![]() ![]() The current heat wave has shattered temperature records in many cities and reached as high as 118 degrees Fahrenheit along the Mexican border. The last few days have offered a preview of this hotter future. Yet, in spite of the sun-powered boost, analysts say the state’s electric grid remains unprepared for a warming climate where intense heat waves will become more frequent and severe. So it goes in Texas, where a surge in solar power generation is helping the state’s primary grid operator navigate an ongoing and stifling heat wave. (And if you want to learn more about off-grid systems, I go into great detail about them on my blog.CLIMATEWIRE | Live by the sun, die by the sun. A happy compromise called hybrid solar is available that has most of the benefits of off-grid at a much lower cost. An off-grid system with a similar level of convenience to a grid-connected home can easily run over $50,000.Įnvironmentally insane due to all those batteries you need to buy (and replace periodically) which contain a lot of really nasty chemicals.įor that reason, the rest of this guide is going to assume that you are thinking of buying a grid connect system for your home.īut – just because your system is connected to the grid that does not mean you can’t enjoy having batteries too. I guess what I am trying to say is that unless 1) or 2) or 3) above applies, then it is kind of economically and environmentally insane to insist on an off-grid solution.Įconomically insane due to the cost being much higher. Or maintaining it 10 times more frequently than a grid-connect system. It’s the same one where you stored all the canned food in readiness for the Y2K bug / end of the world last time round – and you don’t mind spending $25k on an off grid system that would only cost $8k if it was grid connected. ![]() In fact you’ve already got a big shed to put the batteries in. You think it makes you more “independent” and protects you from the forthcoming apocalypse. Blackouts aren’t a problem, but you just like the sound of going off-grid. Your house is already connected to the grid. If this is you – I would encourage you to look into a “hybrid” system (grid connect with batteries) as a much cheaper alternative than going fully off-grid.Ĥ) You’re crazy. You want a system that can run when the grid is down and you understand that a standard grid-connect solar system cannot operate when there is a power cut – unless it has a big and expensive battery backup system. $25,000.ģ) You are connected to the grid but you suffer frequent blackouts that really cause you grief. Although be aware that a decent-sized off-grid system is going to start at approx. In this case, it may actually be cheaper to go off-grid. Hey, there’s no shortage of places like that in this big ol’ country of ours!Ģ) The nearest grid connection is a long way from your home and your local gougers electricity network wants to charge you an arm and a leg to connect you. Perhaps you live in the middle of the Simpson Desert like my Uncle Dave (seriously, he does!) or somewhere else equally remote. Here are 4 reasons you might choose to go off-grid:ġ) There is no electricity grid where you live. So having said that – why would anyone be crazy enough to plump for an off-grid system? They need a lot of maintenance, compared to an on-grid solar system. Lots of time from an off-grid expert to design the system so you won’t run out of solar electricity too often and burn lots of expensive fuel.Ģ) Every so often you will run out of solar electricity and have to fire up that genset.ģ) An off-grid system is not a case of install-and-forget. A box of electronics called a charge controller to ensure the batteries charge and discharge correctly.Į. This is great in theory… however there are 3 big problems with taking this off-grid route:ġ) Your system will be 2 to 3 times more expensive because you need to buy:ī. Here’s how it is done:ġ) Buy yourself a big bank of batteries along with your panels.Ģ) Use these batteries to store any excess solar electricity when the sun is blazing.ģ) Later in the day, when the sun is not beating down, you can get your electricity from that bank of batteries. “Hmmm… Why do I need a connection to the electricity grid at all?” If you are thinking of adding a mini solar power station to your roof, then at some point you’ll probably ask yourself this question: Many folks accuse me of being a government propagandist for cautioning people about dropping tens of thousands to go off grid! Trust me – I’ve worked for the government in my CSIRO days – and I never want to take their money ever again! To show that I’m not totally prejudiced against batteries, I’ve also written another article about hybrid solar (AKA grid connect solar + batteries) which, in my opinion, is a much better option for most Australians who want to decrease or remove their reliance on the grid. Sidenote: I’ve taken a lot of heat from people for this article. ![]()
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