SOLAR NET-METERING
What is Net-Metering?
Net metering (also known as net energy metering or NEM) is a solar incentive that allows you to store energy in the electric grid. When your solar panels produce more electricity than you need, that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. Then, at night or other times when your solar panels are underproducing, you pull energy from the grid and use these credits to offset the costs of that energy.
​
With the right size solar energy system, you can produce enough electricity to match your home’s electricity use for the entire year. However, the amount of electricity your solar panels produce will vary throughout the year depending on the weather. Net metering helps you account for these differences by crediting you for the excess electricity your panels produce so you can use it later.
​
While net metering is not the only way that utilities compensate homeowners for going solar, it is by far the most common.
With net metering, you can save by going solar
Thanks to net metering in North and South Carolina, homeowners are credited for the energy that their solar panels generate at the same rate that they would pay to their utility. As a result, you can save tens of thousands of dollars on electricity costs over the lifetime of your solar energy system. Calculate your solar savings to get an instant estimate of just how much you can save with a solar energy system, or register your property to start getting quotes from local solar installers.
Solar Inverters
A solar inverter or PV inverter is a type of electrical converter which converts the variable direct current (DC) output of a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel into a utility frequency alternating current (AC) that can be fed into a commercial electrical grid or used by a local, off-grid electrical network.
Battery Storage
Solar panel’s photovoltaic cells convert the energy in sunlight to electricity (specifically, direct current (DC))
​
DC energy is converted by an inverter from DC energy to AC energy matching the voltage and frequency of the power supplied to your home by your electric utility.
​
All of the energy produced by your solar system first will power any loads in your home. When the solar is producing more energy than your consuming the difference will be sent back to the electric utility.
​
A bidirectional meter is swapped out with your existing utility meter after the solar is installed which keeps track of both energy drawn from the utility and energy sent back.
​
The utility will credit you for any power sent back to them towards energy drawn when the solar isn’t producing enough to cover all of your needs (like overnight).
The Powerwall and Powerpack are rechargeable lithium-ion battery stationary energy storage products manufactured by Tesla, Inc. The Powerwall is intended to be used for home energy storage and stores electricity for solar self-consumption, time of use load shifting, backup power, and off-the-grid use. The larger Powerpack is intended for commercial or electric utility grid use and can be used for peak shaving, load shifting, backup power, demand response, microgrids, renewable power integration, frequency regulation, and voltage control.
​
Generac Power Systems
A PWRcell system can provide up to 9kW of continuous backup power to a home's essential power needs, or to the whole home. A single PWRcell battery can provide enough motor starting power to backup large loads like air conditioners and well pumps.
The PWRcell battery is not only the most powerful battery on the market, it is also the most flexible and scalable. It can be set up for completely outdoor installations in nearly any climate with the optional Outdoor Rated (OR) PWRcell battery cabinet and new PWRcell battery module. The PWRcell battery can be configured to meet any budget or lifestyle: with as few as three battery modules for just 8.6kWh of capacity and 4.5kW output; or, four, five and six battery module configurations yield more power and capacity up to 18kWh capacity and 9kW output. When even more power is needed, multiple PWRcell batteries can be connected to a single PWRcell inverter for up to 36kWh of storage capacity and 11kW continuous backup power.
