Globally, numerous households are installing solar power systems in their homes, and in almost every case, the motivation behind this move is a desire to lower energy costs and keep carbon footprints down. According to a report published by Energy Sage, the last 10 years have seen remarkable growth in the U.S. solar industry. At the same time, solar costs have gone down by almost 70%.

But what is solar power, really? Solar power, also known as solar energy, is energy from the sun that's ultimately converted into electricity. It's considered green energy as it's a renewable resource. Here are a few different types of solar power you can benefit from should you choose to install solar panels.

Off-Grid Solar Systems

A home using an off-grid solar system isn't connected to the normal power grid. The home depends solely on power harnessed and stored on-site. One of the reasons these types of solar power systems are gaining traction is due to rising electricity costs. People want to be self-sufficient when it comes to power generation. The national grids that feed off power generated using fossil fuels and other environmentally unsustainable sources aren't as favorable anymore.

Hybrid Solar Systems

These types of solar power systems are also referred to as “solar-plus-storage systems.” They work by pairing the solar panels with a battery. The role of the solar battery is to store energy for use in homes that are connected to the national grid in the event of a power outage. The hybrid solar system, therefore, works as backup during those dark moments when outages strike.

Grid-Tied Solar Systems

This solar power system is the most popular among households. To understand how it works, look at it as a reversed hybrid solar system. Instead of solar power acting as a backup during outages, in the case of a grid-tied solar system, the national grid is the backup. The home's solar power system is connected to the grid and only uses electricity from the grid when the grid-tied solar system fails to produce sufficient energy.

Whichever of these three you settle on, the goal, besides lowering your energy costs, should be to reduce your carbon footprint so the environment can sustain future generations.

If you have questions about the most effective types of solar power systems, get in touch with our team of professionals. We at Northwind Solar are ready to help!