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On-grid, Off-grid & Hybrid Solar Systems

Pick the architecture that fits your home, business or farm — and see exactly how Sunvolt delivers it from site survey to commissioning across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

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Which system is right for you?

All three use the same solar panels — the difference is what happens after sunset and during a grid outage.

On-grid

Grid-tied (Net-metered)

Cheapest per kW · No batteries · Exports surplus to the grid.

Panels feed your home; anything extra is pushed to the DISCOM grid and credited on your bill. At night you draw normally from the grid and pay only for the net units consumed.

Best for

  • Urban & semi-urban homes with reliable grid power.
  • Shops, schools and offices with daytime load.
  • Anyone wanting the lowest payback (typically 4–6 years).

Pros

  • Lowest capital cost — no batteries.
  • Eligible for the PM Surya Ghar central subsidy (residential).
  • Lowest maintenance — fewer moving parts.

Trade-offs

  • Goes off automatically during a grid outage (anti-islanding).
  • Net-metering paperwork & DISCOM approval required.
Off-grid

Battery-backed (Stand-alone)

True energy independence · Works without DISCOM · Battery sized for nightly load.

A charge controller routes solar output to your batteries and loads. Excess goes into storage; the inverter runs your home from batteries after sunset. No grid connection is needed.

Best for

  • Remote villages and farms in Himachal & J&K with weak grid.
  • Solar water pumps and irrigation systems.
  • Telecom towers, forest huts, dhabas off the main grid.

Pros

  • Fully independent — no monthly DISCOM bill.
  • Power even during 24-hour grid outages.

Trade-offs

  • Higher upfront cost (battery bank is 30–40% of system cost).
  • Batteries need replacement every 5–8 years (Li-ion: 8–12 years).
  • System has to be sized for the worst-day load, not the average.
Hybrid

Grid + Battery

Solar by day · Battery as backup · Grid as last resort.

A hybrid inverter prioritises solar, then battery, then grid. During outages your home keeps running from the battery — no inverter switch delay. Surplus solar can still feed the grid where net-metering allows.

Best for

  • Homes with frequent or long power cuts (mountain districts, peripheries).
  • Premium villas, clinics, server rooms needing zero-blink backup.
  • Owners replacing a noisy diesel/petrol generator.

Pros

  • Best of both worlds — savings and backup.
  • Battery can be sized small (just for critical loads).
  • Smartphone monitoring of generation, consumption & battery state.

Trade-offs

  • Highest installed cost per kW.
  • More complex commissioning & DISCOM coordination.

Our installation process

Every Sunvolt install — residential, commercial or agricultural — follows the same eight-step engineering workflow. No surprises.

  1. 1

    Free site survey

    Our engineer visits, measures available roof area, checks shading from trees/buildings, inspects the existing electrical panel and records sanctioned load. Useful tip: keep your latest electricity bill handy.

  2. 2

    System design & proposal

    We share a single-line diagram, panel layout (with shadow analysis), inverter sizing, structure drawing, BOQ and a financial summary — payback, IRR and subsidy eligibility.

  3. 3

    DISCOM & subsidy paperwork

    We file the net-metering application with PSPCL / HPSEBL / JKPDD on your behalf, register on the PM Surya Ghar portal where applicable, and track approvals until the feasibility letter is issued.

  4. 4

    Mounting structure

    Hot-dip galvanised steel structure designed for the local wind zone — critical for Himachal & J&K sites. Fixed with anchor bolts to RCC roofs or grout-cast pedestals on tin roofs, with full leak sealing.

  5. 5

    Panels & DC cabling

    Tier-1 mono-PERC or N-type TOPCon modules from BIS-listed manufacturers. UV-resistant DC cables in metal conduit, MC4 connectors, surge protection and DC isolators per IEC standards.

  6. 6

    Inverter & AC tie-in

    String / hybrid / off-grid inverter as per design. AC distribution board with double-pole isolators, RCCB, surge protection and a dedicated earthing pit. We never share earthing with the house pit.

  7. 7

    Net-meter installation & commissioning

    DISCOM installs the bi-directional meter, we conduct insulation resistance & earth-continuity tests, do a megger check, and commission the plant in your presence. You get a generation baseline reading on day one.

  8. 8

    Handover, warranty & AMC

    Module warranty: 12 years product / 25 years performance. Inverter warranty: 5–10 years depending on brand. Our team offers optional Annual Maintenance Contracts with quarterly cleaning, thermal scans and a Generation Guarantee.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions we hear most from homeowners, farms and businesses across North India.

What is the difference between on-grid, off-grid and hybrid solar systems?

On-grid (grid-tied) systems push surplus electricity to the DISCOM grid via net metering and have the lowest payback. Off-grid systems use battery storage and run independently of the grid, ideal for remote homes or solar pumps. Hybrid systems combine solar, battery and grid — solar runs your home by day, the battery powers it during outages, and the grid is the last resort.

Am I eligible for the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana subsidy?

Indian residential homeowners with a sanctioned electricity connection in their own name and unshaded roof space are eligible. The central subsidy is up to Rs 30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and Rs 18,000 per kW thereafter, capped at Rs 78,000 for a 3 kW system. Sunvolt files the entire PM Surya Ghar portal application on your behalf at no extra cost.

How long does net metering approval take in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and J&K?

Typical end-to-end timelines: PSPCL Punjab 30 to 45 days, HPSEBL Himachal Pradesh 25 to 40 days, JPDCL and KPDCL Jammu & Kashmir 35 to 60 days. Sunvolt manages the feasibility study, application filing and follow-ups until the bi-directional meter is installed.

How many years does it take to recover the cost of a rooftop solar system?

For a typical residential on-grid system in North India, payback is 4 to 6 years after the PM Surya Ghar subsidy. Commercial and industrial systems pay back in 3 to 5 years thanks to accelerated depreciation. After payback, generation is essentially free for the remaining 20 plus years of panel life.

Do solar panels work during a power cut?

A grid-tied system shuts off during a power cut for grid-worker safety (anti-islanding protection). Only a hybrid or off-grid system with a battery keeps your home powered during outages. If frequent power cuts are a concern, choose a hybrid system sized to cover your critical loads.

Will solar panels work in cloudy weather or in the Himalayan winter?

Yes. Modern mono-PERC and N-type TOPCon panels generate 10 to 25 percent of peak output even on overcast days. Annual generation in Himachal and Jammu Kashmir averages 1,350 to 1,500 kWh per kW per year — slightly less than Punjab but still strongly viable. Snow slides off panels naturally on tilted mounts above 15 degrees.

What maintenance does a rooftop solar plant need?

Very little: a monthly water rinse to remove dust, an annual electrical safety check, and a thermal scan every 2 to 3 years. Sunvolt offers an optional Annual Maintenance Contract with quarterly cleaning, thermal imaging and a Generation Guarantee.

What warranty do you provide on solar panels and inverters?

Solar modules: 12 years product warranty plus 25 years linear performance warranty (at least 84 percent output in year 25). Inverters: 5 to 10 years depending on brand. Mounting structure: 10 years against corrosion. Workmanship: 2 years.

Ready for a tailored proposal?

Free site survey across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

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