How to Run on Solar Panels Only
Running on solar panels alone, or going "off-grid," is becoming an increasingly common option, as energy prices rise and the threat of black-outs grows. Operating a building off the power grid can be relatively easy, as long as you take appropriate measures to prepare your building and its occupants. Learning to use an energy-efficient building running on solar panels can be an adjustment for people who are accustomed to operating on the primary power grid. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Conduct a feasibility study. Before you begin to invest money in taking your home off-grid, it's vital to perform a feasibility study. The study will look at the orientation of your building, geographical location, weather patterns, actual or estimated electricity usage and solar radiation, among other factors. Professional building engineers, some architects and solar-installation specialists can perform the study for you. In addition, many states have programs to help offset the costs of the study; you can search for your state's program at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (see Resources).
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Optimize your building. Increase the energy efficiency of your building prior to running on solar panels. Because you will be providing all of your own power, it only makes sense to have a building that requires as little power as possible. Optimization measures can include upgrading insulation; sealing leaks and cracks; switching to more efficient appliances; redesigning lighting, air conditioning, heating and hot water systems; and installing efficient windows.
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Install battery storage. By connecting a battery bank to your solar system, you can store electricity for use at night or on cloudy days. An electrical engineer can help you properly size your storage system. However, as a general rule of thumb, you system will need to store at least 24 hours of power. When running on solar panel only, you will need to replace your batteries frequently, as they will wear out more quickly than if your building was connected to the grid.
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Use other renewable energy sources. Running on solar panels alone can be a strain on your budget, due to the replacement costs for batteries. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, batteries can be the single largest cost for the consumer over the life of a solar system. You may want to consider adding a small wind turbine for supplemental power, if your location is suitable. In addition, you may want to consider solar thermal water heating to further reduce the load on the solar panels.
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Sell your energy. If you are producing more power than your building needs (and that you can store), it is possible to sell your energy to the local utility. To do this, you would need to install a grid-tie inverter, which is basically an electrical meter than can run backwards, as you dump power back onto the grid. At the end of the utility's billing period, you would either receive a payment, tax credits or utility credit, depending on the system the company uses.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Solar hoch auf dem dach image by DevilGB from Fotolia.com
