What each configuration actually does
An on-grid system generates and exports, and it shuts down when the grid fails — that is a safety requirement, not a fault. A hybrid system keeps a backup circuit alive from the battery during an outage while still exporting surplus. An off-grid system runs entirely on solar and storage with no utility connection at all.
In most of Pakistan, where outages are routine but the grid is present, the hybrid configuration is what people actually want, even when they arrive asking about on-grid pricing.
Cost and complexity trade-off
Each step up in capability adds hardware and cost. Choose the lowest configuration that meets your real requirement.
- On-grid — lowest cost, best payback, zero backup during outages.
- Hybrid — moderate extra cost for inverter and battery, keeps essential loads running, still net-meterable.
- Off-grid — highest cost because the battery bank must carry the entire load through the night and through cloudy days.
Sizing the backup circuit properly
The most common design mistake is trying to back up the entire house. Backup is priced by kilowatt-hours of storage, so every load you add to the backup circuit multiplies cost.
Separate essential loads — lights, fans, routers, refrigerator, one or two air conditioners on inverter compressors — onto a dedicated backup distribution board, and leave heavy intermittent loads such as water pumps and irons on the grid side.
What to check on the inverter
Inverter selection decides how the system behaves under real conditions, especially in summer heat.
- Surge rating adequate for motor start-up on pumps and compressors.
- MPPT count and voltage window matched to your string layout and roof orientation.
- Temperature derating behaviour — an inverter that throttles at 45°C loses output exactly when you need it.
- Transfer time short enough that your equipment does not reboot during a grid failure.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a hybrid system still get net metering?
- Yes. A hybrid inverter that supports grid export can be net metered while also serving a battery-backed circuit.
- Why does my on-grid system stop during load shedding?
- That is anti-islanding protection working as intended. It prevents your system from energising a dead grid, which would be dangerous for line workers.
- Is off-grid ever the right choice?
- Mainly for locations without a usable utility connection, such as remote farms, tube wells and sites far from the network. Where the grid exists, hybrid is almost always more economical.