Solar Panels - Residential Solutions

Commercial quality with residential simplicity is crucial to Quebec Solar’s Residential grid tied systems.


In 1987 the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development published the Brundtland report and introduced the term "sustainable development" for the first time, the aim of which was to reconcile economic and social development with the protection of the environment. Since that day, although the scientific and media world has sounded the alarm on several occasions, the ecological footprint of man continued to increase until it reached an unsustainable level for our ecosystems. Even if this increase is explained by a multitude of factors, the main reason is the improvement of our standard of living, a completely understandable aspiration.

Since numerous studies have already demonstrated the negative impacts of increasing the size of houses, it would be wise to consider the advent of renewable energies in order to lower the level of their ecological footprint and counterbalance the additional energy demand generated by the increase in area.

In this regard, we are convinced that solar energy is the most reliable and economical source of renewable energy at the residential level, whether for a grid-tied or off-grid system. The purpose of the following section is to explain the difference between a grid-tied and an off-grid system and to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.


Grid-tied Solar Powered System


A grid-tied system is a system that is connected to the Hydro-Québec electricity distribution network while an off-grid system is a system that is not connected to the Hydro-Québec electricity distribution network.

For a grid-tied system, the electricity produced by the solar panels can have two uses; either be consumed by the occupants of the residence or be injected into the Hydro-Québec power grid when it is not in use. The advantage of such a system is in terms of its reliability and the savings it offers, given that Hydro-Québec can always supply electricity in the event of an energy deficit and that compensations are offered when referrals are made. In addition, a grid-tied system is less expensive than an off-grid system since it does not require the installation of batteries and a charge controller. The only disadvantage of a network connected system is that it is unable to provide you with electricity when the Hydro-Québec network is down. This is due to the fact that we would not want an autoproducer to send electricity over the network which would be problematic for technicians doing repairs.


Off-Grid Solar Powered System (Cottage-no Hydro lines available)


For an off-grid system, the electricity produced by the solar panels is directly stored in accumulators for immediate or later use. The quantity of electricity accessible in an off-grid system therefore depends on the performance of the solar panels installed as well as on the number of accumulators installed, which is not the case for a network connected system where Hydro-Québec fills the gaps energetic. An off-grid system is therefore more expensive since it uses accumulators to store the energy generated by solar panels. However, the advantage of an off-grid system is that it provides you with electricity even when the public network is down since your system is completely independent.


Grid-tied Residential Solar Powered System


All of our residential systems use the same industrial grade components as our commercial solutions so that you have the most reliable and cost effective system possible. All carry industry leading warranties of up to 25 years on major components, ensuring your investment will be producing clean, silent, solar electricity for years to come.

The advanced monitoring software allows full system monitoring from anywhere the internet is available. Having the ability to look into the health of the system and being able to compare production directly against neighbors or friends is something that no other investment can offer.

The easy to use web page and interactive tools make the investment in solar not only functional but fun. We carry many different roof mounting solutions to fit any roof surface.

As a homeowner, installing solar energy not only provides ongoing long-term benefits in the form of lower power bills, but also adds market value to your home. So when you decide to sell your house, your solar panels become an attractive selling factor.

The future health of our planet and our families depends on our ability to do the right thing and to make the right choices. These choices will have a lasting impact for generations to come. Quebec Solar is committed to bringing the technology we need to the doorsteps of everyone willing to do their part. The simplest changes in our daily lives make big differences – installing renewable energy is a positive and lasting legacy to leave our earth and our children.

To find out about our solar powered system installation process please click here,

To learn about Net Metering Program offered by Hydro Quebec, please click here.

More in depth information on a grid tied solar powered system can be found by clicking here (external link to Wikipedia will be opened in a new window).

Examples of our recent solar installations:

Solar energy for home - how it works?