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Progressive Power Solutions. |  |
Grid Tie
Grid Tie is the simplest solar power system. It requires only an inverter and panels. These systems connect to your electrical utility meter thus tying your solar power system into the power grid. They are very popular in some areas of the country were local laws require the power company to buy back the excess power produced by Grid Tie systems.
There are two common buy back methods: "Net Metering" or "Time of Use Metering".
The meter spins backwards when you are producing more power than your home requires, selling the power back to the power company. At night, you buy power from the power company. Instead of having batteries, you use the power company for storage. The idea is to have a system that sells enough power back during the day to offset your usage at night.
In "Time of Use Metering" the power company pays you for the power you produce during the peak hours of the day at the higher peak rate, you buy power from them at night at the cheaper off-peak rate.
A Grid Tie system does not provide for backup when a power outage occurs. In fact, the law requires that Grid Tie systems be disconnect immediately when grid power fails, to avoid harming utility workers who are laboring to restore power. During a daylight power outage, the result is that you are producing power you can not use. The benefits of Grid Tie are the lower cost of the system and the quicker payback. If local laws allow "Net Metering" or "Time of Use Metering" then Grid Tie will pay for itself quicker than any other system.
Grid Tie with Backup
This system costs more than the Grid Tie or the Standalone systems, but provides the best of both. Like the Standalone system, backup power is maintained by a battery bank charged by solar panels. Like the Grid Tie system, any extra energy produced is sold back to the power company. Unlike the Grid Tie, this system can disconnect from the power grid and continue to provide power to the home, from the panels during the daytime, from the battery bank at night, until grid power is restored. There is a longer payback period for this system due to the additional up front cost. This system contains a special inverter, a battery bank, and solar panels.
