off-grid

off-the-grid,
Or off grid

[awf-grid, of‐]

adjective

1. not connected to or using one or more public utilities, as for electricity or water: Our farm is off grid and works on solar panels.

   Well over a billion people live in off-grid areas.

   Our farm is off grid and works on solar panels.

2. not connected to or using one or more public communications networks, as for cellular service.

   They live off grid with no internet access.

3. not having communication with the outside world; not participating in society.

   I sometimes fantasize about a solitary, off-grid life, far away from humanity.

off-grid

adjective

1. not involving or requiring the use of mainstream sources of energy

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-grid¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

While there is increased interest in California to move off the grid with solar panels and batteries — especially as utilities expand the use of power shutoffs to prevent fire starts — completely off-grid homes remain rare.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In areas with frequent rain, the technology could offer a distributed source of clean power for local grids or act as a resource for off-grid needs.

Read more on Science Daily

The project is expected to provide 2.5 gigawatts of off-grid power—enough to power almost two million homes—with the ability to expand from there if demand warrants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Data centers have thus turned to more expensive off-grid solutions that are nevertheless more readily available.

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But the country’s far west remains delightfully off-grid, a place for those seeking a different, quieter Europe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal