Solar off grid power plants are becoming increasingly popular today. With power outages and supply chain issues driving up fuel prices all over the world, the switch to solar off grid power plants — along with other variations — is slowly becoming inevitable. If you’re thinking about getting a solar off grid power plant for your home or workplace, keep reading to learn more about the essential components you will need.
How Do Solar Off Grid Power Plants Work?
Off grid solutions of solar power, as the name itself suggests, are not dependent on the electrical grid. They are an excellent choice of solar power system for you if you’re looking to become energy self-sufficient and drastically lower your power bills.
Because they are not dependent on the electric grid of your city, they rely on inverters and battery systems to supply you with power in case you run out of solar power — say, due to inclement weather or at nighttime.
Grid solutions, on the other hand, do not need to rely on battery systems because they are connected to the electricity grid itself, from which they can draw power in case they run out of solar energy.
The Essential Components of Solar Off Grid Power Plants
If you’re looking to acquire a solar off grid power plant, what exactly will you need to get your off grid solution in place? Broadly speaking, you will need solar panels, solar power batteries, and a solar inverter for almost all solar power systems, be they grid solutions or off grid solutions. You will also need solar cables to keep the system connected.
A solar off grid power plant will additionally need a battery bank, and a connected load. Depending on your specific requirements, you may also opt for backup generators, transfer switches, and AC and DC load centres. Here, we will take a deep dive into these components.
- Solar Panels or Photovoltaic Panels
Solar panels are the cornerstone of any solar off grid power plant. They are the principle component of your off grid solution — and grid solution, in fact. Solar panels are responsible for collecting energy from sunlight and storing it. However, solar panels store energy in a form known as direct current, which cannot be used by electrical appliances without first being converted into a compatible form. - Solar Inverters
Solar inverters, also known as DC-AC inverters, perform this conversion from direct current — stored by solar panels — into alternating current, a form of energy that can be used by electronic devices. Solar inverters are an integral component of solar off grid power plants as they are essentially responsible for making the energy of the sun usable for your home and workplace needs. - Solar Battery
Solar batteries are one of the essential components of solar off grid power plants. Because your power system is no longer connected to the electrical grid, you will need a backup in case your solar off grid power plant cannot generate electricity due to any reason. This can be because of a series of cloudy days, other inclement weather, or simply because your power needs have unexpectedly fluctuated.
In such circumstances, solar batteries step in. They store extra electricity generated by solar panels when there is enough sunlight, and when your solar off grid power plant runs out of power, the solar battery ensures you have an uninterrupted power supply by filling in the gap. - Connected Load
The connected load is designed to ensure that all the systems of your solar off grid power plant are connected correctly so that electricity is able to flow consistently and efficiently through your circuit.
- Load Centers
A load centre functions as the control panel of your solar off grid power plant. It is equipped with all the necessary electrical components to ensure that the necessary voltage and electrical load are supplied to your home.
The Final Word
Solar off grid power plants are an excellent option for many people under many different circumstances. Whether you’re aiming to be energy self-sufficient or live in a rural or remote area where electrical grid connections simply cannot be relied upon, solar off grid power plants allow you to rest easy knowing that you’re leaving your energy needs in the reliable hands of the sun and expertly engineered equipment. Partner with Luminous today for all your on grid and off grid solar solutions.
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