Off-grid solar: Costs, process, and best products in 2024

In the hyper-plugged-in world we live in today, the notion of going off the grid can be enticing. But beyond wanting to escape for a while, going off the grid has a specific technical meaning: To go off the grid is to have no relationship with your utility company and independently produce 100% of your electricity.

Going solar doesn't mean you’re off the grid. In fact, the vast majority of home solar panel systems are grid-tied because it’s almost always the more practical and beneficial option. Not only does maintaining a grid connection ensure that the lights will stay on at night and on cloudy days, but it also allows you to participate in programs like net metering that can drastically increase the value of your solar investment. 

Going off-grid really only makes sense for homes with low electricity consumption or those in remote locations. If you fit this description and are eager to establish true energy independence, let’s break down the different types of equipment you’ll need and how much you can expect to pay for it.

The term "off the grid" refers to living autonomously without any connection to a utility for power. If you go off-grid, you'll need to meet all your household needs with electricity produced onsite. For this reason, off-grid living works best for small homes in rural locations where reliable grid access is lacking.

Going solar doesn’t mean you're off the grid

Going solar does grant you a level of energy independence, but it doesn't mean you’re off the grid. Since solar panels can’t produce electricity without sunshine, most residential solar power systems in the United States remain grid-connected so that they can draw power at night or on cloudy days. 

It’s possible to go off-grid with your solar panel system, but you’d have to install a larger system with multiple solar batteries to store energy—which is expensive. Generally, you'll need the following system components for an off-grid solar setup:

• Solar panels 

• Solar inverters

• Wiring/cables

• Mounting equipment 

• PWM or MPPT charge controller

• Energy storage (typically a solar battery or a backup generator)

• Safety equipment (safety disconnects, grounding equipment, surge protection)

There’s a reason why the overwhelming majority of residential solar panel systems maintain a connection to the utility grid. Solar panels can’t produce electricity on demand, and connecting to the grid allows you to keep the lights on at night and on cloudy days. Energy storage systems can also help you achieve this, but even most solar-plus-storage systems are more reliable and cost-effective when connected to the grid. Here’s why:

You live in a remote area without grid access

Some homes in remote areas function well off-grid with smaller, less expensive solar and storage systems. Often designed specifically for off-grid living, these homes may require little energy for heating and cooling and limit the extent of electrical systems in the house. Still, you may have to manage your lifestyle to accommodate periods throughout the year without electricity.

You want autonomy from your utility company

You may not always agree with how utilities and regulators operate and desire to separate yourself from their service. Whether you want to support free market principles, reject a fossil-fueled grid, or avoid additional fees for connecting your solar installation to the grid, establishing autonomy can be a way to take back your power (literally). 

Your utility’s electricity supply isn’t always reliable 

The desire to go off-grid may be less about cutting the cord with your utility and more driven by improving resiliency if steady electricity is not something you can expect with your utility. 

Installing one or two solar batteries with islanding capabilities, or the ability to form their own grid, can ensure your house remains powered during a severe weather event or grid outage. For most solar shoppers, this is a cost-effective way to improve the resiliency of your home without breaking the bank by going entirely off-grid.

Renogy

Credit: Renogy 

While this solar kit is the most expensive on our list, it has double the power output compared to the other two options. The Renogy off-grid solar system includes four 200-watt (W) monocrystalline solar panels for a total system output of 800 W. In addition to the solar panels, the bundled kit comes with a charge controller, adaptor kit, brackets, connectors, and a 3000 W pure sine wave inverter. The 60A MPPT solar charge controller has built-in protections against overcharging and overloading for a longer functional life.

WindyNation

Credit: Windy Nation

WindyNation’s complete solar kit includes four 100 W monocrystalline solar panels, a charge controller, a solar cable, connectors, mounting hardware, a 1500 W inverter, and four 100 Ah batteries. This system can work well for a tiny cabin because it's easily expandable, but you'll likely need to upgrade the solar charge controller for this setup.

ECO-WORTHY

Credit: ECO-WORTHY

ECO-WORTHY's solar kit includes four 100 W monocrystalline solar panels, a charge controller, two 100 Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, a 2000W pure sine wave inverter, connectors, mounting brackets, and extension cables. The solar panels are highly efficient at 21% and have a one-year warranty.

Going off-grid isn’t cheap, and it requires more than installing solar panels and disconnecting from your electric utility. Use these four steps to determine if going off-grid is cost-effective for your home:

1. Calculate your electricity use

2. Determine how many solar batteries you need

3. Design a solar panel system to fit your needs

4. Add up the costs of the combined solar plus storage system

How much electricity do you use?

The first step in going off-grid is understanding your electricity load, or how much electricity you use. Consumption is typically expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and you can estimate yours using your electric bill or the wattage of your appliances.

• Your electric bill: Before you ditch your utility, look at your monthly consumption listed on your electric bills. Divide that by the number of days in the month to figure your daily consumption. Since use can vary throughout the year, performing this calculation for multiple months is a good idea.

• Electricity load of your appliances: You can calculate this by multiplying the wattage of each appliance in your home (look for the yellow Energy Guide sticker that estimates yearly energy use) by the number of hours you use it daily. Then, divide that number by 365 to get their estimated daily electricity load. If you don’t know the wattage, the Department of Energy's calculator is a great tool to estimate your consumption based on the average appliance. 

• Energy management systems: If you're planning to install solar and storage to go off-grid, it may be worth purchasing a home energy monitor or an energy management system to get a more precise estimate of your electricity usage.

How many batteries will you need?

To determine the number of batteries you need to power your house for a single day, you need to know your daily electricity consumption (see above) and the battery’s usable capacity. 

• Electricity consumption: The average American household uses about 30 kWh per day. Given the conversion losses associated with storing electricity, you'll need enough batteries to store slightly more than what you use per day.

• Usable capacity: The amount of electricity a battery can store after accounting for electrical losses and any energy needed to power it. For example, the Tesla Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh. 

In this example, the average American homeowner would need three batteries to meet a single day's electricity needs. In reality, you'll want enough backup storage capacity to power your home for many days to ensure you’ll still have power during a storm or if you need more than your average daily usage in a single day. 

Batteries needed for off-grid solar: Northeast vs. Southwest

Off-griders in Massachusetts need to plan for the cold, snowy winter days. Fewer sun hours on a winter day and extended periods of cloudy weather and snow mean you'll need to install a much larger storage system and solar array to harness enough electricity.

Conversely, Arizonans should plan their off-grid setups around the hot summer months. More sun hours per day means you won't need to install a much larger solar panel system than usual, but a high electricity load increases the need for storage.

How many solar panels will you need?

First, you need to know the total size of your solar panel system. The easiest way to determine that is to divide the amount of electricity required by the number of expected sun hours.

The number of solar panels you'll need depends on their power output.

Adding up the costs

Given that a Tesla Powerwall battery costs $9,300 (before taxes and installation costs), batteries alone will likely cost between $74,400 and $120,900 or more. Depending on your cost of solar, going off-grid can easily come with a hefty six-figure bill.

*Costs do not reflect any rebates, tax credits, or other incentives.

The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) can lower your solar and storage costs by 30%, but you’re still looking at a bill that’s more than double or triple that of the average grid-tied solar plus storage system. 

So, before signing up for an off-grid system, make sure you know exactly what you're getting into…and how much it will cost.