Grid Connect Systems

Grid-connect Solar PV Systems

Through the use of a grid interactive inverter, solar panels on your roof feed power into the electricity grid.

The power that is fed into the grid is metered, as is the power you consume. Through agreement with your local supply authority, you only pay for the power you use that is in excess of the power you produce. If your grid connected system repeatedly produces more than you consume, your retailer will pay you for the excess power.

A grid-connected solar PV system is an array of photovoltaic modules connected via an inverter to provide power for your home or office, with excess production feeding into the grid. At night, when the solar modules are not producing electricity, the electricity comes to you from the grid. If you export enough energy during the day, it will balance or exceed the amount you draw from the grid at night.
 

Choosing the Your Solar Energy System size

While the ideal outcome is to provide enough energy to run all your electrical appliances all year round, the reality is that your electricity usage and your budget may not always coincide.

Often the compromise means that the solar PV system will supply only part of your total electricity demand, however, you can always add to it later. Simply put, if you can minimise your consumption of electricity, and you are able to purchase a large system, you may be able to meet all or most of your electricity demand. Therefore your on-going electricity bills could be close to zero. However, if you use a lot of electricity, and are only able to purchase a small system, the saving on your electricity bill will be not as great.

For this reason, you may wish to consider some energy conservation and energy efficiency measures to reduce your electricity consumption, and replace a larger portion of your electricity bill with your solar PV system.
 

The Solar System Meter

In most cases the electricity meter records the energy sent to the grid as well as the energy consumed from the grid.

However, in some cases it may instead record all the energy produced from the solar modules as well as all the energy consumed by the house. Your electricity distributor reads the meter and determines your balance. Your electricity retailer then bills for the energy consumed or make payment for the excess production.

Note: You need to check with your electricity retailer for their ’feed-in‘ rate, supply charges and billing periods. Arrangements differ with each retailer and differ between states. You should shop around for the best deal. Your Sivcorp Solar installer will be able to advise you.