What is solar energy?
Solar power is electricity generated from sunlight using rooftop solar panels. It’s a way for homes to produce their own power, rather than relying entirely on electricity from the grid.
Across Australia, solar energy for homes is a popular way to make use of our sunny conditions and generate renewable electricity.
How does solar work?
1. Capture
Solar panels on your roof capture energy from sunlight and turn it into electricity.
2. Convert
The electricity produced by your panels isn't quite ready to power your home yet. An inverter changes it into the type of electricity your household appliances use.
3. Use
The inverter is connected to the electrical switchboard in your home, which lets you use the solar electricity your panels are producing to power appliances and other electrical devices.
4. Store or send it to the grid
If your panels produce more electricity than your home needs, depending on your solar set-up, you can store the excess in a solar battery or send it back to the electricity grid.
What happens if my panels produce too much electricity?
Too much solar in the tank? You generally have two options:
- Export to the grid: Extra electricity can be sent back to the electricity grid. Depending on your electricity plan, you may receive a feed-in tariff as a credit on your bill.
- Store it in a battery: A solar battery can store extra electricity to use later, like at night or when your panels aren't producing as much.
What if my solar panels don’t produce enough electricity?
Don’t worry - if there’s a cloud in the sky (or quite a few), your home is still hooked up to the electricity grid, and you can use electricity from the grid when you need it.
Installing a battery will help you reduce your reliance on the grid. A battery stores excess electricity produced by your solar panels when the sun is shining, to use when the sun is out.
Feed-in tariffs vary between electricity plans, so it's worth looking at the overall rates and charges of a plan, not just the feed-in tariff. Learn more about feed-in tariffs
What is solar energy battery storage?
A solar battery stores extra electricity your solar panels generate during the day, so you can use it later.
For example, your panels might generate more electricity than you need while you're out during the day. A battery can store some of that electricity for when you get home or when the sun goes down.
Whether a battery makes sense for you depends on things like your solar system, energy use and when you use electricity.
Thinking about solar energy for your home?
Here are a few things worth keeping in mind:
- Your roof and space – direction, size and shading can all affect performance.
- How you use electricity – using more electricity during the day can help you get more value from solar.
- Upfront solar system costs – installation can be a significant investment.
- Solar system efficiency – system size and quality can affect how well your system performs.
- Solar energy battery options – whether storing electricity makes sense for your household.
- Solar energy advantages – solar electricity can reduce your reliance on the grid and may help lower your electricity bills over time.
Every home is different, so what works best depends on your setup, energy use and lifestyle.
Got solar or thinking about it?
Already have solar?
Having solar doesn't mean you're completely off the grid. Most solar homes still use electricity from the grid when their panels aren't producing enough.
Your electricity plan also matters. It determines what you pay for electricity from the grid and what you may receive for solar energy you send back.
Looking for a solar system installer?
Thinking about getting solar? It's worth comparing installers and getting advice that's specific to your home.
The Australian Government's Solar Consumer Guide has useful information to help you understand your options and find a suitable installer.
Did you know?
Using solar power at home is a pretty great way to do your bit for the planet too! It helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and makes the most of renewable energy from the sun.
Tango’s parent company, Pacific Blue Australia, also generates renewable energy - helping support a more sustainable energy future.
Alternatively, send us an email to [email protected].