What Does it Mean to be "Off the Grid" with Solar?
What Does It Mean To Be "Off the Grid" With Solar?
While going "off the grid" with solar panels is possible, it's not necessarily the best option for most property owners. Learn about what it means to go off-grid with a solar installation.
If you’re thinking about going solar, you might like the idea of cutting the cord with your utility. But did you know that most buildings with solar panels are still connected to the grid? While it’s technically possible to go “off the grid” with solar, it is not economical for most people.
Solar panels don’t produce electricity 24/7. To go completely “off the grid,” you will need to install batteries to store extra solar energy to power your home when the sun isn’t shining. Most homeowners who go off the grid will install enough batteries to store a few days' worth of electricity, just in case they get several cloudy days in a row.
Adding multiple batteries to your solar panel system could be very expensive and unless your home is very small and energy efficient, you could need a lot of batteries to go fully off the grid. You’ll also need to change your daily habits so that you consume as little electricity as possible.
For most homeowners and businesses, it makes sense to stay connected to the grid. You can think of the grid as a giant backup battery that’s available whenever your panels aren’t producing all the electricity you need.