The term Solar PV refers to a photovoltaic system consisting of solar panels and an inverter, that can turn a home or business into a source of energy generation. It does this by converting sunlight into electricity, through systems that can be mounted on rooftops or on ground-mounted systems in gardens or open landscapes.

The solar panels or modules, as they are known in the trade, are installed towards the azimuth at the optimum gradient to gather as many photons from the sun as possible. The general rule is to point PV modules towards the equator, so in the northern hemisphere the best orientation is South, but for countries in the southern hemisphere the best orientation is North.

The modules produce electricity in the form of Direct Current (DC) voltage and are connected in series, so the voltage increases, but the current remains the same. When multiple modules are connected, this is known as a string. Larger PV systems can consist of multiple strings which should be connected back to an inverter with DC cable. Energy transferred to the inverter is converted into useable AC and then supplied back into the property or exported back to the grid.