Solar PV & off-grid systems

Off-grid solar systems suit properties that cannot rely on a grid connection. SIDAI also designs grid-tied and hybrid systems, choosing the arrangement only after understanding the site and its daily electricity use.

Three ways to use solar

Grid-tied systems generate during the day and reduce what you draw from the grid. Hybrid systems add batteries so solar also covers outages. Off-grid systems run independently, sized around daily consumption and the worst week of weather.

We recommend the simplest configuration that meets your requirement. If the grid is reliable and you only want to cut daytime consumption, a battery may not be necessary.

What we look at

• Daily consumption and the shape of the day — morning, evening or all day.
• Roof structure, orientation, shading and available ground.
• Cable routes, inverter location and access for maintenance.
• Whether the site will expand, and how much headroom the design should leave.

Design and protection

Array layout, string configuration, earthing, surge protection and isolation are specified together. A system that produces well but cannot be isolated safely is not finished.

Commissioning

We test under load, record the readings, label the circuits and walk you through the system before handover.

Grid-tied, hybrid or off-grid?

A grid-tied array supplies solar power while the grid is available. A hybrid system adds batteries for selected loads during an outage. Off-grid solar systems work independently, so the design must account for the full daily demand, the equipment that starts intermittently and the periods when solar generation is lower.

We review recent electricity use where available, list the appliances and operating hours, and discuss which loads are essential. Roof direction, shade, mounting space, cable routes and access for maintenance also shape the layout. For farms and remote sites, the design should consider communications, lighting, pumping or workshop loads only when they are part of the stated requirement.

Design, protection and commissioning

Panel strings, inverter capacity, batteries, isolation and electrical protection need to work together. We plan these components as one system and leave room for future changes only when the site and budget support them. The specification explains the proposed configuration before equipment is ordered.

During commissioning, SIDAI checks system operation, records readings, labels circuits and explains the monitoring and shutdown points. The handover also identifies routine checks and when to contact the installer. Ask SIDAI for an off-grid site assessment with your location and a list of the loads you need to run.