Solar Photovoltaic - Stand Alone
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At a glance |
Off-Grid Solar PV systems are a common way to generate and use small amounts of electricity in off-grid applications. These could provide power for a small house, a variety of agricultural purposes such as electric fences, water pumping and pond aeration, and other. Solar electricity has been widely used for such applications in rural areas since the 1970s and today's technology is very reliable and robust. A stand-alone solar PV system is a cost effective and simple way to generate electricity where the grid is not readily accessible or where grid reliability is a concern.
Solar Electric off-grid systems are stand-alone simple PV systems without moving parts. They are often similar to battery-operated systems with the addition of one or more PV panels sized for the battery and the application in mind, to ensure availability of power on demand. A solar controller regulates the amount of electricity delivered to the battery from the PV panel and the electric output to the application. Solar electric systems must be mounted close to the application and the PV panels must have a clear southern exposure from at least the hours of 10 AM to 3 PM. The size of the PV panel and battery required will depend on such factors as the climate, solar exposure, and other factors. They can be designed to work throughout Canada and to be portable.
Commercial solar electric of-grid systems are often marketed in commercial kits with a panel attached to a weatherproof box housing the battery and charger. Depending on the application, these systems are usually designed to go several days without sunlight and to charge the battery fully within 1 -2 sunny days. Although most products available in the market are relatively safe and simple to work with and install, it is important to remember that whenever working with electricity, danger exists and appropriate cautions must be taken.
Depending on the size of the system and the application required, PV systems usually cost as low as a few hundred dollars to as much as thousands of dollars. Electric fence systems for example can cost as low as $200 - $500. More complex systems requiring more power, larger batteries and other ancillary equipment can be much more expensive. A water pumping PV system can run upwards of $5-$10,000.
A list of equipment manufacturers, suppliers and contractors can be found on CanSIA's website: www.cansia.ca
Énergie Solaire Québec sells for a small fee (free with membership) a list of renewable energy suppliers and businesses in Quebec. http://www.esq.qc.ca/
For more information, please read the full note relevant to the application of interest
Modified: 03-31-2008
