Off-grid home and microgrid: energy, storage and islanding

Size generation, storage, critical loads, optional generator, transfer and autonomy from a real energy budget.

VERT / GREEN

Measure daily/seasonal consumption and rank critical loads.

JAUNE / YELLOW

Nominal solar output does not guarantee winter autonomy; storage, temperature, weather and peaks change the result.

ROUGE / RED

Islanding, transfer, high-energy batteries and generator require a safe electrical architecture; no improvised backfeed.

System triage

No load profile
Measure before sizing panels/batteries. Improvised manual transfer
Design isolation/transfer to prevent hazardous backfeed. Winter autonomy not modelled
Test low-solar, cold-weather and peak-load scenario. Critical loads defined
Keep energy budget and operating thresholds.

What the professional checks

The electrical/energy designer verifies load balance, batteries, protection, transfer/islanding, optional generator and applicable permits.

Official sources

RNCan — systèmes PV hors réseau

Vérifié / checked: 2026-08-23

Related path

Continue with the right tools

These links connect this page to the next useful checks and decisions without repeating the full content.

Track energy consumptionTrack kWh, costs, billing periods and consumption intensity over time.Open →Prepare home electrificationDocument panel, service, major loads and future projects before electrical assessment.Open →Estimate solar potentialTurn an official municipal yield into production, savings and simple payback.Open →Compare repair versus replacementCompare two strategies over the same horizon with recurring costs and residual value.Open →Check financial assistanceReview relevant Canadian and provincial programs before committing to work.Open →

V28

Finish and service details to verify

V28 connects small details that become costly once finishes are closed.

Kitchen island/peninsula services and support