Understanding Solar: A Beginner's Guide

Thinking about solar power? This video - Understanding Solar - goes through the basic principles of residential solar energy. This is part one of my popular three-part video and article guide to going solar in Australia in 2022.

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
1:07 - How solar panels work
3:09 - Anatomy of a solar power system
10:40 - Solar system energy production
11:56 - How solar saves you money
13:22 - Batteries and solar

You can read the article version of this guide here:

My other Solar 101 guides:

*** Part 2: Buying Solar
Covers what you need to know when comparing solar quotes and preparing to buy a solar power system.

*** Part 3: Owning Solar
Explains what to do after installing solar panels and how to make the most of your sytem. It also goes through what you should do to prepare for electric cars and home batteries.

You can read all my solar and battery 101 guides here:

If after watching the video you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below - and don't forget to subscribe to this channel :)

[rahimrajak]

Very informative. Thank you. Young man with energy

[doctorcrypto]

absolutely nailed the info in this short video. much appreciated.

[remco]

Thank you for your video. I don't live in Australia, but this was a great video to get me up to speed. On to video 2 now!

[letradavis]

I truly appreciate you and your channel. As an absolutely newbie to the world of the Solar m 🌎, you make it very simple to understand. Bringing the logistics of it in terms I can understand really takes the anxiety out of it. Thank you

[sammelife]

Going to add solar at home. This introduction is quite valuble to understand stuff when dealing with the suppliers/installers. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[jmx]

He’s done it again. Keep up the great content

[DutchAussieProductions]

Thanks for the video, Finn. This explains all this stuff very clearly. Great channel. I will pass this link on to my friends and family. Have a lovely weekend.

[Peakmastery]

i thank you for this video, subscribed for sure 👍

[fabianmihai]

Thank you lots sir !
So glad you did this !
🤝🤝🤝

[kensei]

You're awesome. You're like the John Cadogan of the Solar world.

[stephenbrickwood]

People forget that when your system has dropped to 90% efficiency you only have to add one more panel and go for another 25 years.
No wasting your installed system.
So 50 year life time of free power. (except for the extra panel after 25 years)


Forget batteries it is much cheaper to install a second system and sell a large amount of electricity to the grid and pull a little expensive power at night.
Ezi pezi.

Batteries Tesla $14, 000
2nd Solar array, 6.6kw $5, 000, over supply grid all day pull a little from the grid at night.

When you buy a new Electric Vehicle in the near future, it comes with a huge battery for free.
The vehicle will back you up at night at no cost.

[marieroche]

Wish you'd do an OFF-GRID solar video.

[frankcherry]

Is it true… get a larger inverter than you think you will need incase you add more panels later/

[fahadsadiq]

11:12 why are we multiplying with 4 ? How can a 5kW system surpasses its power and produce 20kW per hour per day ? I didn't get it . Kindly explain

[rolandneirynck]

Very interesting also for a European (Belgian) where there is less sun than in Australië

[handletobetaken]

Thanks for the great education!
Can you recommend good solar panel providers (material+install) in Sydney Northshore area?

[trongle]

Hi Finn, I am in Victoria, and can I use 14 x 470w Jinko Tiger Neo panels with a Fronius Primo 5.0-1 inverter for a 6.6kwh system? Thanks

[sofiedimitriadis]

I am in a dilemma is this metre grid the right one installed by previous owner of the hous . We installed new solar panels and husband says he can see how much electricity consumed and how much export ? Do I need to change this

[keeloraz]

Good video but where is the link to part 2 ?!

[magdalena]

Hi.why you multiply by 4?
How come 6.6kw gives you 24kwh?