Solar rooftop systems are the ideal method to harvest and store solar energy. A general solar rooftop system can harness about 300W of electricity from solar radiation, while in direct sunlight. If you plan your solar rooftop system well, you could even run a supply off-grid, saving you 100% on electricity and making you 100% sustainable in terms of energy consumption.
Why is it on my rooftop?
You may have seen solar panel farms, with solar panels lined up like crops, occasionally moved to direct them toward the sunlight. These are tweaked to perform at higher efficiencies, and they can typically give an output of 5 MW. This works great for small or even large towns of around 1500 houses. But in the case of city or rural area limits, a solar rooftop system is more ideal, as a fit it and forget it solution for sustainable energy. Especially in India, where most of our houses receive ample amounts of direct sunlight everyday, solar rooftop systems are surely the best way to attain a more sustainable energy production model.
Types of Solar Rooftop Systems
Based on the relation with the power grid, solar rooftop systems can be classified into three types.
On-Grid
These solar panel systems are connected to the city or town-wide power supply grid. They work in such a way that they let the grid-supply be used only when the solar module is out of sufficient electricity to run our appliances. A well-planned on-grid system can not only power your house fully, it can also send electricity back into the grid. Most developed nations these days will pay such on-grid systems, so you could earn by contributing to your city’s grid!
Off-Grid
Off-grid systems are used when the power supply is frequently disturbed, or there is no power supply at all, such as in the case of remote locations. This solar rooftop system is not connected to any grid and uses a batter to store the solar energy harvested. This type of system comes in very handy for explorers or researchers in remote areas, for example Antarctica, the Amazon Forest, Bolivia and many others.
Hybrid Systems
Hybrid systems use special inverters and other storage devices to save energy for later use. Typical on-grid systems immediately send power back to the grid, however hybrid systems are capable of providing backup power when necessary, like a UPS. The main advantage is that it works like an on-grid system, but also can backup electricity for literal rainy days.
Intelizon manufactures and supplies all three types of rooftop systems, to provide the maximum number of people with smart, clean energy and propel the vision of a sustainable, eco-friendly future. A world built on solar technology is the way to go, and we’re taking the steps on the path to a better future.
Is my roof apt for a solar rooftop system?
Some factors need to be considered to know if your rooftop is ideal to generate electricity from solar panels.
Here is a list of them:
- Availability of sunlight
Sunlight is the main factor of solar energy harvestation. Whether your rooftop can harness energy is determined by the amount of direct sunlight it gets during the day. With surroundings and weather taken into account, your rooftop should at least get 4-5 hours of direct sunlight in most of its area. The more the duration and area of well-lit space, the more electricity you generate!
2. Direction of Sun
Solar farms ideally harvest energy by changing the direction of the solar panels to match the direction of the sun, taking in as much light energy as possible. This is not possible in most rooftop systems as it is not everyone’s cup of tea to keep moving the solar panels. As such, the orientation of the panel once fixed, plays a key role in the harvesting of energy.
3. Choosing the suitable system
The contents of this article should help you decide the suitable system for you to use on your rooftop. It is always good to ask for help from the internet or any other available sources of information before deciding on your solar rooftop system.
Cost-Benefit of Solar Rooftop Systems
Rooftop Solar systems are gaining popularity with their fully sustainable energy production methods. Now, happy users of this technology never worry about power issues and in-fact earn additional revenue from generating power back into the grid. The rare minimal expenses incurred are far outweighed by the amazing returns and advantages of solar rooftop systems, not to mention the thousands of tonnes of Carbon-di-oxide emissions avoided. The installation of a Solar Rooftop System is a greatly inspired technological advancement of science that benefits the individual and the society vastly.