Before installing any solar power system, you need to understand the types of solar systems available and which one would be best for your particular situation. Of the three common types, on-grid solar systems in Pakistan are mostly preferred as compared to off-grid or hybrid systems mainly because of their low cost and benefits.
However, let’s say you have installed an on-grid system in your house, now how would it work to meet your energy needs? Would it still provide power in case of an electricity outage in your area? Or would it stop working without electricity? If you are also looking for the same question, then keep reading.
Does an on-grid solar system work without electricity?
The simple answer to this question is NO!
A grid-tied solar system is not designed to work without any electricity. To understand the reason, you need to know the working principle of an on-grid system which is explained below.
Why is it so?
As the name indicates, an on-grid solar power system is one that is attached to your home utility grid. Such a system doesn’t have any batteries for storing the electricity. They simply work by producing energy from the sun which is then used to power the house. The function of your house’s electricity grid is very crucial here. This is because in case the solar set-up doesn’t generate enough energy to power your house, it can take extra electricity from your regular utility grid to run your home appliances. Similarly, if it produces more electricity than needed, it would send it back to the grid which you can share with your neighbors to earn some extra bucks through net metering.
If you need further details about how the on-grid system works, you can contact NGLE as we are the No. 1 solar company in Pakistan that provides complete guidance on all types of solar set-ups.
Now in case of an electricity outage, such grid-tied solar systems would stop sending electricity toward the damaged grid and also your house. It is done to ensure that workers stay safe while fixing the outage issues. Obviously, if it continues to send energy, workers can suffer from electric shock as they don’t know from where and when any solar system is producing and sending the electricity toward the utility grid.
Moreover, when the solar energy system is not able to produce the required electricity on its own from the sun, it won’t have any other source to fulfill the power needs of your home in case of electricity failure in your area. Thus, having a sufficient power supply through utility-grid electricity is essential for an on-grid system to function properly.
Alternative Solution:
One way it can still work is if you have extra storage batteries. Solar panels would charge them during the day which can then power your house at the night in case of no local electricity supply. However, buying more batteries with enough storage capacity adds a heavy cost to the overall price.
You can also go for other alternatives like backup generators or specially designed inverters that automatically disconnect themselves from the grid but continue to supply power to your house at the same time.
If you are looking for a No.1 solar company in Pakistan to help you in installing an on-grid solar system in Pakistan with all possible solutions, you can contact NGLE. Our team is experienced with all the technical skills required to install and maintain all kinds of solar energy set-ups.