Thousands of people all across the country are seeking to break away from their local utility and move toward a solar generator for homes.
While it is possible to live off the grid with a solar portable generator, many are hoping to take more modern amenities with a portable solar powered generator. This means that not only will you have to produce your own electricity, but you will also need to store your own electricity for use when you are unable to generate power. By only using the power that you are able to generate and store, those seeking to live off the grid are well on their way to living a near carbon neutral lifestyle. An off grid battery system will give consumers the opportunity to provide for themselves in almost any conditions.
So, before implementing one, what should you know about off grid solar systems and what are the pros and cons of owning such a system?
- What Are Off Grid Solar Battery Solutions?
- How Much Will It Cost To Run Completely Off Grid?
- What Are The Cons To Running Off-Grid Battery Solutions?
- What Are The Pros Of Running Off-Grid Battery Solutions?
What Are Off Grid Solar Battery Solutions?
A solar generator for homes usually entails solar modules that generate electricity that is then consumed by the home. Any excess energy can be exported to the grid and in certain states can be credited back to the same home through a net metering program. Homes that are off grid are very different. Off grid homeowners are in charge of generating all of their own power and any excess power that is generated needs to be stored. This is where a solar powered battery can come in handy. The same types of solar power generation systems that power grid tied homes can also power off grid homes and charge a lithium generator battery with excess power. Battery solutions have to be sized properly to meet the specific needs of each homeowner.
How Much Will It Cost To Run Completely Off Grid?
The cost to run a home completely off the grid is largely dependent on how big or small of a system you wish to purchase.
The best way to determine the cost of a solar system is by the watt. A great rule of thumb for the total cost of a solar system which includes the panels, wiring, racking, and inverter is $3.00 per watt. So, if you wish to purchase a 5 kilowatt system, this will cost roughly $15,000. Next, you will want to look into the price of the battery system. Batteries are usually priced based on the number of kilowatt-hours they can expel to the home when fully charged. The rule of thumb for an off grid battery system is roughly four hundred dollars per kilowatt-hour. The average home uses roughly 30 kilowatt-hours per day which means to run your home off of battery storage for one full day, it would cost about $12,000. This means that the total cost of solar power generation plus a lithium generator will be about $27,000. While this figure may seem high, it will more than pay for itself over time due to no longer having a power bill.
What Are The Cons To Running Off-Grid Battery Solutions?
- Power Generation Is Limited By The Size Of The System
- Power Generation Is Limited By The Weather
- The Up Front Costs Can Be Expensive
- All Power Issues Are At Your Expense
Power Generation Is Limited By The Size Of The System
One of the negative aspects of off-grid battery solutions is that the amount of power you generate for your home is limited entirely by the size of your solar array. If it is built too small, then you will never have enough energy to charge a battery, but if you build it to large, you will generate too much power for the battery to handle and precious energy will go to waste. Even though living off grid can provide a variety of benefits, living connected to the grid offers a constant supply of power.
Power Generation Is Limited By The Weather
A solar powered battery is often at the will of mother nature. For example, if it were to storm many days in a row, there would not be enough sunlight to power your home or a battery. This leaves a system owner waiting for your system to charge back up once you finally see a fully charged battery from a sunny day. While this should be an understood reality from the system owner, it can still be an inconvenience when in inevitably happens over time.
The Up Front Costs Can Be Expensive
While solar plus battery storage is an incredibly smart choice for some, others may have a hard time pulling together the funds to start a business. The “business” in this case is the homeowner who wishes to export more energy to the grid than they hope to generate. A solar powered generator for camping may be well worth the time if you can justify the expenses over time.
All Power Issues Are At Your Expense
When you operate under a grid tied system, there are certain issues that you can rely on the utility to cover. This include all issues with the system between your home and the electrical lines most homeowners utilize. When you go off grid, you are now responsible for 100% of the energy system repair costs as they arise over time.
What Are The Pros Of Running Off-Grid Battery Solutions?
- The Systems Can Be Portable
- Solar Plus Battery Systems Are Great For Camping
- They Require No Fuel
- Caravans Can Have Modern Amenities
The Systems Can Be Portable
One great thing about a solar portable generator is the fact that you can bring it anywhere. Whether you have decided to take a long weekend vacation in the woods or take an extended months ling vacation across the country, a portable solar plus battery system will makes sense for you. A portable solar powered generator allows you to get the energy you need at any time without having to rely on your local utility.
Solar Plus Battery Systems Are Great For Camping
A solar powered generator for camping allows you to provide entirely for yourself without having to rely on the fully charged battery. Camping have never been easier thanks to portable solar powered generator systems which are able to both create and store their own energy. While camping may remind us of times when modern amenities are not available, the modern camper should have these necessities available in case of emergency.
They Require No Fuel
Battery generators for camping and a variety of other systems seek to provide you with the easiest possible system. In includes a solar array which generates energy all a while requiring absolutely no fuel. Not only is this great for the community but it is great for the environment as well. A battery vs generator leaves a clear choice for new homeowners seeking to add some resiliency to their home.
Caravans Can Have Modern Amenities
While historically RVs and motorhomes tend to travel with the bare necessities, thousands of other explorers are hoping to travel the world with modern amenities. Solar panels for caravans allow you to power a television fridge, and a variety of other modern technologies. When comparing a battery vs generator, it is imperative that homeowners understand how important their cooperation is in the process.
Whether you are investing in battery generators for camping or staying the night, the solar industry has nowhere to move by up. Solar panels for caravans and solar panels for homes have the ability to soon been the largest energy voting demographic in the area.