Grid-tied systems are much cheaper than taking your home off the grid, as there is no need for storage batteries or a separate generator for times when the sun isn't cooperating {more accurately, when clouds, fog, rain, etc block the sun}. That assumes of course that your energy provider will allow it. Then, if you wanted to, you could start with as little as one solar module, one micro-inverter and a few bucks worth of minor hardware and be on your way to solar freedom.
