What Is Needed for a Solar Power System?

A complete solar power system is more than just panels on a roof. To deliver reliable savings year-round in New Zealand, your system needs the right combination of solar panels NZ, a properly matched solar inverter, safe energy storage options like a solar battery, and—if you want a simpler path—well-designed solar panel kits. For businesses, choosing the right commercial solar panels setup can unlock even stronger returns by aligning solar generation with daytime usage.

At Apollo Energy, we help homeowners, farms, and commercial sites build solar systems that are practical, scalable, and built to last—using trusted components from brands like Trina Solar and Growatt. 

The 5 essentials every solar power system needs

A standard grid-connected solar power system typically includes:

1. Solar panels (to generate power)

2. Solar inverter (to convert and manage power)

3. Mounting system (to secure panels safely on your roof/structure)

4. Electrical protection + wiring (isolators, breakers, surge protection, compliant cabling)

5. Optional: Solar battery (to store energy for evenings, outages, or peak pricing)

If your goal includes backup power, off-grid capability, or future expansion, we’ll also design for monitoring, smart meters, and battery-ready configurations.

1) Solar panels: where your energy begins

Your solar panels are the “engine” of the system—converting sunlight into DC electricity.

When customers search solar panels NZ, they usually want panels that are:

• Efficient enough for their roof space

• Reliable in New Zealand conditions

• Backed by strong warranties

• From a reputable manufacturer

Apollo Energy offers premium Trina Solar panels—including Trina Solar Vertex S+ models (such as 410W and 450W full black options) as well as higher-output N-type bifacial dual-glass models in the range. 

What to consider when choosing panels

• Roof size and shape: Limited space may favour higher-output panels.

• Aesthetics: Full black panels are a popular choice for modern homes.

• Future expansion: If you may add more panels later, it’s worth designing the system layout from day one.

2) Solar inverter: the control centre of your solar power system

A solar inverter converts DC electricity from your panels into AC electricity your home or business can use. It also plays a major role in system performance, monitoring, and safety.

At Apollo Energy, our inverter range includes both hybrid and off-grid options, with popular choices from Growatt—such as the Growatt SPH 6000TL BL-UP hybrid inverter, plus Growatt SPF series off-grid inverters. 

Which inverter type do you need?

String inverter (grid-tied)

Best for: straightforward roof layouts and customers focused on bill reduction.

Hybrid solar inverter

Best for: customers who want to add a solar battery now or later. Hybrid inverters can support storing excess power for evening use or exporting to the grid when appropriate. 

Off-grid inverter

Best for: remote setups, lifestyle blocks, or situations where grid connection isn’t practical. 

Apollo Energy tip: If you’re even considering batteries in the future, choosing a hybrid inverter early can make expansion smoother and more cost-effective.

3) Solar battery: store solar energy after the sun goes down

Solar production peaks during the day—but energy use often peaks in the morning and evening. A solar battery closes that gap by storing excess solar energy for later.

Apollo Energy specialises in solar battery solutions for homes, farms, commercial buildings, and off-grid setups across New Zealand. 

What a solar battery helps you achieve

• Use more of your own solar power at night

• Reduce reliance on the grid during peak pricing periods

• Improve resilience during outages (with the right backup configuration)

Apollo Energy’s battery range highlights safe, scalable lithium battery systems (including LiFePO₄ chemistry), modular expandability, and weather-resistant designs (e.g., IP66-rated options). 

Battery sizing basics

• kWh capacity = how much energy it can store (your “tank size”)

• kW output = how much power it can deliver at once (your “tap flow”)

If you want backup power, we’ll help plan essential circuits and the right configuration so your battery does what you expect during an outage.

4) Solar panel kits: a simpler way to get the right combination

If you want a faster and clearer decision, solar panel kits bundle compatible components into one pre-designed package.

Apollo Energy offers pre-designed solar system packages built around high-efficiency panels, hybrid or off-grid inverters, and optional battery storage. Their kits include options like 4.7kW and 4.9kW systems with flexibility to choose with-storage or without-storage solutions. 

Example: what’s inside a hybrid kit with storage

A typical Apollo Energy package can include:

• Trina full black panels

• Growatt hybrid inverter

• Growatt LiFePO₄ battery (e.g., 5kWh)

• Smart meter + WiFi dongle and required accessories 

Why customers love solar panel kits

• Faster comparison (system size vs system size)

• Matched compatibility (panels + inverter + battery readiness)

• A clean pathway to storage upgrades

5) Installation, compliance, and monitoring: the part that protects your investment

A high-quality solar power system depends on professional design and installation—not just premium hardware.

Your system should include:

• Correct roof mounting and waterproofing

• Safe electrical protection (switching, breakers, surge protection)

• Clean cable routing and compliant components

• Monitoring so you can track performance over time

At Apollo Energy, we focus on long-term reliability—because the system should keep delivering value year after year, not just look good on installation day.

Commercial solar panels: what businesses need to do differently

For many organisations, commercial solar panels deliver strong value because business energy use often matches solar production (daytime).

Commercial solar design typically prioritises:

• Maximising daytime self-consumption

• ROI and payback visibility

• Scalability for future expansion

• Strong monitoring and performance reporting

Growatt hybrid inverter solutions are commonly positioned as suitable for both residential and commercial applications—making them a flexible option for sites that may add storage later. 

If you run a business: the best-performing commercial systems are designed around how your site uses power across the day, not just the biggest array you can fit on the roof.

Putting it together: how to plan the right solar power system

To choose the right solar power system, start with these three questions:

1. How much energy do you use (kWh)?

   Your bills and usage history tell us how much capacity makes sense.

2. When do you use energy most—day or night?

   This affects whether a battery will add value immediately.

3. What’s your goal?

• Lower bills

• Battery-ready for the future

• Backup power resilience

• Off-grid independence

• Commercial ROI and sustainability targets

From there, we’ll recommend the best combination of solar panels NZ, a matched solar inverter, and (if needed) a scalable solar battery—or a turnkey solution through solar panel kits. 

Ready to build your solar power system?

Apollo Energy supports New Zealand homes and businesses with trusted solar solutions—whether you’re starting with solar panels and a solar inverter, upgrading with a solar battery, choosing a solar panel kit, or planning a full commercial solar panel rollout.

If you want a quick next step, get a free quote and we’ll recommend the most suitable solar power system for your roof, your usage, and your goals.