Going Off Grid – Off Grid Power Systems – Overview

What Does ‘Off Grid’ Mean?

If you are new to the idea of off grid, Off Grid is a system and lifestyle designed to help people function without the support of remote infrastructure, such as an electrical grid. In electricity, off-grid can be stand-alone power system or mini-grids (typically to provide a smaller community with electricity). Off Grid electrification is an approach to access electricity used in countries and areas with little access to electricity, due to scattered or distant population. The term off-the-grid can refer to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities.

Off-Grid Independence

Going off grid represents the ultimate in energy independence. No more utility bills or power outages when the grid goes down. A common misconception is that a true off-grid house is able to operate completely independently of all traditional public utility services. Although this is not the case. The term “off grid” traditionally refers to the electrical grid only, electrical power can be generated on-site with renewable energy sources such as solar (particularly with photovoltaics), wind, micro hydro and a generator with adequate fuel reserves to back the system up. Such a system is called a stand-alone power system or sometimes referred to as a Hybrid power system.

ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

Locations that are expensive to connect to main electricity grids are particularly suited for off-grid renewable energy developments, for example remote or rural areas with no or very deteriorated infrastructure. In situations where grid parity has been reached, it becomes cheaper to generate one’s own electricity rather than purchasing it from the grid. This depends on equipment costs, the availability of renewable energy sources (wind, sun), and the cost of a grid connection. For example, in certain remote areas a grid connection would be prohibitively expensive, resulting in grid parity being reached immediately.

GETTING THERE!

Getting there, however, requires more than just installing solar panels on a roof, specialised power electronics and an energy storage system are the heart of any off-grid system, along with a reliable source of renewable energy such as solar, wind or hydro.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s required

 

Learn More About Some of The Key Elements Required for an Off-Grid Power System