Use of solar energy has become a key component of our endeavor in search of clean source of energy. There has been several technological advancements in the recent past in terms of investing new technology which can be used to tap solar energy. One of the most important facts is that it's one of the best forms of renewable energy and is an excellent alternative to gas as a source of electricity. With the increasing prices of gas, the concept of using photovoltaic panels to trap the energy from the sun and store it has gained momentum. There are a number of residential solar power systems available in the market, which you can use in your home. In the paragraphs below, we give you some of the most common systems which can be used for your home.

Residential Solar Power Systems

In case you are thinking of installing solar power kits for your residence, you need to find out the amount of energy you would require to light up your home. You also need to consider the amount of light the solar panel can absorb, and the amount of sunlight available in the area. There are basically two types of systems which you can use to generate solar power for home - grid-tie systems and off-grid system.

The grid-tie system traps energy and produces Direct Current (DC) electric energy which is converted into Alternating Current (AC) energy by passing it through an inverter. The best part of this system is that you can transmit the excess power your system generates into the power grid of a company if you wish. This means that the company would be paying you for the power produced.

In the off-grid system, you can opt not to connect the power produced to the power grid of the power company. You produce all the electricity you need with the help of solar panels and the excess energy is stored in batteries specially designed for the purpose. If you are thinking of building your own solar panels, it can be done, but you need to know the basic procedure.

Residential Solar Power Cost

The cost of solar power system varies, depending on the kind of equipment you use, besides the cost of labor. Some of the important components you need for such systems include solar array, a GFCI, a grid disconnect, an inverter, a solar array breaker and the solar panels. Depending on the amount of power you would need the system may cost anywhere between US $800 to 38,000 and this amount is excluding the labor cost. Even if the cost is slightly on the higher side, it's worth it in the long run, as you will save a lot of money on electricity bills. Besides you can also sell power to the power companies and get a return on investment.

Off-grid Residential Solar Power

Off-grid systems are beneficial if you are thinking of using solar power for home without using it from a power company. This system is such that along with the solar panel, you will need to buy batteries, so as to store excess power generated. As stored energy is used up in cloudy days, so an alternative source of power for your home may be required, especially if the sun does not shine for extended periods of time. As the utility grid can be quite unpredictable, using residential solar power can be very useful. You don't need to have a large system, a small system too would do the trick. Not only your monthly electricity bills would reduce, but over time, you don't need to pay anything for consuming electricity. There are several solar panels for your home, which you can use, but it's important that you get quotations from different retailers on the prices.

Whether you choose grid-tie system or off-grid system, residential solar power can be a very useful tool to generate electricity and at the same time reduce your dependence on electricity grid. No doubt the cost of such grids are high, but if you look at the long term cost analysis, it would cost less, besides it can also be used as a return on investment.