• 3. Inverter
  • The inverter converts solar electricity for use in your building and controls the flow of electricity between your home and the grid.
• 1. Electricity Grid
  • Your building stays attached to the electricity grid so you always have electricity available when you need it. Batteries are not required. If at any time you need more electricity than your solar system is generating, the grid will provide it.
• 4. Metering
  • Electricity meters measure the flow of electricity into your home from the grid, and from your solar system out to the grid. At the end of each billing period, you will be charged for the electricity you used and credited for the amount your solar system generated.   
• 5. Distribution Panel
  • You do not have to make changes to your building's wiring or appliances. A Powersmart solar system will seamlessly integrate with the existing electrical system.
• 2. Solar Panels
  • Solar panels generate clean electricity every day, from sunrise to sunset. No moving parts, no emissions, no noise, and no fuel

Grid Connect Systems

Are you already connected to the grid?

Most New Zealand homes have electricity supplied to their homes from the national grid and the main electricity retailers.  If you are already connected to the grid and interested in solar then you are looking for a grid connected solar power system.

With a grid connected solar power system you are free to install the system that best suits your needs.  Grid connected solar power systems require no changes to your home and place no limitations on your lifestyle or electricity use. They simply integrate directly with your home and generate electricity during the day for use directly inside your home or for export to the grid. 

If your system is generating more electricity than your home is using the excess is automatically exported to the grid and counted on your electricity meter.  If your home requires more electricity than the solar power system is generating it is automatically imported from the grid and also counted on your meter.  This operation is seamless and entirely handled by the solar power system.

When you export electricity to the national grid you are credited at the same rate you pay.  This means that the return on investment is proportional and generally the same for most residential system sizes.  It also means that you set the criteria for the solar system investment you are prepared to make. 

The most common criteria people use to decide on the size of their solar power system are;

• Their budget
• The available roof space for the system
• Their annual electricity consumption and goal to reduce or eliminate their electricity bill.

As a result grid connected solar power systems produce very predictable financial returns and your return on investment can be accurately discussed prior to purchase.  For more information on financial returns please click here.

The advantages of grid connected solar power:

• Reduce or eliminate your electricity bill for the life of your home.
• Predictable and reliable investment returns each year.
• Increase the value of your home.
• Maintenance free.
• Silent operation.
• Fuel and emissions free.

Back up Electricity

Grid connected solar power systems do not utilise batteries for storage.  They are also required by law to automatically shut down and disconnect from the grid when the grid fails.  This is required in order to protect electrical lines workers when they are working on network issues.

However, it is possible to add a battery backup system to a grid connected solar power system should you need electricity when the grid goes down e.g. for a medical appliance.  Click here to find out more about battery back-up systems.
 

Click here to view standard grid connected system packages

Other resources

Solar panel positioning and performance

Introduction to solar for kids

Terms and Conditions