In accordance with the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2020, solar power is hailed as the “cheapest electricity in history.” Beyond its affordability and eco-friendly nature, solar energy stands out as a readily available option, capturing the interest of numerous homeowners. Before transitioning to one of the most efficient and environmentally conscious power sources, it’s essential to acquaint oneself with the various types of solar power systems currently available.

The two predominant solar energy solutions are:

Hybrid Solar Energy Solution Grid-Tied Solar Energy Solution

Both systems utilize solar PV panels for electricity generation, which is then made usable for households with the assistance of an inverter. The produced solar energy can either be self-consumed, stored, or sold back to the grid, contingent upon the specific solar energy system employed.

1. Hybrid Solar Energy Systems: A hybrid solar energy system mirrors a grid-tied system in solar energy production but offers the added advantage of grid independence. Operating around the clock, irrespective of grid availability, a hybrid system features energy backup for storing excess energy, ensuring seamless operation during nighttime or power outages. This efficient energy storage helps reduce peak-time usage costs, offering greater savings and a faster return on investment. Excess solar generation not used or stored can be exported back to the grid, making hybrid systems a resilient and cost-effective choice.

In summary, hybrid solar energy systems provide the following benefits:

• Storage of excess solar energy for later use, ensuring continuous electricity availability
• Immunity to power outages and grid unavailability
• Use of stored energy during high tariff hours, leading to reduced grid consumption and lower electricity bills
• Net-metering allows surplus energy sale back to the grid, potentially resulting in zero or negative energy bills
• Reduced dependence on net metering policies, which are subject to change, compared to grid-tied systems
• Flexibility to add additional storage/backup without inverter replacement

While hybrid solar energy solutions may have higher upfront costs (due to hybrid inverters and batteries), their reliability often leads to quicker recoupment of the initial investment compared to grid-tied counterparts.

2. Grid-Tied Solar Energy Solutions: Grid-tied solar energy systems are directly connected to the grid and are inactive during grid outages. They generate solar energy only when the sun is shining and the grid is operational. These systems lack energy backup, making them less effective during load shedding or prolonged power outages. While grid-tied systems allow net-metering for selling excess electricity back to the grid, they cannot store surplus energy for future use.

Despite being cost-effective, grid-tied solar energy systems are reliant on backup sources for continuous generation and heavily depend on net-metering for electricity savings due to low self-consumption.

City Light – The World’s Smartest Solar System: City Light Smart Solar plus Storage System stands as the world’s smartest solar system, employing lithium-ion batteries for energy backup. These batteries outperform lead-acid batteries in terms of safety, efficiency, and effectiveness. Known for easy installation and minimal maintenance requirements, lithium-ion batteries boast high energy density, allowing them to store more energy in a compact space.

With a lifespan of up to 10 years and no need for frequent replacements like UPS systems, City Light lithium-ion batteries offer a reliable and efficient solution. In contrast to generators, which necessitate manual operation during load shedding and entail fuel refills, City Light batteries switch on automatically, providing uninterrupted power. Furthermore, they are silent, eco-friendly, and do not disrupt the electricity supply.

City Light Smart Solar plus Storage System features an AI-based energy management plan overseeing the Smart Inverter, lithium-ion batteries, and high-performance solar panels. Offering a comprehensive solution for energy needs, City Light ensures continuous support and system monitoring through NOC (Network Operations Center), operating 24/7 exclusively for City Light Smart Solar plus Storage Systems.