What is the difference between on grid and off-grid inverters?

The main function of the PV inverter is to convert the DC electricity emitted by solar panels into AC electricity used by home appliances, all the electricity emitted by solar panels has to be processed by the inverter to output to the outside world, and the use of PV inverters can be divided into grid-connected inverters and off-grid inverters, so what is the difference between these two types of inverters?

 

Grid-connected inverter

Grid-connected inverters are generally divided into grid-connected inverters for photovoltaic power generation, grid-connected inverters for wind power generation, grid-connected inverters for power equipment generation, and grid-connected inverters for other power generation equipment.

Grid-connected inverters are generally used in large PV power plant systems, where many parallel PV strings are connected to the DC input of the same centralized inverter, generally using three-phase IGBT power modules for high power and field-effect transistors for lower power, while using DSP conversion controllers to improve the quality of the output power, making it very close to a sinusoidal current.

The biggest difference between grid-connected inverters is that they do not do any battery storage, the DC power generated from solar panels is directly converted to AC power through inverters and directly connected to the public power grid, but there is a certain threshold, which is to comply with the relevant regulations and policies of the local power grid, otherwise it is not possible to provide grid connection.

 

Off-grid inverter

Off-grid inverters are generally complete system solutions with modular components, consisting of manageable building blocks: inverter, solar charge controller, automatic generator starter module, and system control board.

The off-grid inverter, as the name implies, is a system that is off the public grid, storing the DC power from the solar panels in a battery, and then sending the battery to the off-grid inverter for inverting the AC power, which can be used directly by the load or returned to the battery for storage, and is suitable for remote areas without power network coverage, such as deserts, plateaus, and deep forest areas. It is suitable for remote areas such as deserts, plateaus, and deep forests, where there is no power network coverage.

 

Grid-connected inverter applications

Most of the time, when we think about solar power, we think about panels installed on our roofs that collect energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. But there's another important component of solar power systems: grid-connected inverters.

Grid-connected inverters are devices that take the electricity generated by solar panels and convert it into the form that can be used by the grid. In other words, they make sure that the solar power you're generating can be used by the rest of the world.

There are a few different types of grid-connected inverters, but the most common are central inverters and string inverters.

Central inverters are typically used in large-scale solar power plants. They're usually located in a central location, such as a utility-scale solar farm.
String inverters, on the other hand, are typically used in smaller-scale solar power systems, such as those installed on residential rooftops.

Grid-connected inverters are an essential part of solar power systems. Without them, the electricity generated by solar panels would be unusable by the grid. And without the grid, solar power would be limited to off-grid applications.
If you're interested in solar power, then you should learn more about grid-connected inverters. They're an important part of the solar power equation.

Off-grid inverter applications

An off-grid inverter is a device that converts DC (direct current) into AC (alternating current). It is used to power appliances and equipment that run on AC, but are not connected to the local power grid.

Off-grid inverters are most commonly used in remote locations where it is not feasible to connect to the power grid. They are also used in applications where grid power is unavailable or unreliable, such as in emergency backup power systems.

Off-grid inverters are available in a variety of sizes and configurations. The most common type is a standalone inverter, which is used to power a single appliance or piece of equipment. Standalone inverters are typically used in RVs, boats, and other recreational vehicles.

There are also larger, more powerful off-grid inverters that are used to power entire homes or businesses. These systems are usually custom-designed and can be very expensive.

Off-grid inverters are an important part of many renewable energy systems, such as solar and wind power systems. They allow these systems to operate independently of the grid, and provide power even when the grid is down.