Solar panels power the grid

What is a grid tied solar panel system?

When grid-tied, your solar panel system is connected to the grid via a bi-directional electricity meter. It measures the excess power you send to the grid when your solar panels produce more than you need, and the amount of energy you pull from the grid when your solar panel system doesn't generate enough.

What is a grid connected photovoltaic system?

[A Complete Guide] A grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system, also known as a grid-tied or on-grid solar system, is a renewable energy system that generates electricity using solar panels. The generated electricity is used to power homes and businesses, and any excess energy can be fed back into the electrical grid.

How do solar power systems contribute to the grid?

By contributing to the grid, solar power systems participate in a process known as grid feedback, where renewable energy sources like solar help offset non-renewable energy use. Properly sized solar power systems are designed to minimize the amount of excess electricity fed back into the grid, ensuring efficient energy distribution.

What is a grid-tied solar system?

On a grid-tied system, homeowners with rooftop solar panels generate the electricity they need, feed the surplus to the grid, and only turn to the grid when their systems aren't generating enough to meet their needs.

Why do solar panels need to be connected to the grid?

The simple answer is that remaining connected to the grid allows your home to draw additional power when solar panels can’t generate enough electricity, including nights and cloudy days.

What is a grid-connected solar system?

On the other hand, grid independence, or grid-connected solar systems, are about balance. They’re about harnessing the sunshine when it’s abundant and feeding excess power back into the grid (hence, the credit in your bill), and drawing from the grid when your solar panels are not producing enough, such as during cloudy weather or at night.