The energy situation in Pakistan is such that the grid is not the most reliable source of electricity. While there are many reasons for that, this makes it difficult for people in remote areas to enjoy the benefits of uninterrupted electricity supply. In fact, there are several remote areas in Pakistan which are devoid of grid power, or have access to really unreliable power sources, which makes them a prime candidate for off-grid solar energy systems that will be able to satisfy their need for a reliable electricity.
Off-grid solar energy systems, as their name implies, provide electricity generated from solar energy without any input from the grid. Ideally and when set up in the right conditions, off-grid solar energy systems are the perfect solution for remote areas lacking access to energy or the grid. In Pakistan, several remote areas have perfect access to sunlight, and with an efficient solar energy system installed on the premises, the benefits of uninterrupted access to electricity can be reaped by many more.
Let’s look at the particulars of off-grid Solar energy solutions for remote residential applications.
Off-Grid solar solutions for remote residential applications
For residential applications, especially in remote areas where the grid might not be able to reach or might not be able to provide uninterrupted energy, an off-grid solar energy system steps in to provide energy. Since the generation requirement for residential systems is less than what is required for commercial purposes, a low yield system is equally useful in ensuring that the premises stay powered no matter what. The one potential drawback that we can think of might be the availability of sunlight: during winters or rainy season, the generation potential might get affected substantially, and since there is no grid power to kick in, it could potentially result in a temporary blackout situation.
Now onto the benefits of using off-grid solar energy solutions for residential applications.
The benefits of Off-Grid Solar solutions
There are many benefits of using an off-grid solar energy system to power your home should the grid be unreliable. Let’s start with the obvious ones.
Uninterrupted power
With an off-grid solar energy solution, you will have access to uninterrupted energy throughout the day. Many remote areas have plenty of sunshine throughout the day, and since these areas don’t have other environmental factors that often affect the generation potential adversely, an off-grid solar energy solution is perfect.
Energy storage
Off-grid solar solutions come standard with extensive energy storage options, complete with high-efficiency solar batteries that can support the energy demands of the household in certain situations. What makes it even better is that some systems will let you increase the number of batteries connected to the system, in effect letting you increase your energy storage potential to be used for a rainy day.
Reduces dependency on unreliable grid
The main purpose of installing an off-grid solar energy solution for your home in a remote setting is to ensure that whatever problems the grid has, your household does not have to experience them. For example, while the national grid (even in Pakistan) has considerable reach throughout the country, there are still areas where the grid is highly unreliable and develops faults that may put the entire area in extended blackout periods. In that case, an off-grid solar energy solution will stave off the need for having to rely on an unstable grid, and your premises will stay powered no matter what.
Some drawbacks of Off-Grid Solar Energy solutions
Here are some potential drawbacks of having an off-grid solar energy solution installed.
Cost
Solar energy systems are usually expensive, and while hybrid and on-grid systems don’t exactly come cheap, off-grid systems really take the cake. This is because they need additional equipment to ensure the premises stay powered, since there is no grid to rely or back up on. Whereas hybrid and on-grid systems will both use grid input to supplement their output. Which means a more robust and efficient system, which translates to increased cost of equipment and subsequent installation.
Loss of potential generation
Off-grid solar energy systems are remarkably efficient; however, they do require an ample amount of exposure to sunlight for them to be feasible when it comes to electricity. This means that for days when its cloudy outside, or during monsoon when rainclouds cover the sun consistently, the output from the system will be substantially lower, which could potentially affect the household’s ability to consume electricity.
In conclusion
While the system has its pros and cons, there is no doubt that off grid solar energy solutions are the best for access to uninterrupted energy in remote areas. Getting an off-grid energy system from the best solar company in Pakistan, Beacon Energy, will provide you complete access to the sun’s power, and whether you have access to an unreliable grid or no grid at all,off-grid solar solution will ensure that you always have access to reliable energy.
