Off Grid Solar

Off-Grid Solar System with Battery, Cost, and Setup Information

In isolated and rural locations where grid supply is either nonexistent or incredibly erratic (power is available for only two to three hours a day), an off-grid solar system, often referred to as a standalone solar system, is advised.

Off-grid solar power systems must be built for total autonomy because they are not connected to the grid. The number of days your solar system can power your house solely on batteries when the sun isn't supplying enough electricity is known as autonomy.

Solar output decreases to 12 to 15% of what it would be on a sunny day when it is wet or cloudy, which is insufficient to power a house. This is handled by a well-designed off-grid solar power system, which produces excess energy on the previous bright day and stores it in the battery so that your house may continue to run on that electricity when the weather goes bad.

• The system has one day of autonomy if the battery can power your house for an entire day without solar power.
• It can operate your home for two consecutive overcast days if it has two days of autonomy.

The cost of an off-grid solar system in India is more than that of an on-grid solar system because it is built for autonomy. However, in places where the grid supply is either unreliable or nonexistent, off-grid solar PV systems become essential. In both situations, battery backup is crucial because grid electricity cannot provide a continuous power supply at all times.

Here are some illustrative rates to help you understand the cost of an off-grid solar power system:

• In India, a 3 kW off-grid solar system with a 5.12 kWh battery costs about Rs. 3.62L (4.12L with 12% GST).
• In India, a 5 kW off-grid solar system with a 5.12 kWh battery costs approximately Rs. 4.84L (5.50L with 12% GST).

What is an off-grid solar system?

It's easy to comprehend what an off-grid solar system means. It is an independent configuration that is not linked to the grid. In short, it generates and stores electricity independently of the public utility grid. How batteries are used to store the power they produce.

The following parts must be carefully assembled in order to generate power from sunlight:

• Modules for solar panels
• Structure mounting
• The batteries
• Solar charge regulator
• off-grid inverter
• Solar-powered devices

When Should an Off-Grid Solar Panel System Be Used?

It makes the most sense to use off-grid solar power for households in places where the grid supply is absent or unstable. Your house will depend on battery backup for continuous power in both scenarios.

The following are the most typical situations in which off-grid solar power systems are strongly advised:

• Rural and remote locations without a utility grid.
• The grid is unreliable in urban and semi-urban areas that experience severe power outages.

Conversely, an on-grid solar system is a superior option because it is less expensive if you reside in a place with a dependable grid connection!

What Constitutes an Off-Grid Solar System?

To help you comprehend the function of each component in the production of electricity, let's now dissect the full off-grid solar system component by component.

1. Solar energy

Solar cells make up solar panels.

• The final panel is monocrystalline when it is composed of a single silicon crystal.
•  The final panel is polycrystalline (multicrystalline) when it is composed of many silicon crystals.
• Bifacial solar panels are those that feature solar panels on both the front and the back.
• The final panel is TOPCon when they employ an ultra-thin tunnel oxide-passivated contact layer.

• Sunlight is captured and transformed into DC electricity by off-grid solar panels. Making sure that shadows do not obscure the panels is the one thing that needs to be done when installing off-grid solar.

2. Off-grid PV inverter

The hard lifting in any solar system is done by the inverter. It decides how effectively each unit of generated electricity reaches your appliances, controls the flow of energy between solar, battery, and load, and transforms DC power from the panels and battery into AC power your house can utilize. An otherwise good system's performance can be readily reduced by a weak solar inverter.

We employ grid-connected (hybrid) inverters in our off-grid solar installations and products because of this. The rationale is that hybrid inverters handle lithium batteries, are based on more recent technology, and allow you to connect to the grid at a later time without having to replace any equipment.

For off-grid power packs, grid-compatible inverters are preferable for the following reasons:

• Lithium-optimized: Battery life can be increased to 15–20 years or beyond through direct integration with the battery management system (BMS).
  97%+ efficiency: Dual MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) reduces conversion losses by 5 to 10% while capturing more solar energy under different sunshine situations.
• Rugged performance: This situation is where grid quality and load patterns are uncertain because it can handle voltage surges and high-load appliances like water pumps with reliability.
• Future-proof: The same inverter can be used if you later choose to add battery energy storage (BESS) or connect to the grid. Rewiring or replacing equipment won't be necessary.

The cost of the off-grid solar inverter accounts for roughly 20–30% of the total configuration. The cost of the lithium-ion battery accounts for 50–60% of the total cost of all other solar components.

3. Capacitors

An off-grid system uses batteries to run.

• The house is powered by the electricity the panels generate during the hours of sunshine.
•  The batteries are charged using whatever is left behind.
•  The house is then kept functioning at night using the same battery power.
  

4. Charge manager

In an off-grid solar system, charging is managed by the solar panel charge controller.

• The solar panels generate power.
• The charge controller receives the electricity after that. 
• In addition to using the extra units to charge the batteries, the charge controller supplies electricity to the inverter.

Instead of being an independent part, a charge controller is typically integrated into contemporary solar inverters.

5. Mounting frameworks

You have the inverter and the panels, but without the right mounting structures, the system cannot be configured. In order to maximize sunlight, the mounting structures should be positioned at an appropriate tilt angle (near-perpendicular to the sun for as long as possible).

6. Accessories for solar power

You are aware of the main parts of an off-grid solar system, but additional accessories are necessary to ensure the system's safety. The accessories we are discussing are as follows:

• DC combiner box and DC cables
• AC combiner box and cables
• MC4 connectors
• Conduit trays and earthing strips
• An arrester for lightning

What is the 2026 price of an off-grid solar system in India?

In India, the cost of off-grid solar systems varies depending on things like:

• The system's ability
• The solar panels' kind 
• The solar inverter type
• Battery types: 12 volt, 24 volt, and 48 volt

Let's talk about the off-grid solar subsidy in India in the part below before we go over the pricing based on various aspects!

What about the subsidy for off-grid solar systems?

To be clear, the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana does not provide a subsidy for off-grid solar systems. To be eligible for the central government's subsidy, you must build a grid-connected solar system.

Having stated that, let's examine the cost of an off-grid solar system according to system capacity:

Please take note: The pricing listed above for off-grid solar energy systems are just for lithium-ion batteries (LFP) and are indicative. Depending on the kind of solar batteries, panels, manufacturer, and inverter you select, the final costs may differ from the specified range. SolarSquare uses high-efficiency solar panels to install rooftop solar systems for residences, businesses, housing societies, and industrial enterprises. In a few cities, we provide hybrid and off-grid solar solutions.

In conclusion

In India, the best option to light homes in places without (or with unstable) electricity systems is to install an off-grid solar system. Homes can be lit by the electricity produced without contributing to pollution.

In India, off-grid solar systems are more expensive than on-grid ones, but when the electricity grid is unreliable or unavailable, investing in an off-grid system is worthwhile. Off-grid solar power systems are actually a fantastic choice for industrial settings. You can schedule a free solar consultation call with PS Solar to learn more about rooftop solar installation.