HOW SOLAR WORKS

Solar systems allow you to use your solar power when it is generating electricity during the day and put any excess back into the grid. As soon as you need more electricity than your system can generate, your electricity will automatically be supplied from the grid. At night, your house draws energy from the grid.

A Grid-Connect Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System acts as a mini power station on your roof, feeds power to your home, and surplus power back to the Grid. Most Australians are connected to the National Electricity Grid, a network of electric cables and transformers that links power generating stations to your home.

Solar Panels

Most solar power systems use PV modules (panels) installed on a rooftop to create and collect energy from sunlight.

Solar cells are produced from thin wafers of silicon. When light falls on the cells an electric current is produced. A collection of solar cells connected together forms a module.

Inverters

An inverter converts the Direct Current (DC) electricity generated by solar panels into Alternating Current (AC), the form of electricity conventionally used in homes.

You will need an inverter to convert the direct current (DC) power collected by the solar panels into power for your home, or power to send back to the electricity grid. It can be placed inside or outside your home and can give you information about the amount of electricity being produced by your system.

Meters and the grid

Solar PV modules supplying DC power.

An inverter changing the solar DC power into 240V alternating current (AC) suitable for your household appliances and feeding into the grid.

Your home uses electricity firstly from the solar PV modules with additional demand supplied from the grid.

A meter measuring your electricity production and consumption.

Any excess is 'exported' to the electricity grid.

Solar Rebates

How Solar Works

Steps Towards Solar