We use gigawatts to measure how much solar energy we produce as a planet. For instance, in 2019, solar energy capacity increased by 98GW to 586GW, an increase of 20% – which was a bigger rise than any other source of power enjoyed, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
This means that your solar power system is connected to the local electricity network, meaning you can draw from or feed into the grid as needed.
The grid is the interconnected network that delivers electricity from producers to consumers. It supplies electricity to everything from homes to businesses.