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How solar and batteries work

Your solar system is made up of panels, an inverter and an optional battery for storing your solar energy. Here’s how it works:

How Solar Works (PDF)

Inverter

Your inverter converts the power from your solar panels into electricity that your home can use, and charges your battery.

Excess energy

If you’re generating more electricity than you need, excess energy is fed back into the grid for someone else to use. If you’re eligible for the renewable energy buyback, this can generate a credit on your electricity bill.

Meter measures

Your meter measures how much excess energy you’re importing and exporting to the grid.

Solar panels

When sunlight hits your solar panels, they begin to produce power.

Cloud cover

At times when cloud covers the solar panels, or when you are using more electricity than you can produce from the sun, your home will draw power from the grid.

Inverter

Your inverter converts the power from your solar panels into electricity that your home can use, and charges your battery.

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Battery storage

Batteries enable you to store your excess solar energy to use later.

Excess energy

Any electricity you aren’t using is fed back into the grid for others to use. If you are eligible for renewable energy buyback this will show as a credit on your bill.

Meter

Your meter measures how much excess energy you’re importing and exporting to the grid.

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Solar panels

When sunlight hits your solar panels, they begin to produce power.

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Cloud cover

When it’s cloudy, instead of buying power from the grid, you can use power stored in your battery.

Inverter

Your inverter is on stand by until sunrise.

Grid energy

In the evenings when there’s no sun to generate electricity, your home will draw power from the grid.

Meter measures

Your meter measures how much excess energy you’re importing and exporting to the grid.

Inverter

Your inverter will convert your battery energy into power for your home.

Battery storage

At night, the energy stored in your battery can be used to power your home.

Energy independence

In the evenings when there’s no sun to generate electricity, your inverter begins to draw energy from your battery.

Batteries reduce your reliance on energy from the grid and reduce your power bills.

Click on these toggles to switch between day/night and battery on/off to see how much money and energy you can save.

How to benefit from solar + battery storage

  • Save money

    You are generating your own electricity instead of buying it from the grid.

  • Energy independence

    Batteries enable you to store your excess solar energy to use later.

  • Renewable energy buyback

    Get paid for feeding your excess solar energy into the grid.
    conditions apply

  • Clean energy

    Solar power systems produce significantly less carbon emissions than fossil fuel.

  • Increase the value of your home

    Solar power savings can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

See if you could connect and save with solar

Find out if you are eligible to install solar and apply for our buyback offer.

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How renewable energy impacts the electricity network

Our microgrids need to be carefully managed to ensure an increase in renewable energy does not impact the reliability of power supplies to all of our customers.

Watch the video to find out more.

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