Solar electric grid tie systems from Event Horizon Solar can help you reduce or eliminate your electric bill, protect against future rate increases and provide free electricity after the payback period. It is an excellent recession proof investment with a better safer rate of return than most stocks and helps the local economy. Some utilities offer power buyback programs which can help reduce payback periods and all offer net meter programs. Click here for more on these programs. Event Horizon Solar has been helping Michigan residential and commercial customers to go grid tie solar for over eleven years! Let us add you to the growing list of Michigan installations.

There are two types of utility tie (or grid tie) solar installations.  The one shown in Fig.1 has a solar array fed directly into a solar ac/dc inverter and is then fed directly into the grid through the buildings main electrical box and is the most popular grid tie solar installation. The utility company usually installs their own bi-directional meter to monitor the output. With this type of system, if the utility power is turned off or fails for any reason, the solar installation also stops producing power and this function is required for all grid tie solar installations to protect line workers from being injured.

Fig.1

The other type of utility tie solar install is similar to the first one shown but uses a battery bank to power the building in case of utility failure. See Fig.2. Power is automatically transferred to the building just like a gas emergency generator would during a power failure.  This type of grid tie solar install is not as efficient because some power is used to keep the batteries charged and there is more energy loss due to the extra wire involved in the installation. Also these systems add to the overall cost and maintenance. However, if you experience frequent power failures from your utility, this may be a convenient option and there is no noise or fumes and transfer happens quickly and automatically.

Fig.2