Grid-tie, hybrid or off-grid solar?
Short answer
Choose grid-tie if you want the lowest cost and rarely have brownouts. Choose hybrid if you want lower bills and power during brownouts, because it adds a battery. Choose off-grid only where there is no grid connection, such as farms, resorts and remote sites.
| Grid-tie | Hybrid | Off-grid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery | No | Yes | Yes, sized larger |
| Power during a brownout | No, shuts off for safety | Yes, on backed-up circuits | Yes, always on stored power |
| Net metering | Yes | Yes | No (no grid connection) |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Higher (battery) | Highest (bigger battery, often a generator) |
| Best for | Daytime users, offices, shops | Homes and businesses with brownouts | Farms, resorts, sites far from lines |
What is a grid-tie solar system?
A grid-tie system connects your solar panels to an inverter and to the grid. In the day, your home uses solar power first and takes the rest from the grid. With net metering, power you do not use is exported and credited on your bill.
A grid-tie inverter must switch off when the grid fails, so line workers are not hurt by power flowing back into the lines. That is why grid-tie alone gives no power during a brownout.
What is a hybrid solar system?
A hybrid system adds a battery and a hybrid inverter, such as the Solis 8 kW hybrid. The panels power your home, charge the battery, and can export to the grid. When the grid goes down, the inverter switches your backed-up circuits to the battery.
Most homes back up the essentials: lights, fans, the refrigerator, Wi-Fi and a TV. Air-conditioners can be backed up too, but they need a larger battery.
What is an off-grid solar system?
An off-grid system runs only on panels and batteries, with no grid connection. It must store enough energy for nights and cloudy days, so the battery bank is larger. Off-grid suits farms, beach resorts and homes far from power lines, which are common in parts of Zambales and Pangasinan.
Which one should I choose?
- Brownouts are rare and you want the fastest payback: grid-tie.
- Brownouts happen, or you work from home: hybrid. You can also start with grid-tie on a hybrid inverter and add the battery later.
- No grid, or connection would cost too much: off-grid.
We confirm the choice at a free site visit, after checking your bill, roof and how often power goes out in your barangay.
Common questions
- Can I add a battery to a grid-tie system later?
- Yes, if you install a hybrid inverter from the start. With a grid-tie-only inverter, adding a battery usually means adding or replacing the inverter.
- Does a hybrid system still get net metering?
- Yes. A hybrid system connected to the grid can apply for net metering with your distribution utility, the same as grid-tie.
- Will a hybrid system run my aircon in a brownout?
- It can, if the inverter and battery are sized for it. Aircon draws much more power than lights and fans, so plan for a larger battery.