What Exactly Is Grid Tie ?

Grid Tie simply means that you are connected to the electrical grid, but instead of simply using the energy that the power company produces, you actually become an independant power producer. Or in essence your own power company ! Grid tie has existed in different forms for many years. There are people out there that sell power which is generated from small scale wind mills, others who generate power from small hydro electric systems, and still others who sell back power produced from the Sun. Solar systems being the least complex of the previously named technologies has just about reached plug and play simplicity. There are no moving parts to break, no critical monitoring and virtually no noise. Solar modules simply sit in the Sun and generate electricity year in and year out, in fact, the typical Solar module carries a warranty of 20 years and in most cases are expected to last double that amount of time !

Below is a graphic which illustrates the basic configuration of a typical solar electric system. The Solar PV Array or Photovoltaic Array on the left is the actual energy collecting unit, it may be mounted on the ground, on a a roof top or on a pole as illustrated. The array should be pointed due South and tilted so that there is maximum exposure to the Sun.

The energy which is collected is then fed through wires in the form of DC or direct current to the energy conversion unit, typically called an inverter, where the direct current is "inverted" to AC or alternating current. This is the type of current which is found in your home's AC outlets. The inverter synchronizes the AC current that it produces with the utility companies AC current and then feed that current through your utility meter and on to the grid. Because you are producing power, your utility meter will actually slow down and in some cases may actually run backwards. If you are in a "Net Metering State" such as California, your utility company is required to credit you full retail price for the power that you produce.