If you’ve started looking into home batteries, you’ve probably seen the terms “AC-coupled” and “DC-coupled” thrown around like everyone should already know what they mean. Totally fair if it sounds like electrical jargon, because it is.

The good news is the concept is simple once you picture how electricity flows through a home. In this guide, we’ll explain AC vs DC coupling in plain English, why it matters for performance and upgrades, and how to choose the right setup depending on whether you already have solar or you’re starting fresh.

As more Australian households embrace solar, one question comes up more often...

What actually happens to solar panels when they reach the end of their life?

It’s a fair question. With millions of rooftop systems now installed nationwide, understanding how solar panels are reused, recycled, or regulated at end of life is an important part of the clean energy story.

The short answer is this: solar panels don’t simply become waste. Australia is actively building systems to manage panel reuse and recycling, and policy is evolving to support a more circular solar industry, aligning with global best practice.

Here’s how it works.