A 15 kW solar power plant: how to choose and what to use it for most effectively?

Did you know that the demand for home solar power plants is constantly growing? Over the past 8 years, this green energy industry has developed rapidly, and the total capacity of home solar power plants has exceeded 1 GW for several years now!
One of the most popular among all the different types of solar power generation equipment is the 15 kW solar power plant: its price combined with its capacity and capabilities make it a profitable investment for households and small businesses.
In this article of the iSolar blog, we decided to tell you a little more about the features and differences between different types of 15 kW solar power plants.

What options are there? The difference between autonomous, grid-tied and hybrid solar power plants 15 kW

So, what is the characteristic of a 15 kW solar power plant? This is a device for generating and supplying electricity, which involves solar panels with a total capacity of the same 15 kW, an inverter that transforms direct current from solar panels into alternating current for the power grid, and additional equipment such as batteries (for stand-alone and hybrid PV systems), wires and cables, panel mounting systems, etc.

All of them can be selected on a custom basis, that is, separately, or you can choose a 15 kW turnkey solar power plant at a price that will be even more profitable than in the first option. At iSolar, we have such offers for both private homes and businesses.

But the first thing to consider when you plan to install a 15 kW solar power plant is not only its cost, but also the type of SPP. There are currently 3 of them:

• A 15 kW stand-alone solar power plant is equipment that is not connected to the general grid, but is capable of powering a standard private house, small shop, or office building of the same size. In addition to panels and an inverter, stand-alone SPPs also use capacious batteries: if you consume less than your SPP generates, the surplus can be accumulated and used later when there is a shortage of electricity (for example, on cloudy days or in winter, when the level of solar radiation is lower).
  
• On-grid SPPs, on the contrary, are connected to the general grid. That is, it does not accumulate excess energy, but supplies it to the utility grid. As long as the generation is sufficient for the consumer, utility electricity is not consumed, so you do not pay for it. In conditions of low generation and lack of electricity, your equipment consumes grid electricity, and you pay for it. And if the generation of your grid power plant exceeds your needs by 15 kW, you can sell the surplus to the state at the Green Tariff, so you will also make a profit.
  
• Hybrid solar power plants are an alternative to both grid-connected and stand-alone solar power plants. Of course, if we compare the price, the price of a 15 kW stand-alone solar power plant will be lower, as well as that of a grid-tied one, than that of a hybrid one, but the latter has much broader functionality, as it is able not only to generate solar energy for consumers or transmit it to the general grid, but is also equipped with batteries to have a stored supply of electricity in case of sudden outages, lack of panel generation, or any other emergency situations.

Therefore, when choosing a 15 kW solar power plant, you should consider what needs you and your household have. If you plan to install it in a summer cottage or a country house, where access to utility grids is difficult or the power supply is unstable, it is better to choose a 15 kW stand-alone solar power plant. But in a city or town with a stable electricity supply, a 15 kW grid-tied solar power plant will be more profitable, as you will be able to pay for it faster and earn money on the Green Tariff.