Perhaps the most obvious benefit of achieving energy independence is to achieve complete energy independence. Electricity usually comes from generators. With the recent unpredictability and increase in energy prices, even if you use energy sparingly, you may still receive high electricity bills. This is where the off-grid system comes into play. Having an off-grid power system means that you don’t have to pay a fixed connection fee to a large utility company or have a continuous electricity bill, and you can achieve 100% independence from electricity retailers-protecting your home from rising energy costs.

Off-grid means completely disconnecting your home from the national grid and relying entirely on the energy produced by your home’s solar and battery storage systems.

How does "off-grid" compare to "on-grid"?

Also, if you live in a rural area, the cost of connecting to the grid can be very high, and the obstacles you might have to overcome can be frustrating.

Economics It may be difficult to compare the economic benefits of off-grid and maintaining on-grid. As the cost of solar and battery drops, the price of grid electricity is rising, especially with inventions like Tesla’s powerwall. Off-grid is becoming more and more important for people. Attractive ordinary homeowner.

If we take a grid-connected house that uses 5kWh a day as an example, they will pay an average of about US$511 in electricity per year-plus electricity. The cost of an off-grid system with a size of 5kWh/day is approximately US$30,000. Therefore, if you are only considering leaving the grid for economic reasons, then this may not be the right choice for you. A better option is to stay connected to the grid and install battery storage to make the most of your solar energy

Therefore, when you compare these two systems side by side, it seems that taking a grid-connected house off the grid is not very economically advantageous.

One of the biggest advantages of being off the grid is that you can lock in electricity costs for at least the next ten years, making it completely independent of rising electricity bills. For those facing expensive internet connections and/or worried about the unpredictability of energy prices, off-grid may be your best option.

Power failure protection When you are connected to the grid and there is a power failure or power failure, you are practically powerless and can only wait until the power is restored. With an off-grid system, you can generate and store your own energy, so you can control your own system, so if something goes wrong, you will be able to fix it instead of relying on network technicians.

Increasing the value of your property Solar and battery storage can add value to your property and may make it easier to sell. 85% of Australians agree with this view, and many studies also support this.

Environmental benefits We all know that solar energy is cleaner than using fossil fuels, so renewable energy is used. Another common comment and reason why many of our customers are off-grid is that it is also satisfying to know that the energy you produce is clean and renewable instead of using grid electricity from non-renewable sources.

In general, off-grid has many great advantages and benefits. From saving you money to protecting the environment. Therefore, whether you are just looking for a more environmentally friendly solution or want to cut off the power cord of a utility company, an off-grid system is a good choice.

How many Australians live off-grid?

Currently 2% of Australians live off-grid, which usually involves disconnecting from municipal water, sewage, natural gas and electricity services — or not connecting at all, if you are building.

Solar energy alternatives for off-grid living

Wind turbines The energy payback period of a typical wind turbine is less than 6 months, and the carbon dioxide payback period is about 6 months. A typical household uses approximately 10,932 kWh of electricity per year (approximately 911 kWh per month). According to the average wind speed in the region, wind turbines with a rated power between 5-15 kilowatts are required to meet this demand.

The pros and cons of "off-grid"

Advantages: Save a lot of money every month Although the initial cost is higher, having more renewable energy supply will save you monthly utility bills. The amount of cash you save will vary depending on where you live and the type of solar system you have. On average, the typical off-grid homeowner can save about $20 a month, which is more than 20 years in most states.

With net metering, you can also sell energy back to the power company, although you need to be connected to the grid in some way. If you want to use your own energy, you still want to establish contact with a local energy company in order to transition from on-grid to off-grid.

Cons: Higher solar prices. According to the best solar company in Bakersfield, California, the initial cost alone can be daunting, which is one of the main reasons homeowners stay on the grid. It is cheaper to buy a smaller solar system, but still depends on the power company to some extent.

Advantages: No power outage and grid connection does have its limitations. When your neighbor has no power, you have no power. However, if you are off the grid, you can still use it even if other people near you don’t have it. Power outages can be a real trouble, and you want to have power all the time. Having 100% of the energy from the sun means that as long as the sun comes out, you can ensure that you always have electricity.

If you have a grid-connected solar system and there is a power outage in your area, your house will still lose power because it poses a threat to electricians who might restore power to nearby. In this case, the off-grid solar system sounds more attractive.

Disadvantages: No backup power. If you do not use the grid, this does not necessarily mean that your solar system may not encounter some problems in the future. Being independent from the grid may be great, but if you lose power and others nearby still have power, it sounds scary.

Because it is your own solar system that has a problem, it means that it is your problem to be solved, not the problem of the city. This means you need to study your solar system and read about possible errors and the correct way to fix them so that you can solve the problem faster.

Off-grid solar systems may be a real luxury, but they may also cause more trouble than their value. However, it is good to have options in terms of household solar energy.

For a DIY off-grid solar power system, you need four basic components

In addition to the above components, you also need some other things, such as copper wires, MC4 connectors, circuit breakers, meters, and fuses.

Can I set it myself?

Yes, please learn how to try it yourself step by step here.

Australia's best off-grid solar panel system

1. ECO-WORTHY 1000 Watt 1KW Off Grid Solar System 2. WindyNation 400 Watt Solar Panel Kit 3. ECO LLC 900W 24V Complete Off Grid Solar System Kit 4. WindyNation 400 Watt Solar Kit 5. Renogy 400 Watt Grid 12 Volt Premium Off Solar Kit 6. ECO-WORTHY 240 watt 12V solar panel kit 7. Renogy 100 watt 12 volt monocrystalline off-grid portable solar panel 8. ECO-WORTHY 200 watt monocrystalline solar panel

Image: https://renew.org.au/renew-magazine/buyers-guides/solar-panel-buyers-guide/

Discover products that suit your style and create a list of your favorite or most wanted items.

Search our latest projects and articles to find inspiration for your next project

Join the community to learn more about projects and news

Subscribe to get all news, opinions, resources, comments and opinions about architecture and design, delivered directly to your inbox.