An on-grid solar system (grid-tied) connects directly to the utility grid through a bi-directional meter (net meter). Most Indian homes with a reliable grid connection choose on-grid solar since this system is powerful enough to support all household energy requirements.
The on-grid solar system is a careful compilation of many components, listed below, arranged together to convert sunlight into electricity:
Here’s a breakdown of how every single component in an on-grid solar system comes together to power your home.
Solar panels are the most visible part of the solar system. They’re installed on the rooftop, facing the South direction. When sunlight falls on these panels, they absorb that sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Did you know? Solar electricity directly from the panels is DC power. Since homes require alternating current (AC), a solar inverter is needed to convert direct current into AC.
Without a solar inverter, the entire solar system would have been an impractical model. The solar inverter converts DC into AC.
This conversion is essential because that’s the only way to convert electricity generated from an on-grid solar system into a usable form (AC) that can run household appliances.
These are the pillars that support solar panels. They must be of a standard grade so that they can withstand heavy winds during storms and cyclones and hold the weight of the solar panels for 25 years (that’s the life of a solar system).
The best solar module mounting structures are prefabricated in precision labs. They’re coated with hot-dip galvanizing on steel to make them rust-proof.
For instance, SolarSquare’s Intelligent WindPro MountTM 2.0 mounting structure, which is IIT-Bombay approved, can:
They might not sound that important in the entire setup, but solar accessories are as important as a panel, an inverter, or a mounting structure. Let’s see how!
AC and DC cables: They are required for wiring solar panels and connecting different parts to make the entire solar grid functional.
DC combiner boxes: A DC combiner box works like an isolation box. All the cables carrying DC current from the panels are isolated in this box. DC power coming from the panels can be as high as 1,000 volts, even more. It’s dangerous (potentially lethal); hence, a DC combiner box is required. This box feeds the DC current into the solar inverter and the solar inverter produces alternating current.
AC combiner boxes: The AC power from the solar inverter is fed into an AC combiner box (all cables carrying the AC current from multiple inverters are combined in this box).
Earthing strips and wires: Once the entire on-grid solar system is set up, earthing is done using earthing strips and wires.
Please note : all the DC cable connections are made using MC4 connectors.
Also known as a net meter, the bi-directional meter is basically designed to keep a track of:
An on-grid solar system will not become functional until and unless the regular meter is replaced with a bidirectional meter.
The net meter helps the discom track the power generated by the solar system, the power consumed, the power supplied to the grid, and the power imported.
At the end of every month, when the electricity bill is generated, the readings from the bidirectional meter give an account of:
Here’s how this solar net metering process helps:
Now you’ve seen how multiple on-grid solar system components come together, it makes sense to break down the process of sunlight getting converted into electricity.
Here’s how an on-grid solar system works
Solar Energy Capture and DC Power Generation: Solar panels, composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells, absorb photons from sunlight and free electrons within the cell’s semiconductor material. This movement of electrons generates a direct current (DC). The total DC output depends on factors such as panel efficiency, sunlight intensity, and shading. Needless to say, higher irradiance yields more current.
DC-to-AC Conversion via the Solar Inverter: The inverter is the heart of your solar system. It takes the panel-generated DC and inverts it into alternating current (AC), matching the frequency (50 Hz in India) and voltage of the local grid. Modern inverters also perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to continually adjust voltage/current inputs, extracting the highest possible power from your panels.
Bidirectional Meter Integration Once converted to grid-compliant AC, the electricity flows through a bi-directional (net) meter. This meter precisely records both incoming units drawn from the grid and outgoing units exported from your solar system, ensuring you’re billed only for the net energy you consume.
Household Consumption of Solar-Generated AC: During the day, your home’s appliances, such as lights, fans, fridges, air conditioners, and electronics, draw AC power directly from the inverter output. Because solar power is typically the first source used, it reduces or altogether replaces the need to import electricity from the grid.
Exporting Excess Solar Power: If your panels produce more electricity than your household consumes at any moment, the surplus AC automatically travels back through the bi-directional meter into the grid. Your meter records these exported units, which may earn you financial credit or feed-in benefits under your local net-metering policy.
Importing Grid Power When Needed: After sunset or during low-sunlight periods when it’s cloudy, the bi-directional meter switches to import mode if your solar output drops below your home’s demand. It draws the shortfall from the grid, using up any previously accrued credits first, so your appliances continue running seamlessly without interruption.
Installing solar at home comes with a unique set of advantages (and a few limitations). Let’s get started with the many benefits you’ll reap by installing a rooftop on-grid solar system at home:
Now that you know the advantages, let’s also walk you through the limitation of installing on-grid solar: power outages!
Although connection with the grid is a sure benefit, it's also a limitation. When there's a power cut from the grid, the on-grid solar system automatically shuts down. This interruption in the supply of power is known as a power outage.
The main reason an on-grid solar inverter is designed to automatically shut down if the grid fails is to eliminate safety risks. This particular feature that differentiates on-grid inverters from all other types is called Anti-Islanding Protection.
During power outages, an on-grid inverter will stop generating AC power immediately.
Otherwise, the electrical maintenance personnel working directly with the wiring at the location of the electrical fault may suffer from electric shocks.
Hands down, on-grid solar systems in urban areas with a reliable grid are unbeatable for meeting a home's power requirements.
So, if your power grid is reliable, investing money in an on-grid solar system is the smarter choice!
Before we can walk you through the on-grid solar panel installation process, it’s important to clarify that installing rooftop solar is not a DIY task. You must leave it in the hands of experts to install solar because it’s critical to:
None of the aforementioned factors can be executed to perfection if you do it yourself, and all these factors impact the final power generation.
That said, here are the simple steps SolarSquare’s professionals follow to install an on-grid solar system at your home:
Step 1: Rooftop inspection and Site Assessment: A trained engineer surveys your rooftop to map shadow-casting objects and determine the optimal panel orientation (usually south in India) and tilt angle (approximately equal to your latitude). This analysis maximizes sunlight exposure and long-term energy yield.
Step 2: Roof Mounting and Panel Clamping: Mounting structures are securely fixed to your roof using corrosion-protected rails and fasteners. Panels are then clamped onto these rails, following the manufacturer’s torque specifications to prevent damage.
Step 3: Inverter Installation & Electrical Wiring: Solar strings (series-connected panels) are routed to the DC combiner box, then to the inverter, which converts DC into grid-compatible AC. AC output is channeled through an AC combiner box to your bi-directional meter, with all cables protected in conduit or trays.
Step 4: Earthing & Lightning Protection: Dedicated earthing rods and cables bond both DC and AC components to the ground, safeguarding against electrical faults. A lightning arrester mounted above the panels intercepts strikes and diverts surge energy safely to the earthing grid.
Step 5: System Commissioning & Monitoring Setup: Technicians verify string voltages, phase sequence, and inverter settings before energizing the system. Finally, the inverter is linked to your Wi-Fi for real-time performance monitoring, ensuring any issues are spotted and resolved by SolarSquare’s team promptly.