How A Grid System Works
A solar system is made up of multiple solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, a DC to AC power converter
(inverter solution) and a framing system to hold the PV panels in place.
PV panels are generally fitted on the roof facing an
northerly, easterly or westerly direction, and tilted at a particular angle to maximise the amount of sunlight that each panel receives.
Suburban homes in Australia and New Zealand are
connected to the electricity grid via power lines.
Our electricity system uses 240V alternating current (AC),
but the electricity generated by solar panels consists
of variable direct current (DC). To transform the DC
electricity into AC electricity for ordinary household use, grid-connected solar PV systems have inverters attached to each PV panel called micro inverters or a single inverter for a string of connected PV panels called a central string inverter.
The third possible inverter solutions are power optimisers, which are a variance of the string inverter and the micro inverter. All these technical solutions can create a great solar system.
Ask your authorised Energy Partner for advice on which of these inverter solutions offer the most suitable solution for you. Quality inverter/micro inverter solutions include Fronius, SMA, Solaredge and Enphase brands.
Today houses with grid-connected solar systems
consume solar-generated electricity rst, before switching to the electricity grid if more electricity is required than the solar system is able to generate.
Grid-connected solar systems can also feed electricity back to the grid if too much electricity is generated via
the solar system for the immediate needs of your home.
Unless you add storage batteries to your system, a grid-connected solar system is unable to store power
in your home for use at night.