On-Grid vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Solar: Which One Is Right for Your Home?
A simple comparison of the three rooftop solar types — cost, backup, subsidy eligibility and who should choose which.
The 30-second answer
- Reliable grid, want lowest cost + full subsidy → On-grid
- Frequent power cuts, want backup + subsidy → Hybrid
- No grid at all (farmhouse, tube-well) → Off-grid
On-grid (grid-tied)
Panels → inverter → your home; surplus goes to the grid via a net meter. No batteries, so it is the cheapest (~₹62,000/kW) and eligible for the full PM Surya Ghar subsidy. Downside: it switches off when the grid fails (a safety requirement called anti-islanding).
Hybrid
Same as on-grid plus a battery and a hybrid inverter. During a power cut, the inverter isolates from the grid and runs your essential loads. A 3 kW hybrid with 5 kWh lithium battery costs about ₹3.2 lakh before subsidy. The grid-tied part still qualifies for subsidy.
Off-grid
No grid connection; everything runs from a battery bank. Essential where grid is absent, but not eligible for subsidy, and batteries need replacement (10 years for lithium, 3–5 for lead-acid).
Cost comparison (3 kW)
| Type | Approx cost | Subsidy | Backup | |---|---|---|---| | On-grid | ₹1,85,000 | ₹1,08,000 | No | | Hybrid (5 kWh) | ₹3,20,000 | ₹1,08,000 | Yes | | Off-grid (5 kWh) | ₹2,90,000 | None | Yes |