Types of solar inverters: which one is best for your home
6 September 2024
With solar energy getting as popular as it is right now, what with the energy cost inflation affecting people globally, it's high time a general understanding of the many components of solar energy equipment be prevalent. While there are mainly three types of solar inverters, we’ll not only discuss the types of solar inverters, but we’ll also look at which one might be best for your home and your requirements: whether it’s a hybrid solar inverter, an on-grid solar inverter, or an off-grid solar inverter. Since an inverter is essentially the central processing unit of a modern solar energy system, an inverter will define what system you need to have, based on your requirements.
All inverters, whether on-grid, off-grid, or hybrid, have the same job: converting the direct current generated from the solar panels into alternating current to be used by the house. The difference usually is in the operation of the inverters: hybrid inverters don’t rely on the grid to start operating, whereas the on-grid inverter, well, it's pretty much self-explanatory. And off-grid inverters are the ultimate in self-reliance when it comes to renewable energy.
Let's start by discussing the different types of solar inverters, and then discussing which one might be the best for you. We will also discuss how ZNC Solar, the best solar inverter distributor in Pakistan and the best solar energy equipment supplier in Pakistan, can help you get the best in solar energy equipment.
The Different Types of Solar Inverters
There are essentially three different types of solar inverters. In this blog post, we will discuss all three and understand their functionality and how they work to understand which one might be better for you and the requirements of your home or office.
i. On-Grid Inverters
The first and most common type of solar inverters that are available in Pakistan and are offered by ZNC Solar in their portfolio of GoodWe solar inverters are on-grid inverters. As their name implies, on-grid inverters are used for solar energy systems that remain connected to the grid and work as a system wherein solar energy fills in the gaps left by the grid. On-grid solar inverters are popular in Pakistan because the grid isn’t as reliable but still provides electricity for a good part of the day. And, because energy tariffs in Pakistan are quite high, on-grid solar energy inverters make it so that you don’t put much emphasis on the usage of grid power, thereby reducing overall consumption and billing.
ii. Hybrid Inverters
The second type of solar energy inverter that is reasonably popular in Pakistan and actually provides lots of utility when compared with other types of solar inverters are hybrid inverters. Once again, as the name implies, hybrid inverters bring the consumer the best of both worlds in the literal sense. Hybrid inverters can be connected to the grid and can, therefore, act as on-grid inverters, supplying solar energy wherever required as per the snags left by the grid energy. On the other hand, should there be a blackout or the grid faces an outage, a hybrid inverter, combined with sufficient solar energy battery storage, can act as an off-grid inverter and provide energy to a household or office all on its own. With that being said, hybrid inverters, therefore, are the best of both worlds and offer a world of convenience with their ability to emulate either one of the other two options in solar energy inverters.
iii. Off-Grid Inverters
Off-grid inverters are the last and not the most popular option out there when it comes to solar inverters. In fact, given their stringent utility and their limited scope of use, off-grid inverters are used in places where either the grid isn’t present or is completely unreliable. Off-grid inverters utilize only the energy from the solar panels and energize the premises on their own, without any input from the grid or other energy sources at all, and while this makes them incredibly powerful and robust on their own, their limited usage and the fact that they cannot be used with the grid makes them an unlikely option for people to go with.
iv. Which One Is Better for You?
In the case of solar inverters, the requirements determine just what exactly you might need and which option might be able to better satisfy your requirements. Should you have access to a grid that is reliable and provides access to energy at all times, an on-grid inverter might be good. On the other hand, hybrid and off-grid inverters rely more on the panels rather than the grid.
ZNC Solar: The Best Solar Inverters in Pakistan
Since 1991, ZNC Solar has provided Pakistan with the best solar energy equipment; from solar panels to solar inverters, our range of products from GoodWe, Canadian Solar, and Jinko have always been the standard for excellence in the solar energy skyline of Pakistan. For the best solar inverters in Pakistan from manufacturers like GoodWe, check us out at zncsolar.com.