This is a device used to direct the AX current to different circuits in your house or office, so it can be utilized, and the excess energy is either exported to the main lines or can be stored in the batteries if you have a setup ready for that. Hybrid systems, however, can do both stores the energy to the batteries to be used in off time and export the electricity back to the main lines so you can sell your excess back to WAPDA.
There are multiple applications of solar energy which can be of great value for all types of uses:
Application
- Grid-Tied/On-Grid
- On-Grid Hybrid
- Off Grid
Grid-Tied/On-Grid
On-Grid/Grid Tied solar power setup is by far the most commonly used set up to power appliances. This type of set up is very much liked by the home and business owners as it does not require a battery to store the power unless you need it. The set up requires no high-end solar inverters and wires. The setup is relatively cheap to install and maintain in the long run. The excess power generated by the system can easily be transmitted to WAPDA which can earn you credits through net metering.
If you own a solar panel set up in Pakistan then you need not care about the WAPDA bill anymore. WAPDA has introduced a new scheme for net-metering, according to this solar panel owners can now sell the excess power generated from their solar panel back to WAPDA and earn credits. This is the advantage to solar panel owners to keep their electricity bills down to a minimum and help our great country out of power outage.
Batteries can be added at a later stage if required!
On-Grid Hybrid
On Grid Hybrid is a system which can store energy in itself, given the increasing demand of the solar panel system, it is noted that battery powered setup has become a need in Pakistan recently. Due to the high increase in electricity bills unit and taxes and relatively low supply had made problems. So a hybrid system helps you storing your own electricity for the time of distress. People living in developed countries like USA and UK are also moving towards solar and green energy which are relatively cheaper and a good substitute.
This system is one of the best systems out there to be used, yes it will cost you a bit more than the others given the extra things that you need, but it will also allow you to switch between WAPDA and Solar at any time you want. Imagine if there is monsoon season going on, and it has been raining for 2 days. Two things you have to think about will be that either you will have more power in the storage which is dangerous and can lead to an explosion or you do not have a reserve at all and will be forced to use electricity from WAPDA.
Off-Grid
An Off-Grid system is not connected to the WAPDA electricity grid, therefore it requires an energy bank like batteries to be connected to the system. The off-grid systems are developed in such a way that they give enough energy throughout the year and have enough battery capacity to power all the household equipment even when there is less sunlight. Our country has been blessed by sunlight throughout the year unless there is rainy weather during some parts of summer and winter. Normally all locations in Pakistan have good sun time throughout the day. People living in Pakistan can make the most out of the solar power setup as compared to people living in the west, as the weather conditions there are mostly overcast.
This type of system is more suited for small and medium-sized enterprises and agriculture. Because they would know the exact amount of power they want for a fixed time in a day. So it can be planned out accordingly. Factories in the west normally who work in the remote area opt for this kind of setup so they do not run out power while they are working.