The Role Off-Grid Solar Solutions Play to Achieve Energy Security

The first thing that comes to mind when someone says, “going off the grid”, is independence from electric utility. But let us assure you, the scope of off-grid solar is vast and surmounts much more than just independence from the utility grid. If it ensures benefits for the asset owners, it also demands certain responsibilities. The foremost responsibility is to identify your goals for choosing to be off-grid energy solutions. That would initially determine whether being disconnected from the grid would be viable for you or not, at the first place. And if it is, then what type of system you should design and how should you live with it.

Factors Motivating You to Choose Off-Grid

Several aspects may motivate you to choose off-grid solutions, for instance environmental concerns to use renewable energy as much as possible; or freedom from the utility grid, as already mentioned; or to eliminate utility outage vulnerability; or socio-political reasons to take responsibility of your energy footprint; or it may simply be the cost factor that highly depends upon how far you are from the utility grid.

When Does Off-Grid Seem Viable?

It is important to be realistic about going off the grid keeping in mind the investment you need to make with respect to cost, time, and attention. There are certain situations in which going off the grid is the only possible option, or the most appropriate one. If you are very far away from the grid or your location has no grid, the only affordable option is to get an independent system. Load analysis has a significant role to play when it comes to design an off-grid system because without accurately estimating your energy usage, designing a system that satisfactorily satisfies your needs in the most economical way is rather impossible, than difficult.

Off-Grid Solar From India’s Vantage Point

Looking at the bigger picture, solar energy possesses a very high potential across India. And Off-Grid solar systems have an important part to play in this energy revolution. For our energy security, we are dependent on fossil fuels. Many experts believe that this is a complete wastage of foreign exchange. If the power generated with the help of these fossil fuels is replaced by the energy from the off-grid solar systems, environmental friendly energy will be bequeathed upon the masses instead of pollution causing energy from the fossils. And this eco-friendly energy security will be accompanied with the saving of the foreign exchange, resulting in a dual benefit. Moreover, off-grid solar can assist the government to meet its set energy target providing economical savings to both government and private players.