The dream of a lot of people is to be completely energy independent. Solar and wind power give the dream of energy independence hope, but the reality today is that going “off the grid” is still expensive and technically very difficult. Most people consume vast amounts of energy to run their air-conditioning systems, appliances, lights, computers, and other small electronic devices. It is technically possible to run all of these electric devices in an off-grid configuration, but the size of a solar powered off-grid system is extremely cost prohibitive.
Off-grid systems are expensive and large. Not only do off-grid systems require a large amount of well ventilated and controlled space for batteries and solar panels, the investments can be so large that most people will never realize a return on their sytem. If the economics of going off-grid are not a concern then maintenance needs to be considered. Batteries for off-grid systems largely remain lead acid. Lead acid batteries come in a few different varieties: flooded, sealed, and gel. Flooded batteries require weekly top-offs of water and constant checking. Sealed and gel batteries offer a “maintenance free” battery experience, but they are not full proof. With sealed batteries temperature variations of a few degrees in cold and hot climates can destroy an expensive battery pack. Sealed batteries, just like flooded batteries, must also be replaced every 5 or so years. Usually a lead acid battery system will cost almost double what is invested in the solar part of an off-grid system. This means every 5 years you are making another investment in replacing and installing batteries.
For the most part, going completely off-grid is not a good option for the average solar enthusiast. There are battery technologies coming to market that may make it easier to add batteries to your energy portfolio, but they are still not a replacement for grid power. Off-grid applications still remain in the realm of remote and niche solar applications.
