The Tribune

By JOSHUA KEY

I thought it was bad that my power was off for nearly a week after Hurricane Matthew. But I know that is nothing compared to many of my fellow Bahamians, who are not expected to have their light restored for a long time. If you are looking to find or provide some electricity relief in this hard time, this article is for you.

In my experience, when most people first think about going solar, they look to a battery system.

Here is how it works. The solar panels produce power all day, and the batteries collect it.

At night (or when Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) goes out), the batteries can then run the home (or parts of the home). That is a fair summary.

This system can be applied on a large scale, with a home or business owner investing tens of thousands of dollars to make their electric bill disappear forever.

However, battery systems usually get applied on a more moderate scale, which involves investing a few hundred or a few thousand dollars on a partial home solar system or a separate portable solar generator.

This is the same system at work in our tiniest solar kits, where people can use the sun to power their lights and cell phones for between a few hundred dollars to less than $100.

Many people prefer to get a second kind of system – a grid-tied system with no batteries. The sole function of this system is to save you money. Here is how it works: The solar panels still produce power all day, and the power is immediately used in your home or business.

This means you pull less from BPL and save money on your electricity bill. In fact, if your panels produce excess power, this gets sent out to the grid, and you will receive a credit for it (if permitted by the utility).

How do the two systems compare? Batteries are the single most expensive component in the whole system, and must be changed every five years.

They are more costly and more complex. Battery-less grid-tied systems require less maintenance and are less expensive, but they do not store power. For this reason, all the solar kits we donated to help with hurricane relief were battery-based systems.

What if neither option really suits you? Is there a third option? Yes. Some people will marry the two systems, and install a grid-tied system with batteries. We call this a bimodal hybrid system.

This is the most complex and costly approach, and gives you the best of both worlds.

So, which system is best for you? In the end, it comes down to a matter of priorities.

One priority is having power when BPL is not available.

The other is saving money on the electricity bill. If you had to pick just one of these, which would you choose? Your answer will determine the solution that fits you best – whether a battery system for back-up power, or a grid-tied system to save money faster.

And, of course, if you absolutely have to have both, and you do not mind putting out a little extra capital, you can obtain a bimodal hybrid system to save money and provide back-up. The choice is yours.

Whichever option you would like, be sure to consult with a professional who can properly assess your situation and design a system to meet your specific needs.

That is the first step in turning your dream battery, gird-tied or hybrid system into reality.

NB: Joshua Key is general manager for SuperGreen Solutions Bahamas, located on Wulff Road next to FYP. SuperGreen Solutions is one of the premier advisors, suppliers and installers of domestic and commercial energy efficient solutions.