Grid-connected systems are the norm in Germany
Most owners of PV systems feed their solar electricity into the public grid in order to profit from the attractive feed-in tariff.
The solar electricity is generated by the photovoltaic modules (PV modules) as direct current. The electricity is converted to 230 volt alternating current in the inverter. A feed-in meter records the number of kilowatt hours that flow into the public grid. You will continue to get the electricity you need for your own consumption from the grid, which is deducted by the import meter.
Stand-alone PV systems ensure self-sufficient electricity supply
With the right system design, the electricity from a PV system can also be used to make you self-sufficient. The direct current from the PV modules is fed into storage batteries via a charge regulator.
For conventional 230 volt appliances, the electricity is then converted in a stand-alone inverter. Special 12 V or 24 V DC appliances such as lamps and fridges can also be operated directly using the battery power.