So You Want Solar? What Are Your Choices?

Though there are theoretically many ways to harness the sun’s power, there are 5 popular options available on the market today.

There’s a lot of info to take in if you’re not someone who’s been researching about solar energy for decades (like Paul), so here are the key points of each option before we go on:

1. Off-Grid Stand-Alone Solar System - DC power

DC power (45% LESS Cost on PV System when using DC power), Fully-utilised Off-Grid Solar System comes with Clean Solar Energy.

  • Cost Effective, an independent Stand-Alone Off-Grid using COST-SAVING DC instead of AC
  • Suitable for remote living
  • NO Transmission cables, Pylons, High-tension transformers, Sub-stations
  • NO DC to AC Solar Inverter is required
  • NO Transmission LOSSES
  • NO Electricity bills
  • NO Land wasted building solar farms
  • Low Maintenance
  • Clean Solar Energy Backup

Obviously, this solution is best for remote living as it places nature’s power directly in your hands and lets you be your own boss.

2. Off-Grid Stand-Alone Solar System - AC power

AC power (HIGHER Energy conversion LOSSES), Fully-utilised Off-Grid Solar System comes with Clean Solar Energy.

  • An independent, Stand-Alone Off-Grid using HIGHER Consumption AC appliances
  • Suitable for remote living
  • NO Transmission cables, Pylons, High-tension transformers, Sub-stations
  • Expensive DC to AC Solar Inverter is required
  • NO Transmission LOSSES
  • NO Electricity bills
  • NO Land wasted building solar farms
  • Low Maintenance
  • Solar Clean Energy Backup
3. On-Grid Hybrid Solar System - AC power (Self Consumption – SELCO)

AC Power (HIGHER Energy conversion LOSSES), National Electricity Grid assisted by Solar System.

  • Does NOT require permission from the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA).
  • Suitable for those living in the city where housing units already have National Electricity Grid AC power
  • Expensive AC Inverter is required
  • Has Power Loss from AC Inverter
  • Still has electricity bills
  • No Land wasted building solar farms
  • Low maintenance
  • Good for daytime use but needs to be backed up by national grid at night
  • Option for Clean Solar Energy backup
4. On-Grid Hybrid Solar System - AC power (Net Energy Metering - NEM)

AC Power (HIGHER Energy conversion LOSSES), National Electricity Grid assisted by Solar System.

  • NEM requires permission from SEDA and only a limited number of applicants are allowed to apply.
  • Similar to On-Grid Hybrid Solar System (no.3), except energy is channelled back to the national grid in exchange for discounts off your utility bill.
5. Solar Farm - AC power (Large Scale Solar - LSS)

AC Power (HIGHER Energy conversion LOSSES), Large Scale Solar Power Plant which is producing High Energy (Mega Watt) output. LSS is a scheme that lets you generate your own electricity via solar PV farm with installed capacity ranging from 1 MW to <30 MW (for distribution connected Solar PV plants), and sell to the national electricity grid.

  • Large plots of land used for MASSIVE Amounts of solar panels in an attempt to harness solar on a large scale
  • Environmentally Unfriendly, WASTE of Land
  • HIGH COST of Cable installation and Maintenance (Transmission cables, Pylons, High-tension Transformers, Sub-stations required)
  • High Transmission LOSSES
  • Energy output decreases annually
  • No power at night
  • Massive decommissioning cost and landfill effect to nature once abandoned
  • We have high-rises and rooftops across the land, logically, panels should be on buildings and not replacing the trees.
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