Difference between revisions of "What is an off-grid PV system?"
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| − | An off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system with batteries is used to provide [[Electricity and energy|electricity]] in areas where the normal grid does not exist. [[PV modules]] are used to generate electricity when the sun is shining. The sun is a variable resource - it sets everyday and is frequently hidden by clouds - therefore an off-grid PV system uses batteries to store some of the [[Electricity and energy|energy]] generated by the PV source for later use. This is similar to how a rainwater collection system functions. It can be helpful to make this comparison between the two systems as a rainwater collection system uses simple components that are common in most parts of the world that serve similar functions to the more complicated components in an off-grid PV system. In the simplest sense both of the systems capture a variable natural resource - rainwater and sun - when it is abundant and store it for later use when it is more scarce. To do so both of them have six basic components: a form of collection, a means of distribution, a way to regulate in-flows, storage, a way to regulate out-flows and a means of consumption. | + | An off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system with batteries is used to provide [[Electricity and energy|electricity]] in areas where the normal grid does not exist. [[PV module|PV modules]] are used to generate electricity when the sun is shining. The sun is a variable resource - it sets everyday and is frequently hidden by clouds - therefore an off-grid PV system uses batteries to store some of the [[Electricity and energy|energy]] generated by the PV source for later use. This is similar to how a rainwater collection system functions. It can be helpful to make this comparison between the two systems as a rainwater collection system uses simple components that are common in most parts of the world that serve similar functions to the more complicated components in an off-grid PV system. In the simplest sense both of the systems capture a variable natural resource - rainwater and sun - when it is abundant and store it for later use when it is more scarce. To do so both of them have six basic components: a form of collection, a means of distribution, a way to regulate in-flows, storage, a way to regulate out-flows and a means of consumption. |
==Rainwater collection system== | ==Rainwater collection system== | ||
Revision as of 12:01, 29 October 2020
An off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system with batteries is used to provide electricity in areas where the normal grid does not exist. PV modules are used to generate electricity when the sun is shining. The sun is a variable resource - it sets everyday and is frequently hidden by clouds - therefore an off-grid PV system uses batteries to store some of the energy generated by the PV source for later use. This is similar to how a rainwater collection system functions. It can be helpful to make this comparison between the two systems as a rainwater collection system uses simple components that are common in most parts of the world that serve similar functions to the more complicated components in an off-grid PV system. In the simplest sense both of the systems capture a variable natural resource - rainwater and sun - when it is abundant and store it for later use when it is more scarce. To do so both of them have six basic components: a form of collection, a means of distribution, a way to regulate in-flows, storage, a way to regulate out-flows and a means of consumption.
Rainwater collection system
Off-grid PV system
