- 2025
- 30
- Sep
An on-grid solar system is a solar setup that is connected to the regular electricity grid.
Key Features:
- 1
Solar panels convert sunlight into DC (direct current).
- 2
An inverter then converts this DC into AC (alternating current) which is what home appliances use.
- 3
The system is set up so that your home uses solar power whenever available. If solar production is more than what you need at any time, the excess gets fed back into the grid.
- 4
If solar isn’t enough (e.g. at night, cloudy days), you automatically draw power from the grid.
A “net meter” is used to measure both what you draw from the grid and what you send back. The electricity bill then reflects the “net” usage.
Advantages :
- 1
Lower initial cost than systems with batteries, because batteries are expensive and add maintenance.
- 2
Reduced electricity bills, since you’re generating at least part of your own power and sometimes getting credit for excess via net metering.
- 3
Simpler maintenance (fewer components).
- 4
If government or regulatory incentives (subsidies, favourable net metering policies) exist, the payback period gets shorter.
Disadvantages :
- 1
If there is a grid outage (power cut), the on-grid system generally stops working. Even if the sun is shining, most systems are required to shut off (for safety) unless you have a battery-backup or a hybrid setup.
- 2
You are dependent on grid policies: net metering rules, tariffs, downtime. If your area has poor policies or high charges, savings may be lower than expected.
- 3
No stored power means no reserve during night or long cloudy periods.
