Solar System for Beginners

Look no further for the best beginner's guide to solar panel systems. In this buying guide, you will know in layman's terms what is solar system, different types of solar system,  and how to select different types of systems for home, school, hospital, petrol pump, factory, office and other places. This article is intended for beginners so obviously there is a lot more involved than we will explaining but this covers the basics to get started.

People in India generally face two major problems in the summer season. The first is the high electricity bill and the second one is the frequent power cuts. Thus, many people are willing to install solar power plants in their houses for the consumption of power. But, they have no knowledge of the types of solar power system available in the market or their prices. They are unable to figure out which solar power plant is suitable for their needs.

What is a Solar System?

Solar System (also understand Solar Power System) is an effective solution for generating electricity by converting sunlight with the help of solar panels. It is also known as a solar energy system or solar plant. It comprises several components like a solar panel, solar inverter, and battery.

Types of Solar System

1. Solar System without Battery

An On-grid solar system comes without a battery. Its main purpose is to save on your electricity bills. The inverter in this solar system comes in different technologies.

Choose by Installation

Choose by Power Consumption

Choose by Inverter Technology

#1. String Inverter: It has one inverter connected to multiple solar panels. You cannot extend the number of solar panels as per your need in the case of this technology.

#2. Micro Inverter: In this technology, every solar panel is connected to a micro inverter which eliminates the problem of dependency or system compatibility. Thus, you can extend the number of solar panels along with the inverter in the future as per your needs.

#3. Hybrid Inverter: Hybrid inverter works in a similar way as on-grid and off-grid. Although, it is not so popular as a string inverter or microinverter.

2. Solar System with Battery 

A solar system with a battery is called an Off-grid solar system. Hence, you can store electricity in the battery during the daytime which can be used during power cuts or during the night.

Choose by Installation

Choose by Power Consumption

Choose by Inverter Technology

This solar system is available in different inverter technologies.

 

#1. PWM Based Solar system: All inverters for the Solar system of less than 1 KW are PWM based solar system.

 

#2. MPPT based Solar system: Solar system between 3 KW to 10 KW has an inverter which is MPPT based Solar system. This is mainly beneficial as it allows you to run all your home appliances with the help of solar power during the day, once the battery is fully charged.

 

3. Upgrade Old Inverter Battery

There are users who already have inverters at home and don’t want to get is replaced. They can also buy a solar system in this case. With the help of a charge controller and a solar panel, they can convert their inverter to solar.

Choose by Existing Battery

4. Home Lighting System

This solar system is used to light up your house using solar energy in case of power cuts. Thus, you don’t have to use emergency lights anymore.

Choose by Purpose

5. Run Appliances on Solar Panel

 

In this kind of Solar system, solar panel and VFT are the two major components.  This allows the users to run a water pump or flour mill. Solar Water Pump is an effective solution to draw water from open wells, bore well, streams, ponds, canals, etc.

Which Solar System is Best for Home?

Both on-grid and off-grid Solar systems are very popular these days. You can choose any one of them, as per your needs. If your main purpose is to reduce your electricity bill, then the best Solar system for you is the on-grid Solar system.

If you live in an area with frequent power cuts, you can get a solar system with battery backup.

Subsidy on Solar system

In January 2021, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) released a notification stating that a subsidy of 40% is to be provided for installing a solar power plant up to 3 KW for domestic purposes. Whereas, for a solar power plant of 4KW to 10 KW, a subsidy of 20 % is provided.  The states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, or West Bengal have an approved list of its vendors on their DISCOM website. Thus, you can refer to the same to check how can you get the subsidy.

Am I Eligible for a Subsidy?

It is very important to know if you will receive a subsidy for buying Solar Power Plant or not. A subsidy is provided for the installation of a Solar panel for your house only. This means that if you are getting it for a hospital, school, or petrol pump, then, you won’t be getting the subsidy. In India, the subsidy is provided only on the grid-connected solar systems. But, Chattisgarh, is the only Indian state, where subsidy is provided on a battery-connected solar system. Chattisgarh is known for its coal mines. Creda, the renewable agency in Chattisgarh, has studied the disadvantages of the subsidy system and hence, developed a market mode of service. Market mode of service means the customer can freely choose his product. This promotes solar entrepreneurs in the market. If you are from Chattisgarh, you can contact the registered vendor.

What is Net- Meter?

In the case of an on-grid solar system, there is a popularly used term, net-meter. Let us discuss this and find out how you can get it in your house. It is the meter that records the difference in the power consumed through the grid and solar panels. In this way, you can calculate and pay the difference to the electricity department. It also helps you to understand the peak hours of power consumption at your house.

 

If you want a net- meter, you can put a request for it on the relevant DISCOM website for your state. You can simply apply for a net meter and follow the procedure.

Conclusion

Now, you can choose the best inverter for all your needs. You can get a solar system installed in your house, hospital, petrol pump, factory, school, etc, by contacting Loom Solar on the official website and book an engineer visit to know more about the process. Loom Solar serves not only India but also in countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia.