Other Power Sources that Complement Solar Energy

Other Power Sources that Complement Solar Energy

Solar energy is a great way to provide independent off-grid power. In larger home systems, or cabins with continuous use for extended periods of time, other sources of power have roles to play in developing the most energy efficient approach to your needs.

Generators and Solar Power—perfect partners

Although solar energy has enormous advantages in the provision of clean environmentally friendly electric power, generators can play a key role in your independent power system. Here's why:

More sun in the summer, less in the winter

For most North American residences, there's one unavoidable fact: it's generally a lot sunnier in the summertime. In fact, solar radiation can be as much as three times greater in the summertime than in the wintertime. Even in sunny locations like San Diego, the amount of wintertime solar radiation is roughly 70% of the summertime amount. Relying completely on solar energy to satisfy your wintertime requirements can result in a massive surplus of power in the summertime, as well as an expensive solar energy system that is oversized for much of the year.

Some appliances consume large amounts of energy – perfect for generator operation

Electric stoves and hot water heaters consume massive amounts of electricity, and will very quickly eat up stored battery power. Running these appliances intermittently with a generator reduces the strain on your solar energy system and allows the generator to do what's it's designed for, supplying power at levels close to full capacity.

If you've already got a generator, it will thank you for going solar!

Most generators are designed to be used at close to their rated output wattage. Therefore, if you have a 20-watt light bulb operating from a 1000-watt generator, it basically takes the same amount of fuel as it would to run 1000 watts - two percent efficiency! To make things worse, your generator is practically idling, which it is not designed for. By using your solar energy system to run smaller, intermittent appliances, you'll reduce the amount of wear and tear on your generator, and enjoy lots more peace and quiet! We recommend sizing your system to meet your year-round requirements, and use a small generator as a back-up battery charger.