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Solar Energy System Basics
There are two types of solar energy systems:
On-Grid Systems
On-grid solar energy systems are connected in parallel with the utility grid acting as a backup supply. When the system produces energy in the morning, all of this energy is consumed by the house or building although it may not meet 100% of its energy demand. The deficit is taken from the utility grid.
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During noontime, the system may produce more energy than the demand. Under a net metering scheme, this excess energy is exported back to the grid. The utility pays for this exported electricity at a fixed price per kWh called the feed-in-tariff. The payment is usually just deducted from that household’s monthly electric bill.
During the afternoon, the same thing happens with that in the morning. The house or building consumes the energy that the system produces and imports the deficit from the grid to meet the total demand. In the evening, the system is not producing any energy, so the house or building imports all of its energy demand from the grid.
Off-Grid Systems
Off-grid solar energy systems are, as its name suggests, off the grid. This means that the house’s or building’s only power supply will be the solar energy system. This is possible through the use of batteries. The system is designed in a way such that in the morning, it produces more than the household’s consumption. The excess energy is used to charge the batteries, which will later be used to meet the nighttime energy demand.
Off-grid systems are required to be oversized to account for cloudy/rainy days and for the winter months. This usually makes it, for most of the time, less feasible for sites with an already existing utility supply. Its main advantage, however, is that it can be used to provide electricity on locations that are too far away for the utility grid to reach.
Because of the disadvantages of off-grid systems, we always recommend on-grid systems because they are cheaper, have a higher ROI (return of investment), and are easier to operate and maintain.
How Can You Save From Your Electric Bills Using a Solar Energy System?
The ever-increasing price of basic commodities in our country has forced many of us to take significant measures to save up in any way that we can. However, what many of us still do not know the option of having a solar panel installation to drastically save from your monthly electric bills and protect yourself from further increases in the price of electricity.
Solar energy systems convert the readily-available energy from the sun into electricity that can be used by your household. Since the amount of sunlight that is reaching your home at any given point in time varies, it will then need to work in tandem with the electricity grid to meet 100% of your electricity demand.
Since our old electric meters are not designed to handle two electricity sources (electric grid and solar), it will need to be replaced with what is called a bi-directional or net meter. You can click on this link to learn more about Meralco’s Net Metering program. Explained simply, a net meter allows you to sell the excess electricity from your solar PV system back to Meralco. Meralco will then consider the total amount of sold electricity as credit, which will be deducted from your monthly electric bill.
Basically, this is how you will be able to save from your monthly electric bills using solar panels and a net meter in the Philippines:
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In the morning, your solar panels will probably produce less energy than your total consumption. All of this energy will be used by your home and the deficit will be taken from the electric grid. This way, you reduce the total electricity that you buy from Meralco.
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During noontime, your solar panels can produce more energy than your total consumption. When this happens, the excess electricity will be sold back to Meralco. All of your electricity demand will be met by your solar energy system, which means that you don’t need to buy electricity from Meralco anymore.
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In the afternoon, it will be the same case as in the morning.
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During the evening, you will then need to buy 100% of your electricity demand from Meralco like you would normally do before having a solar energy system.
To sum it up quickly, solar energy systems work like another source of electricity for your home. Because of this, you will reduce your reliance on Meralco by buying less electricity from them. This also means that future rises in the price of electricity will hurt less for you since you are less dependent on them.
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However, the main benefit of solar energy is not the monthly savings that you can get. Electric consumers in the Philippines basically pays the highest electricity rates in all of Asia because of a corrupted power industry that has been built to take advantage of Filipinos. But now, with solar panels, we can become independent power producers ourselves and generate energy right on the top of our roofs.
If you would want to know more on how you can help make the Philippines a very progressive solar-powered nation with the use of solar panels, click on the button on the left. If you have any questions or you would like to reach out, click on the button on the right.
