GRID-TIE & SOLAR GEYSER
Grid-Tied System
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Grid-Tie
The most cost-effective way to provide solar energy is via a Grid-Tied PV solar solution. A grid-tied inverter as the name suggests, is connected to the grid as well as an array of solar panels. The connection to grid provides the frequency for the inverter to harmonise energy from the AC(grid) and DC (PV panels) into a single AC stream into the premises. This only works when the sun shines and the grid is present. Albeit the sun is shining but the grid is down, there will be no power provided to the premises, thus grid-tied solutions offer no back-up facility.
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A grid-tied solution is however, quite inexpensive and well-suited to applications such as commercial buildings that operate mainly in the day, schools and large scale solar farms. A 5kW single phase grid-tied inverter costs around R12,500 and 5kW three-phase approximately R19,000 with a 20kW coming in at R31,500.
Hybrid Geyser
It is estimated that residential geysers use 30-40% of the total electricity consumed in a household. It is therefore sensible that this should be a focal-point for consumers seeking to reduce their monthly electricity bill. Conventional thermal solar geysers can be ineffective and unsightly and disposing of your existing AC geyser can seem wasteful.
The solution is to retain your existing geyser but to add solar generation to it, using normal PV solar panels and an innovative solar controller that optimises grid and solar power.
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This is the quickest and most cost-effective manner of heating water yet retaining the AC grid-power for occasions where there is minimal sunshine.
