Sunlight from solar panels is converted into energy to provide power. While not in use, this electricity can be exported to the grid or consumed in your home. Installing solar panels that produce DC (Direct Current) electricity on your roof does this. A solar inverter uses this to transform the DC electricity generated by your solar panels into AC (Alternating Current) electricity.
Solar Power
Silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells are the building blocks of your solar panels. When sunlight strikes your solar panels, the solar PV cells absorb the light, and the photovoltaic effect causes electricity to be generated. Direct Current (DC) electricity, which is what is generated by your solar panels, is not suited for use by your home's appliances. Instead, your central inverter receives the DC electricity (or micro inverter, depending on your system setup).
Inverter
The DC electricity may be transformed into AC electricity, which can be used in your home, by your inverter.
Your switchboard receives AC electricity from this location.
Switch Board
Your home's appliances can be supplied with usable AC energy thanks to a switchboard.
Your switchboard will always make sure that your home is powered by solar energy first and only utilize additional grid electricity when your solar production is insufficient.
Utility Meter
A bi-directional meter (utility meter), which your electricity supplier will install for you, is essential for all solar-powered homes. A bi-directional meter can track all the electricity used in the home as well as the quantity of solar energy exported back to the power grid.
We refer to this as net metering.
Grid
Any extra solar power is returned to the grid. You'll receive a feed-in tariff credit on your electricity account if you export solar power back to the grid (FiT). The electricity you buy from the grid and credits for the solar power system electricity you don't use will thereafter be included in your monthly bills.
