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Why Should I Combine Solar Power with a Gas Generator?

If you’ve heard about solar power tax rebates or noticed shiny solar panels appearing on the rooftops of your neighbors’ homes, you’re probably considering making the leap to clean solar power yourself. Establishing a whole house solar generator can already seem like a tricky process, between understanding how to pick the right inverter to knowing just how many solar panels to attack to your home. Solar power might seem like the ideal solution, whether you’re looking for off-grid living or are looking for a power source in case of an outage, but it’s not the only thing you’ll need. Specifically, operating a gas generator with a solar system is a beneficial solution to the natural drawbacks of solar power.

Adding a gas generator to your solar plans might seem counterintuitive but expanding your options for keeping the lights on in an emergency is always the safest bet. Operating a natural gas generator with solar panels provides you with a balanced backup system in case of power failure – but that’s not all it does. Here are our reasons for why it’s good to combine a gas generator and solar system for home energy that’s clean, reliable and efficient.

Why Go Solar?

There are several good reasons to let the sunshine on your home be used for energy production. First, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (CCES) designates solar as a zero-emission power source. That means when solar panels harness the sun’s rays, they do not create any greenhouse gases that can harm the ozone layer or other parts of the Earth’s ecosystem. Second, solar power is renewable, meaning it is available so long as the sun rises every day – as compared to fossil fuels like oil and coal that only exist in finite quantities. Third, solar power is the fastest-growing source of electricity in the U.S., with the CCES projecting a climb from 11% of total solar generation in 2017 to 48% by 2050.

That kind of widespread usage means it will keep getting easier to find high-quality solar panels and systems, and those systems will continue to be more and more affordable for every homeowner.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

There are a lot of moving parts beyond solar panels. A solar charge controller converts the volatile photovoltaic energy collected in the panels into clean, usable DC energy that charges the batteries of the system. A DC disconnect switch allows power to be cut for maintenance and other needs. Power inverters change the direct current (DC) power into alternating current (AC) power like you get from a wall outlet that’s appropriate for sensitive electronics such as laptops. Each of these components also requires specific cables to connect into a functioning system. Solar power kits from The Inverter Store simplify the installation process by including everything you need to get started. For more information on how solar panels work, you can check out another one of our handy guides.

Why Combine Solar and Gas Generators?

Considering solar power is so efficient, you may wonder why you should combine solar power with gas generators. The answer is fairly simple: both types of energy production have drawbacks. Solar power is limited by natural forces. When the sun goes down, these systems stop producing usable electricity and even the largest batteries still have a limited capacity. Gas generators are convenient and portable, but they require fossil fuels that can run out. Using a backup or whole house generator and solar system in tandem ensures you’ve always got a power supply ready.

Think of your gas generator as a backup to your backup system. By focusing on a solar inverter with generator support, you can avoid any potential issues that you might have. Solar energy might be renewable, but it’s not always available. That’s where the gas generator comes in. Buying a backup generator for solar systems is a relatively inexpensive addition that will allow you stable power in the event of long-term emergencies. They’re also beneficial for off-grid power solutions, as it can be tricky to completely rely on a traditional solar system as an energy source.

Expert Help with Generators and Solar Systems

Flipping the switch from the traditional power grid to powering your home with a whole house generator and solar panels can seem overwhelming. Cables and connectors, DC disconnect switches (fuses), charge controllers, inverter chargers and batteries all work together to transform sunshine into clean, useable power for your household. The experts at The Inverter Store can help you ease into this new structure, whether you’re looking for a backup power system or a whole house generator and solar system that takes you completely off the grid.

Finally, understanding why off-grid solar with generator backup is a good idea is only part of the information needed in creating your fully off-grid system or emergency power system. The Inverter Store has many helpful guides for you to make informed decisions when setting up your new electrical systems, from knowing how to pick the right inverter and knowing what battery size to go with to understanding how solar panels work and how well they function in winter. With these helpful tips and instructions, your new energy system will be up and running in no time.