A solar photovoltaic system uses sunlight to generate electricity for use. From their early applications in satellites and space vehicles, solar photovoltaics now have a wide range of uses, from remote area power generation, to grid-connected homes and building in cities.

Grid-connected photovoltaic systems are starting to appear on more and more roof tops as a way to offset increasing energy bills with clean, green electricity. Depending on the size of a photovoltaic system, excess electricity can be fed back to the public power grid which earns income for the homeowner for acting as a mini power station.

The majority of homes today import electricity from a main 'electricity grid' which supplies power from a utility provider. This has the disadvantage usually coal-fired generation has wastage in distribution over a long network to your home. The aim would be to have all new homes built with a photovoltaic system included, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and harnessing a renewable energy source.

Photovoltaic systems consist of solar panels, electric cable, an inverter and circuit breakers. Solar modules are layers of silicon which absorb the sun's energy and converts it to direct current (DC) electricity. The inverter transforms the DC electricity into 240 Volt alternating current (AC) electricity. The quality of AC electricity produced by the inverter is as good as, if not better than, electricity supplied from the public electricity grid.