The Grid tie – also referred to as grid intertie, on-grid, grid back-feeding and utility-interactive – means that the consumer’s solar system is hooked in to the utility company. A Grid connection will award its user with more money saving prospects through net metering (billing that brings monetary benefits to solar energy system owners for the electricity they send to the grid), lower installation and equipment costs and better efficiency rates.
Equipment for the Grid-Tied Solar Systems
The components on which the standard grid-tied battery solar systems rely are:
a) Micro-Inverters or the GTI (Grid-Tie Inverter): The inverters control the current and voltage received from the solar panels and, while converting DC (Direct current) to Alternating Current (AC), synchronize the frequency and phase of the current (normally 60Hz) to fit the utility grid.
b) Power Meter: Most property owners with solar systems connected to the grid must replace their current power meter with a two-way meter or net meter, which is compatible with net metering. These devices are different from normal power meters in that they can measure two way power i.e. from the grid to houses and vice-versa.
Advantages of Connecting Battery- Solar Systems to the Grid
a) Save money with net-metering: The Grid-tied solar systems are simpler to install and are generally cheaper. Since, solar panels produce more electricity than what their consumers can utilize consumers can store this excess power on to the grid rather than installing batteries for it.
b) Utility grid is a virtual battery: The electric power grid is more like a battery, which does not require any individual replacements and maintenance.
Another advantage of being connected to the grid is the access to utility grid’s back-up power. Also, the system owners can share some of the power load of utility companies, thereby boosting the efficiency of nation’s complete electrical system.
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