Grid-connected solar systems have only been out in recent years. They consist of the very latest in inverter technology, that maximizes your solar panels harvest via MPPT (maximum power point tracking) techniques, and they generate green energy for your own use. If your need exceed that of which is been produced by the system, the rest off the electricity will be pulled from the grid. If your generating excess electricity (on really sunny days), that power will be fed back into the electricity grid and sold to your neighbors. At nighttime, or when your solar panels aren't producing enough energy, you could buy back the electricity from your supplier.



Usually, you would get a specialized electricity meter that will wind backwards if excess electricity is been produced. At the end of the month, if you make more power than you can use, you will receive credits from your electricity supplier. It is therefore not essential that the solar power system is sized to exactly match what your daily power usage is.



Typically, this type of solar power system is sized to maximise the efficiency of the inverter size used, or the amount of funds available, or to take maximum advantage of any rebates available. There is no reason why you can't install a small solar power system initially, to help reduce your carbon footprint and to reduce your electricity bills, and then add more solar panels later on.