Can I Truly Be Off the Grid with Solar Panels?
A common goal for customers looking to get solar panels is whether they can truly be off the grid. More specifically, customers are often looking to see if solar panels will allow them to completely disconnect from electric utilities, where they are completely independent and solely responsible for creating their own electricity.
While it's a common question, the answer is dependent on several factors. There's a lot of variables that can determine whether you can truly be off the grid (some of those factors are within your control, while others are not). Let's take a look at how you can know for sure whether or not you can be truly power independent.
Some Municipalities Don't Allow You to Be Truly Off the Grid
A major roadblock to being independent from the power grid is the fact that many municipalities won't allow you to be. If you live in the city limits of anywhere, there are likely rules and regulations regarding your connection to the electric utility, and many won't allow you to disconnect.
Even in areas where you are allowed to disconnect, the process to disconnect often involves filing for appropriate permits and other paperwork. Partnering with a solar panel installer that offers to help you through the permit process (like Weddle and Sons) can save you a lot of time determining how independent from the grid you can be.
Some Utilities Limit Kilowatt Capacity for Solar Panels
Depending on what state you live in, there may be a limit on the kilowatt capacity of your solar panel system. That limit will restrict how much power you can produce at a time, and if you have high energy needs, a kilowatt limit could restrict your ability to be truly off the grid.
For example, if you live in Kansas, the largest kilowatt system you can have for residential properties is 15kW. In Nebraska, the limit is 25kW, and in Missouri, the limit is 100kW. If you own a business, those limits could be different (for example, businesses and schools in Kansas have access to higher kilowatt capacities than residential homes).
If your power needs exceed what you can legally build, then you won't be able to be truly off the grid.
Batteries Are Required to Be Truly Off the Grid
Regardless of the solar panel regulations in your city or state, you'll need to have a battery system for your solar panels in order to be truly off the grid. Batteries store the excess power your solar panels generate so you still have electricity during times of low or no light (for example, at night or during exceptionally cloudy days).
If you don't have a battery, you'll experience times of low electricity production (or no electricity production at all), which isn't really being energy independent. Batteries are key to providing uninterrupted electricity for homes that are not connected to an electric utility.
Complex Roofs Can Hamper Solar Capture
Roof complexity and a homes orientation can vary greatly. If you have complex roof geometry, or even a roof that faces the wrong direction, your ability to capture sunlight can be hampered.
This problem can be mitigated with added extra panels, or even installing an array in your yard instead of on your roof, but it can still pose a problem to getting enough power to be independent if space for an array is limited.
How Do I Know How Much Electricity I Need to Be Off-Grid?
In order to be off grid, you'll need to know what your energy needs are. There's not a one-size-fits-all answer to this, since energy needs will vary widely from home to home. Some common home items that require high levels of electricity generally include:
Large appliances (like dryers)
HVAC systems
Additional buildings on your property (like a shed)
Pools or hot tubs
Electric car charging stations
Most solar panel installers (including Weddle and Sons) will compare your past power consumption with how much electricity your solar array can produce to make sure your solar panel system is a match for your needs.
Want to See If You Can Be Truly Off the Grid? Contact Us!
There's a lot of factors that go into whether or not you can be truly off the grid, which includes:
Local regulations regarding whether or not you can disconnect from an electric utility
State regulations that may restrict the kilowatt capacity of your solar panel system
Whether you're willing to purchase a battery for your solar panel system
The design of your roof
If you have questions about whether you can be off grid, or you're looking for a solar panel installer, we'd love to connect with you. Weddle and Sons has been in the roofing business for decades, and we leverage our roofing expertise to make sure your solar panels are installed correctly, without needless damage to your home.
To get in touch, you can fill out our online form or you can call us directly at 844-974-7663. We look forward to hearing from you!
Off the Grid FAQs
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Many customers may find it difficult to be truly off the grid with solar panels in Kansas. This is because Evergy, the electric utility, has restrictions on the kilowatt capacity of residential solar panel systems, which are capped at 15kW. If your power needs are higher than that (or you need a higher capacity to effectively store extra energy), it may be difficult to be off the grid in Kansas.
Keep in mind, municipal regulations might not allow you to disconnect from an electric utility, regardless of your power needs.
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It's comparatively easy to be off the grid with solar panels in Missouri. The kilowatt capacity cap for residential homes is 100kW, which is typically far more than what most homes will need to produce, and store, the electricity required to be truly independent.
Remember, even if your solar panel system can meet your energy needs, local municipal regulations may prevent you from disconnecting from a local utility.
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You may be able to be off the grid with solar panels in Nebraska, depending on your energy needs. The kilowatt capacity limit for residential homes in Nebraska is 25kW, which may be enough for homes to produce the required electricity for daily use (as well as storage).
Regardless of your energy needs, municipal regulations may not allow you to disconnect from the grid.
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Whether you can be off the grid with solar panels in Colorado depends on your power needs, as well as where in Colorado you live. Some municipalities will cap residential solar panel systems at 10kW, others at 25kW, and some will even cap it based on a percentage of annual production.
It can be a little confusing to understand what the regulations are for solar panels in Colorado, so if you have questions, Weddle and Sons would love to help! We have a team dedicated to Colorado solar panels that can make sure you understand local and state regulations perfectly, and they can help you get the solar panel system that's the best fit for your home and also within regulations.
