Solar vs. Gen: Which is better for you?

Fazipay Solar
May 19, 2023
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In pursuing a steady power supply, we turn to many alternative sources of hydroelectric power. The two most typical options that come to mind are generators and solar products. Meanwhile, it is important to determine which is better, generator or solar panels?

So when the regular power companies do what they do best – take out power, you need a credible power backup for your home or business. The lack of power supply can reduce one’s productive hours and no one wants to sit in the dark too.

In the end, this article will answer questions such as, which is better, solar or generator? Do I need a generator if I have solar power? Which is better, running a generator or installing solar panels?

Solar Home Systems: Solar Panels, Backup Batteries and Inverters

The solar home system for backup comprises components such as the solar panels, backup batteries and solar inverters. The battery serves as a reliable power bank to store up energy for later use. This way, users can have an uninterrupted power supply to power the connected devices.

Oftentimes, these batteries are chargeable with electricity and with connected solar panels. Solar Inverters house the batteries and convert the solar energy to usable DC. Meanwhile, the purpose of the solar panels is to convert solar energy to electricity.

Pros:

Solar systems are generally quieter than conventional generators and they are more friendly to the environment.
Solar energy is a form of clean renewable energy with a reliable source
Having a backup battery ensures your home or business has more energy available for daily consumption, thereby increasing home or business value.
The solar home system require low maintenance for its entire lifespan
Backup batteries are an integral part of a solar home system that you can rely on during power outages
Solar home systems are very easy to setup and may come with cheap installation service
Users can charge the solar batteries through inverters using the connected solar panels or a current from regular electricity or generators. That is, SHS is easy to combine with other power sources.
SHS can produce power round the clock especially if the battery can last during dark hours. By daytime, the solar panel starts recharging the batteries.
They often have portable and movable part if there is need for it
Safe for home and office appliances with highly regulated solar inverters

Cons:

It has a higher initial cost in installation than fuel-powered generators. Moreover, you may have to determine the whole house solar cost or have a rough estimate before purchase.
Solar home systems usually have limited capacity and therefore require a good knowledge of your solar home system.
It partly depends on weather conditions such as sunlight, cloud and rainfall.
Roof-mounted solar panels are not easily detectable nor accessible in case of a fault or poor productivity.

Power generators

Generators serve as power backup running on propane, natural gas or diesel. Freestanding ones can supply power when there is an outage by manual or autostart. The manual one requires human effort while the auto-start ones have sensors that detect outages by itself and start the engine on its own automatically.

Pros:

Generators have a lower initial cost than solar panels of the same capacity.
Power generators often have more capacity to power several appliances concurrently than solar panels.
They come in different sizes and capacities that suit different needs
Power generators can provide steady power as long as it doesn;t run out of fuel
It does not depend on weather conditions
Many generator options can power large wattage appliances freely

Cons

Power generators can be very noisy; while the less noisy ones are far costlier.
Generators require regular maintenance that includes fueling and servicing. Both processes can accrue to an amount far higher than the initial cost of acquisition.
Generators depreciate in value faster than solar home systems majorly due to the wear and tear of the mechanical parts
Installing generators often requires creating an alternate route of power supply and a switch box between regular electricity and generators. In other words, it is not easy to combine this source with other sources; you will have to switch from one to another
Users need to continue to supply the fuel to have steady supply
Generators are prone to mechanical or electrical damage leading to extra cost
Running on generators is more expensive than solar panels in the long run
Generators emit highly toxic, but often odorless fumes, adding to environmental pollution and high carbon footprint. Consequently, the burning of fossil fuels has a negative impact on the environment.

5 Major Differences between Solar Systems and Generators

Both backup plans can save the day in the case of power outage but do so in different ways. Another way to arrive at the best choice of solution to power issues between solar home systems and generators is to consider certain specific qualities. Examples include cost, installation, placement, and environmental impact can differentiate solar vs. generator for home and appliances.

There is a huge difference between depending on solar panels and running power generators. We shall look at a few of these differences.

Long term cost – people quickly choose generators due to the initial cost of purchase. But they hardly consider how much it costs to run them from time to time. While the running costs of generators continue to run high, solar home systems have nearly zero maintenance costs.
Steady power supply – depending on the capacity of the user, an average home in Nigeria runs on generator for between 4 to 6 hours daily. However, solar home systems can run 24/7 as long as there is daylight and battery storage.
Health & environmental impact – solar energy is clearly the better choice when it comes to health and environmental impacts. Generators are major contributors to noise and air pollution due to emission of poisonous fumes that can cause dizziness, headaches and even death.
Installation: installing generators requires no small task eventually leading to extra cost. You need to create an outdoor space to ‘house’ it, hire an installer and build an alternative circuit. However, solar panels can sit on your roof saving physical space only and come with dedicated electrical wiring support.
Maintenance: generator users need to service their equipment at least once in every two months, depending on the use. But solar panels hardly require any maintenance except to clean off the dust once in a while.

An important question you may want to ask is can you have solar and a generator? Why not? Getting a solar home system gives you an additional power source.

Meanwhile, you can save fuel and maintenance costs even though you will have to part with the initial cost of purchase. The credibility of SHS answers the question, can you add a generator to a solar panel? Afterall, the solar vs generator analysis is clear on many grounds.

Do you need a Solar Home System? Check our offers

There is no better time to invest in a solar home system than the summer season when there is maximum solar power. Omnibranches has partners with close to 30 different solar home service companies with diverse products you can choose from. Check out our store with categorized products such as solar lamps, fans, torches, FM radio, mobile power banks, laptops, and freezers.

Our products can serve homes of various capacities and different businesses, depending on your power needs. For example, restaurants, hotels, cold rooms, and homes can use our solar panel powered freezers to preserve food for several days. The freezers are not only useful for commercial purposes, they are great for homes too.

Apart from fuel-powered generators and solar battery systems, there are other backup power options such as propane, wind and natural gas. But your decision hinges on finding the option that works best based on the pros and cons of each one. At FaziPay, you can find the right solar products that work perfectly for your home or business needs with peace of mind.