What
Exactly Is Grid Tie ?
Grid Tie
simply means that you are connected to the electrical grid, but instead of
simply using the energy that the power company produces, you actually become an
independent power producer. Or in essence your own power company ! Grid tie has
existed in different forms for many years. There are people out there that sell
power which is generated from small scale wind mills, others who generate power
from small hydro electric systems, and still others who sell back power produced
from the Sun. Solar systems being the least complex of the previously named
technologies has just about reached plug and play simplicity. There are no
moving parts to break, no critical monitoring and virtually no noise. Solar
modules simply sit in the Sun and generate electricity year in and year out, in
fact, the typical Solar module carries a warranty of 20 years and in most cases
are expected to last double that amount of time !
Below is a
graphic which illustrates the basic configuration of a typical solar electric
system. The Solar PV Array or Photovoltaic Array on the left is the actual
energy collecting unit, it may be mounted on the ground, on a roof top or on a
pole as illustrated. The array should be pointed due South and tilted so that
there is maximum exposure to the Sun.
The energy
which is collected is then fed through wires in the form of DC or direct
current to the energy conversion unit, typically called an inverter, where the
direct current is "inverted" to AC or alternating current. This is
the type of current which is found in your home's AC outlets. The inverter
synchronizes the AC current that it produces with the utility companies AC
current and then feed that current through your utility meter and on to the
grid. Because you are producing power, your utility meter will actually slow
down and in some cases may actually run backwards. If you are in a "
Make Your Meter Spin
Backwards !