Solar 101

Rooftop solar, explained plainly.

Solar panels turn sunlight into free electricity for your home. Here's how a modern Australian system works, what it costs, and how to know if it's right for your roof.

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Australian home with rooftop solar panels
What is solar?

A rooftop power station for your home

A solar photovoltaic (PV) system is made up of solar panels on your roof, an inverter mounted near your switchboard, and a bi-directional meter that tracks the power you use and export. When the sun hits the panels, they generate DC electricity — the inverter converts it to AC power your appliances can use. Anything you don't use flows back to the grid as a feed-in credit.

Panels

Silicon PV modules on your roof capture sunlight and produce DC electricity. Modern panels last 25+ years.

Inverter

The brain of the system. Converts DC to household AC and monitors your production in real time.

Your home

Power flows to appliances first, then any surplus is exported to the grid for a feed-in tariff credit.

How it works

From sunlight to savings in 4 steps

  1. 01

    Sunlight hits the panels

    Photons knock electrons loose inside each cell, creating a DC current. More sun = more power.

  2. 02

    Inverter converts DC to AC

    Your household runs on AC power, so the inverter converts and regulates the output before it reaches your switchboard.

  3. 03

    Your home uses it first

    Solar power feeds your fridge, air-con, hot water and other appliances before anything is drawn from the grid.

  4. 04

    Excess exports to the grid

    Whatever you don't use is sent back and paid as a feed-in tariff credit on your next bill.

Solar-only illustration
Why solar?

The benefits stack up fast

  • Big bill savings

    Most households cut their power bill 40–70% with a well-sized system.

  • STC rebate applied upfront

    The federal Small-scale Technology Certificate rebate is discounted from your quote — no forms to chase.

  • Cleaner energy

    An average 6.6 kW system offsets around 8 tonnes of CO₂ every year.

  • Future-proof your home

    Add a battery or EV charger later without redoing the wiring.

See what solar could save your home

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