Grid vs Off-Grid Calculator
Compare solar system types and find the best solution for your needs
System Requirements
Grid-Tied System
Components:
✅ Advantages:
- • Lower initial cost
- • Eligible for government subsidy
- • Sell excess power to grid
- • Low maintenance
❌ Disadvantages:
- • No power during grid outage
- • Dependent on grid availability
- • Net metering policy required
Off-Grid System
Components:
✅ Advantages:
- • Complete energy independence
- • Power during grid outages
- • Good for remote areas
- • No electricity bills
❌ Disadvantages:
- • Higher initial cost
- • Battery replacement needed (10-15 years)
- • Not eligible for most subsidies
- • Requires larger battery bank
Hybrid System
Components:
✅ Advantages:
- • Best of both worlds
- • Power backup during outages
- • Can sell excess to grid
- • Eligible for subsidy
- • Flexible operation
❌ Disadvantages:
- • Higher cost than grid-tied
- • More complex installation
- • Battery maintenance required
Cost Comparison
Our Recommendation
How Solar System Types Compare
Cost Calculation
Grid-tied: Solar panels (₹3,35,000) + Grid-tie inverter (₹40,000) - Subsidy (₹78,000)
System Selection Logic
Your grid availability: 95% | Monthly bill: ₹3,000
Battery Requirements
Battery capacity needed = System size × Backup hours × 80% efficiency = 5kW × 8h × 0.8 = 32 kWh
Subsidy Information
Government subsidy for grid-tied and hybrid systems: ₹30,000/kW up to 2kW, then ₹18,000/kW up to 3kW (max ₹78,000)
System Comparison Summary
| Feature | Grid-Tied | Off-Grid | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Cost | ₹3,75,000 | ₹11,95,000 | ₹8,10,000 |
| After Subsidy | ₹2,97,000 | ₹11,95,000 | ₹7,32,000 |
| Power During Outage | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sell to Grid | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Battery Required | ❌ | Full | Partial |
| Maintenance | Low | High | Medium |
Your 5kW System Analysis:
This calculator helps you decide between a grid-tied, off-grid, or hybrid solar setup based on your system size, monthly electricity bill, backup needs and local grid reliability. It's useful for homeowners weighing subsidy eligibility and upfront cost against the value of power backup during outages.
Grid vs Off-Grid Calculator - FAQs
What's the main difference between grid-tied, off-grid, and hybrid solar?
Grid-tied systems connect to the electricity grid and can export surplus power but give no backup during outages. Off-grid systems use batteries for full independence but cost more and typically get no subsidy. Hybrid systems combine both, giving backup power plus grid export and subsidy eligibility.
Why don't off-grid systems get a government subsidy?
Subsidy schemes like PM Surya Ghar Yojana are generally tied to grid-connected (net-metered) systems, so purely off-grid installations usually don't qualify for the central subsidy.
How does the calculator decide which system to recommend?
It weighs your grid availability and monthly bill — a reliable grid with a lower bill favors grid-tied, poor grid reliability favors off-grid, and everything in between favors hybrid.
How is the battery cost for off-grid/hybrid systems estimated?
Battery capacity (kWh) = system size × backup hours × 80% efficiency, then multiplied by an estimated lithium battery cost of ₹25,000/kWh.
Are these system costs and subsidy amounts guaranteed?
No, actual quotes vary by vendor, region and equipment brand, and subsidy amounts and eligibility rules can change over time, so treat these as planning estimates rather than final prices.
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