What are some of the main benefits of becoming independent and taking you home or business completely off the grid? Well (1) You'll never again have to pay an electricity bill. (2) Your helping the environment and reducing your carbon footprint by turning your back on fossil fuel generated energy.
(3)You;ll never have to worry about power outages ever again.

Having lived offgrid for 7 years...I can assure you that the 'benefit' of "You'll never have to worry about a power outage ever again" never happens. You are your own power company, and unless your system and the management of it are perfect....well you get the point. And you can get the other two points by going renewable gridtie. But there are benefits, some intangible. Like the satisfaction of providing your own power. Of living within your means, and providing power through storms, and showing off with your family by hosting Thanksgiving dinner while everyone else is in the dark. There are some downsides too..like batteries and finicky inverters (although that is better now).

Go for it...and tell us how you like it!!!
Tim

250,000,000 families in Africa live off-the-grid

Good on you Tim........

I am very looing forward for free energy.. no pollution at all.

....Tim, buy an SMA inverter, no hassles!

Ha that is funny....and a very long story involving Trace Engineering, and earlier days of solar. But anywho....no thanks. Short version, it's not Washington made. Long version...well buy me a beer!!!
Tim

SiRi Grid-tied Solar Inverters from 1.5kw to5 kw are available, with a high efficiency level of 98 %, high cost effective.
now our EN version in under construction, but tech-data will be viewed on CN version. If further information needed. contact me freely!
Skype ID: kecy_meng.

...Tim - come out to Swaziland and we'll have a sundowner (I'll supply the beer) and you can tell me the story......

@Kecy,

solar inverter is not an issue while living off-the-grid.
What matters is energy storage for sun-off hours
and batteries are highly expensive and weight and cost a lot.

My friend operates small 1 wind turbine system and installed 52 12V car batteries to get energy stored and have to maintain batteries every day.

No easy solution for living off-the-grid.

Darius, I agree that no better solution for living off the grid. but solar panel and solar inverter are the best way at least now for people who care the grid....