How a home solar & battery system works
Every home energy system is built from the same core parts, working together. Scroll through the tour below to follow the energy from the roof to the plug socket, one component at a time.
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One connected energy system
Solar, battery and the grid all working together to power the home. Scroll to follow the energy, component by component.
How the system works, stage by stage
- Solar Panels. Roof-mounted panels convert sunlight into DC electricity throughout daylight hours, the starting point for everything else in the system.
- Hybrid Inverter. The hybrid inverter turns the panels’ DC into usable AC for the home, and manages battery charging and discharging in a single unit.
- Battery Storage. Stacked battery modules store surplus daytime generation for the evening, typically lifting self-consumption from 25–35% to 60–80% for most homes.
- Energy Meter. A smart meter measures electricity imported from the grid and any surplus exported back to it under the Smart Export Guarantee.
- EV Charger. A home charge point tops up the electric vehicle overnight, or automatically from surplus solar generation during the day.
From roof to plug socket, in the right order
A well-designed system uses energy in a strict priority order, maximising the free electricity you generate before anything is bought from, or sold to, the grid.
- 01
Generate
Solar panels produce DC electricity whenever there's daylight, regardless of cloud cover.
- 02
Convert
The hybrid inverter turns that DC power into the AC electricity your home actually uses.
- 03
Consume
Everyday loads are powered directly from solar first, for free, whenever generation is available.
- 04
Store
Any surplus charges the battery instead of being exported, ready for use after the sun goes down.
- 05
Shift
Smart loads like an EV charger or immersion diverter soak up any remaining surplus automatically.
- 06
Export or import
Only once every option above is exhausted does the meter export surplus, or import any shortfall.
How it works, answered
Do I need a battery with my solar panels?
It's not compulsory, but it's now the default we design around: almost every system we install pairs a hybrid inverter with battery storage, because it typically lifts self-consumption from around 25-35% to 60-80%. Solar-only systems remain available, and we'll size either option honestly based on your usage and budget.
What is a hybrid inverter, and why does it matter?
A hybrid inverter combines the job of a solar inverter and a battery inverter in one unit. It converts the DC electricity from your panels into usable AC power, and separately manages charging and discharging your battery, so you don't need two separate boxes on the wall.
How much can I earn from exporting electricity?
Surplus electricity is paid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), with rates currently ranging from around 4p to 15p per kWh depending on supplier and tariff. We help you understand realistic export income as part of your proposal. Most of the value comes from self-consumption, not export.
What are "smart loads" and do I need them?
Smart loads are appliances that can shift when they draw power, such as an EV charger, an immersion diverter for hot water, or a smart thermostat. None are compulsory, but they're an easy way to use more of your own solar generation instead of exporting it at a lower rate than you'd pay to import.
Ready to find out what this looks like for your home?
Our free MCS-compliant calculator gives you a real estimate in minutes, or book a no-obligation survey and we'll design the system around your roof and your usage.