with the fast pace increase in the price of electricitywhich reached maximum heights, the use of photovoltaic solar energy for self-consumption became an alternative increasingly in demandboth by individuals and companies.
when we talk about photovoltaic self-consumption we refer to the production of electricity for own consumption thanks to the installation of photovoltaic solar panels. Photovoltaic installations have The following items main:
- Solar panels. Responsible for the transformation of the sun\’s rays into electricity in the form of direct current.
- Investor. The component that transforms direct current into alternating current to be able to use it in the domestic sphere.
- Battery. Optional element that serves to accumulate energy and to be able to use it when we do not have sunlight, for example at night.
Once we have decided to make a photovoltaic installation in our house, the question always arises whether it is better or more beneficial to make an isolated photovoltaic installation (without connection to the electrical network) or a self-consumption installation connected to the electrical network. But What are the differences between these two types of installations? And above, Which one is more cost effective and energy efficient?
Types of photovoltaic self-consumption
there is two main ways of solar self-consumptionwith network connection and without network connection.
Photovoltaic installations for self-consumption with connection to the network.
The energy produced by the solar panels is used for own consumption as well we produce more electricity than we consume, the surplus energy is fed into the general electricity grid, usually obtaining economic compensation in the form of a discount on our monthly electricity bill. In turn, in the opposite case where the solar panels do not produce enough energy, The energy we need can be taken from the electricity grid.
Both the injections of electricity we make into the grid and the amount of energy we consume from it when we need it are accounted for by a two-way counter. In this way it is possible to calculate the difference between the energy injected and that which was taken from the network. If more energy was consumed than was injected into the grid, the electricity company will charge us the difference. Otherwise, the company will compensate us in the way we previously agreed, either by saving the favorable balance for future invoices or by making financial offsets on the invoice.
An option that many users opt for today is to perform a installation connected to the network with batteriesa solution that is halfway between a networked installation and an isolated or disconnected installation.
Photovoltaic installations for self-consumption without connection to the grid or isolated.
These photovoltaic installations They are usually used in isolated houses that do not have access to the electrical network. In this case, there is no possibility to pour the surplus produced into the electricity network, so it is very common to use of batteries which allow excess energy to be stored for use when the plant does not generate enough electricity.
In this way we rejoice self-sufficient installation that does not depend on the network electricity to obtain its energy demand. Its main advantage is total independence from electricity companies.
Reasons for disconnection from the electrical network
There are various reasons why some users are thinking about getting power offline to the electrical network. The main ones are:
- Today solar energy is very affordable.. The prices are no longer as high as in the past, in addition, there are multiple bonuses and subsidies that help us amortize the installation in a few years. This makes solar energy a cost-effective way for homes to generate their own electricity. In addition, the elimination of the sun tax also marked a before and after in photovoltaic self-consumption.
- Lower costs of energy storage with batteries. Lithium battery technology is advancing day by day, while its cost is decreasing.
- The exponential rise in electricity prices. This was caused by various factors such as the increase in the wholesale price of electricity, grid infrastructure costs, etc.
- Global use of solar energy. Part of the energy we consume from the electrical grid is generated by solar energy, the problem is to be able to generate the energy in the same place where it is consumed. Transporting energy from the solar production fields of large energy companies to homes has an associated cost. For this reason, the concept of self-consumption breaks with the need to have a complex and distributed energy transport network, eliminating its inefficiencies and additional costs that do not add value to the end customer.
- The feeling of animosity towards the big electricity companies. As the perception of many users is that they set energy prices at will, do not treat customers fairly, etc.
Factors to consider before disconnecting from the network
If we analyze the previous points, we can come to consider that disconnecting from the network can be the best decision, a profitable and attractive option. But before deciding whether it is worth disconnecting from the electrical network or not, we should consider a number of factors:
- the price of the battery. Solar energy is more affordable than ever, with payback periods of just 3-5 years. Battery system prices, although gradually decreasing, are still high. Home battery prices have dropped enough to offer shorter payback periods than warranty periods (around 10 years).
- space limitations. The size of the surface we have for installation, usually the roof without shaded areas, is a very important determining factor in determining whether or not a house can be disconnected from the grid. Many homes don\’t have enough roof space to house the solar panels needed to go completely off the grid.
- Backup power generation. In order to be able to completely disconnect from the grid by using solar energy and batteries, we will need a system that provides us with at least 3 or 4 days of energy autonomy. This means we have about 3-5 times more solar and battery capacity than we would need to get a single day of autonomy.
- Changes in lifestyle. The photovoltaic system is usually sized according to the energy needs of the moment when the installation is made. Any change in these needs could change the way we use energy throughout the day, requiring a system upgrade.
- ongoing costs. As the owner of the equipment, we are responsible for its maintenance. When we use the electricity grid as a backup for our self-consumption system, the maintenance of the backup infrastructure is taken over by the power distribution company.
- The electrical network admits an infinite injection of surplus. If we do not use our energy, in addition to the fact that the electricity company pays us for it, from an environmental point of view, this green energy will not be wasted and can be consumed by someone else. However, with a battery isolated system, surplus reuse is limited to the maximum capacity of our batteries.
We are looking for the profitability of our photovoltaic installation
The big doubt that arises before opting for one type of photovoltaic installation or another is, Which of the two types is the most profitable?
As I just have commented, there are various factors that make today the type of the most profitable PV installation is a grid-connected installation electricity, especially if immediate savings are what we are looking for.
variant a off-grid self-consumption photovoltaic installation would oblige some of us very strict consumption habits already some inherent expenses which is worth bearing only if we live in a place where the electrical network does not reach, which would mean that being able to access the network would cause us higher costs than the realization of an isolated installation.
In addition, a the isolated plant using batteries must increase in size must install multiple modules to be able to feed them increasing the total cost and the space we must have. Batteries have a useful life of approximately 10 years and their renewal and maintenance negatively affects the profitability of our installation.
If we finally opt for self-consumption with photovoltaic installation connected to the grid, we will can save on your monthly electricity bill while generating profitable, clean and sustainable energy.
contact with P.O.W to get a more realistic photo adapted to your situation and thus get maximum profitability in your photovoltaic installation. Achieve the benefits offered by solar energy For a saving up on your monthly bill and better use of the facility depending on the characteristics of your home.
