So you've decided you want to save money and do your bit for the environment. You do a quick search of solar power systems for your home and now you're confronted with all sorts of options. Which one is for you?! Let's break down some of the most common differences in home solar power systems to see which one is right for you.

Let's start off with grid solar systems (also known as grid connected solar systems). These systems are connected to the main utility grid (the normal electricity system for homes and businesses). These systems usually consist of a number of solar panels and an inverter. The solar panels gather light energy from the sun and convert the light to electricity – the solar modules create DC power, which is similar that of a battery. This is where the inverter comes into play and converts it in AC power (the same as the grid). The beauty of grid solar systems is that if you're using excess power, the extra power that may be needed comes straight from the standard grid (meaning you've always got a backup if needed), but if you're producing excess power from your grid connected solar system then this excess power is fed back into the main grid network and you will accumulate credits that will be paid back to you.

As you may have guessed, off-grid (or stand alone) solar systems have no reliance on the main grid network to supply continuous electricity. These are useful in remote areas – for obvious reasons such as...a lack of electrical grid network in such a remote area, or the grid is unreliable. They can harness both wind and solar energy, as well as the ability to use diesel generation as a back-up system. To get the most out of these systems, they must be custom tailored for each home – taken into consideration will obviously be areas with the most sun exposure etc.

Summing up, if you're in a general suburban area with a grid, a grid solar system is the way to go. Producing excess power? Claim it back through credits. If you're in a remote environment and need to rely primarily on the sun's energy – go for the off-grid option. It's that simple. If you're after either of these solar systems or are looking for more information call Infinity Solar on 1300 146 346 or visit www.infinitysolar.com.au and get a quote for your system today.