There’s a lot of talk about powering homes and businesses in Australia with solar, but what does that really mean?The confusion often lies around the fact that there are two overarching types of solar technology for people to consider – solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar hot water heaters. What’s the difference between the two? Solar PV is a grouping of solar panels or cells that harness the sun’s radiation and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. In this way, solar PV arrays can generate electricity on the spot to power your lights, appliances, and plug-in devices directly from your rooftop. The capacity of solar PV systems varies considerably depending on the size of a system, but generally speaking solar PV arrays can be less than 100 watts to over 400 watts. Solar water heaters, on the other hand, don’t generate electricity at all. In fact, solar water heaters employ a rather simple technique that has been used for ages – they concentrate the sun’s radiant energy to heat water that can, in turn be used for a home or businesses’ hot water needs – i.e. laundry, dishwashing, showering, etc. Like solar PV arrays, solar water heaters are installed on roofs to maximize their exposure to the sun’s rays.