Grid Connected Systems
A house can be fitted with a grid connected system. This will typically consist of a large solar electric panel mounted on a south facing roof. The best angle of tilt for the panel in Wales is between 40 or 50 degrees. Luckily most houses have a roof at this angle. Solar electric panels produce direct current (DC). Mains electricity is alternating current (AC). An inverter uses electronics to convert the electricity from DC to AC.
Solar panels only produce electricity during daylight. If the electricity is not used it is exported to the national grid. An export meter records how much. At night and other times when more power is needed than is being produced, electricity is taken from the grid and another meter records how much. The average house hold uses 3300 units of electricity every year, and a typical solar electric system produces about 1500 units per year. People who install solar electric systems will often make sure they are as efficient with electricity as possible and so reduce their demand to the amount they produce.
