Battery Storage
Store solar energy for evenings and outages, sized from a clear calculation of the loads you want to support.
Residential Solar
Solar power planned around your household.
A residential system combines solar panels, an inverter and, where it makes sense, battery storage. The aim is to cover a meaningful share of your daytime energy use and give you more control over what you draw from the grid.
At a glance
- Core components
- Panels, inverter, mounting, protection
- Optional
- Battery storage, monitoring
- Best suited to
- Homes with daytime loads and usable roof space
- Sizing based on
- Consumption, roof area, budget, backup needs
How it works
How residential solar works
Solar panels on your roof convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter converts that into alternating current (AC), the type your sockets and appliances use. During the day, your home uses solar power first and draws from the grid only for the shortfall.
Whether you add batteries depends on what you want the system to do. If your goal is to reduce daytime grid use, a grid-tied system without batteries may be enough. If you want power during outages or into the evening, battery storage becomes part of the design.
- 01
Panels generate DC power
Photovoltaic panels produce electricity whenever there is daylight. Output rises and falls with sunlight intensity through the day.
- 02
The inverter converts it
The inverter turns DC from the panels into AC for your home and manages how solar, grid and battery (if fitted) work together.
- 03
Your home uses solar first
Appliances running during the day draw on solar power. Any shortfall is supplied by the grid or a battery.
- 04
Surplus is stored or limited
With a battery, excess daytime energy can be stored for later. Without one, the inverter limits output to what the home can use, depending on your connection arrangements.
Use cases
Common use cases
Reducing daytime grid use
Households with people at home during the day, home offices, or appliances such as pumps and washing machines that can run while the sun is up.
Keeping essentials on in outages
Paired with a battery, a system can keep selected circuits such as lighting, Wi-Fi and the fridge running when grid supply drops.
Planning for future loads
Homes expecting to add appliances, an extension or electric cooking can plan inverter and roof capacity with expansion in mind.
Planning
Important planning considerations
Every recommendation follows a review of your energy use and a site assessment. These are the factors we look at.
Your actual consumption
Recent electricity bills or token purchase history give the most reliable starting point for sizing.
Roof space and orientation
Available area, pitch, shading from trees or neighbouring buildings, and roof condition all affect how many panels can be installed and how well they perform.
Which loads matter most
Knowing which appliances you would want running during an outage determines whether you need a battery and how large it should be.
Budget and phasing
Some households start with panels and an inverter that can accept a battery later, spreading the investment over time.
FAQs
Residential Solar questions
How many panels does a typical home need?
There is no single typical number. The panel count depends on your daily energy use, the share of it you want solar to cover, panel wattage and the roof space available. A site assessment and a review of your bills are needed to recommend a size.
Will solar panels work with my existing wiring?
In most homes, yes, but the existing distribution board, earthing and protection devices need to be checked. Some upgrades may be needed for a safe installation.
Can I add a battery later?
Often, yes, if the inverter you choose supports battery storage. If adding a battery later is likely, it is worth planning for it at the design stage.
Related
Related solutions
Hybrid Solar Systems
Solar, batteries and grid power working together, so you can use solar first and keep chosen loads running in outages.
Solar Backup Systems
Keep selected appliances and essential circuits running during outages, recharged by solar.
Interested in residential solar?
Share a few details about your property and energy needs. We’ll follow up to discuss options. A request is not a final quote or a booking.