The Australian-Made Solar Edition – SolarQuotes TV Episode 11

In this episode of SolarQuotes TV, it’s all about Australian-made. From testing Australian solar panels in Alice Springs, to saving you money with clever monitoring developed right here at home.

We also check out the world’s biggest re-deployable solar farm in South Australia that utilises home-grown innovative racking technology, plus look at inverters and batteries made for Australian conditions. All this and more in SolarQuotes TV Episode 11, where the only thing not made in Australia is Finn!

Australia’s Role In Solar Power Tech Evolution

00:52 – The availability and affordability of modern solar panels is largely attributable to a team of researchers at the University of New South Wales, led by Dr. (now Professor) Martin Green – aka the “father of photovoltaics”. Professor Green set up a small research unit in the 1980’s that aimed to produce more efficient solar cells. Finn discusses the team’s incredible record of achievements, including Professor Green’s invention of the PERC solar cell that is used in around 90% of panels available around the world today.

Tindo Solar’s New Adelaide Panel Factory

02:11 – Finn chats with Tindo Solar’s Glenn Morelli about the new Tindo factory in Adelaide, which will have treble the production capacity of the old facility. We get to peek inside the new premises, which is decked out with some very impressive gear. Once the facility is up and running, you’ll also be able to book a factory tour and see for yourself.

Tindo solar panels aren’t the only “Australian-made” panels, but the only brand SolarQuotes currently recommends.

Australian Solar Panels Doing Well In Desert Testing

05:48 – This month’s field test focuses on the Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre near Alice Springs, where Tindo panels and those from a bunch of other brands are operating in what can be a very harsh environment.

“If they can survive there, they should do just fine on your roof,” says Finn.

The Centre was set up in 2008 as a federally funded project designed to demonstrate PV technology. You can check out how different types, ages, makes, models and configurations of solar panels are performing here.

MIL-Solar Eclipse Inverter: Manufactured In Melbourne

08:11 – MIL-Systems is an electronic equipment manufacturer in West Footscray that produces equipment for the Australian Defence Force. It also manufactures a very solid inverter. If you haven’t heard of the company or inverter before, it’s because it doesn’t have a great marketing push behind it.

David Bruce from Essential Solar explains why the Eclipse is his company’s inverter of choice for many of its installations.

“We’ve been installing this inverter now for about three years, and up until now we haven’t had a single product failure – which is quite remarkable.”

You can also read a detailed MIL-Solar Eclipse inverter review from Ronald published early last year and check out Eclipse reviews from Australian customers.

5B Maverick – Unfolding Solar Arrays

11:44 – Maverick is the flagship product of Sydney company 5B that has attracted a lot of attention, locally and overseas. It’s a modular, pre-fabricated solar panel and racking solution including ballast that can rolled out (or more accurately, unfolded) very rapidly and redeployed at another location if required.

SA Water’s Nicola Murphy explains how the utility is using this world-leading technology as part of its huge PV rollout. The 30,000 panels installed at Adelaide’s Happy Valley Reservoir using 5B Maverick represent the largest installation of its type in the world – for now. We could see a much, much larger installation in the future as 5B Maverick was selected as the preferred technology for Sun Cable’s proposed 10GW PV project in the Northern Territory.

Ned’s Review – PowerPlus Energy Batteries

14:05 – Established in 2017, PowerPlus Energy develops battery storage for commercial and residential applications; with all its products assembled here in Australia at its facility in Melbourne. Ned checks out a PowerPlus Energy battery review submitted to SolarQuotes a while back from a very pleased customer – and follows up to see how things are going.

Advanced System Monitoring With Solar Analytics

15:53 – With most solar inverters incorporating basic monitoring features, Finn is often asked if there’s any value in forking out for SolarAnalytics; an advanced solar monitoring software/hardware solution developed in Australia.

Finn provides several reasons why it can be a very good investment – and provides a real-life example of how SolarAnalytics helped avoid what could have been a potentially nasty situation.

Australian Vs. Imported Solar Panels

18:56 – Buying Australian-made solar panels is a good way to support our economy. But so is buying imported panels says SQ’s Ronald.

Huh?

He explains why. Ronald also recently published an in-depth article on Australian vs. imported solar panels; expanding on the points made in this segment.

For a bunch of videos on everything solar energy related and other SQTV episodes, check out and subscribe to the SolarQuotes Youtube channel!