Small Steps Solar is an independent website about solar energy basics for beginners. We publish guides for complete beginners who want to understand solar before spending money, with a focus on explaining solar terms and concepts simply and accurately, with worked examples and clearly stated units and assumptions.
Who we are
Small Steps Solar was founded in 2026 and is run by a small, independent editorial team. We are an online-only publication. We are not owned by, and do not work on behalf of, any manufacturer, installer, brand or retailer, and no company reviews or approves our guides before they are published.
What we cover
Our guides are organized into these sections: Solar for Beginners, Start Small with Solar, Learn Solar Step by Step, Calculators and Learning Tools and Common Beginner Mistakes. Each guide explains what matters for a given situation, which trade-offs to expect and where its advice stops.
How we research
Our content is written by the Small Steps Solar editorial team. We base our guides on government energy education resources such as the U.S. Department of Energy and NREL, manufacturer specifications and product manuals, and we link to the source when a guide states a figure or a safety point.
We are clear about the limits of our work. Unless an article explicitly describes our own use of a product, our guides are research-based and are not hands-on product tests. We do not invent test results, ratings or statistics. Read our Editorial Policy for details.
Safety and scope
Our lessons explain concepts and small, low-risk first steps. They are not wiring instructions. For anything connected to household wiring or the grid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, local rules and a licensed electrician.
How we are funded
Small Steps Solar is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through some links on this site we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Commissions do not decide which products we include or how we describe them. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Get in touch
If you spot an error or have a question about one of our guides, please contact us.