I feel so strongly about this that I though I’d shout at a video camera about it for 7 minutes. Hit me up in the comments if you think I’m being too harsh.
Going off grid with Redflow’s ZCell? Here’s how to handle the ‘maintenance purge’.
Simon Hackett with an early customer’s double Zcell off grid system.
Yesterday, Aussie solar veteran Tony Smith left an interesting question at the bottom of our ZCell battery review. Tony asked, for an off grid application, how to handle the fact that the ZCell battery needs to shut down so it can perform maintenance mode every week or so: [Read more…]
Keith De Lacy Is Not Right About Solar And Wind Power – Not Here, Not Anywhere
A response to Keith De Lacey’s article in the Australian last week.
The Australian recently published an opinion piece by the Director of an oil shale company and former Chairman of Macarthur Coal, entitled, “Solar And Wind Power Simply Don’t Work – Not Here, Not Anywhere“.
This was surprising because the solar panels above my head are producing electricity right now. And since I know exactly how much I paid for them I know they are definitely economically worthwhile. Also, because I know exactly how much the STCs I received as part of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target were worth I know the rooftop solar system would still pay for itself even without subsidy. [Read more…]
LG Chem Resu 6.4Ex vs Tesla Powerwall
How does the LG Resu compare to the Tesla Powerwall?
If you are looking at a 6.4kWh Lithium-Ion battery for use with your solar power system in Australia right now, you are probably tossing up between a LG Chem Resu 6.4Ex and the Tesla Powerwall.
To help you decide which one is for you – here is a side by side comparison, and some commentary on their warranties below. [Read more…]
Duracell announce ‘Powerwall Killer’ home battery.
Duracell has just announced its first product in the home battery storage market – competing directly with Tesla.
Well, it finally happened. After sitting on the sidelines as the solar battery storage boom unfolded around it, the world’s biggest name in batteries has finally joined the party.
Today, April 1, at a glittering press event in Bethel, Connecticut, Duracell’s VP of Solar Storage, George Leclanche, unveiled the Duracell Ultra Lithium Home Battery – which will be available in priority markets including Australia by the end of the year. [Read more…]
How The Cost Of Powerwall Storage Doubled In 11 Months
The cost of a storing each kWh in a Tesla Powerwall is much more than you might think.
[Update: on Oct 28 2016 Tesla announced the Powerwall 2 ]
[Update: In June 2016 Tesla updated the Powerwall warranty – details here]
11 months ago Elon Musk jumped on stage and announced the Powerwall. The Tesla data sheets released after Musk’s presentation proclaimed we would soon be able to buy a 7kWh daily cycling Powerwall for US$3,000. It would be guaranteed for 10 years with an optional 10 year warranty extension available. Treehouse, one of the companies who Tesla announced would be first to sell it in the US declared that $3,000 was the retail price – not the wholesale price and we all went “Wow! Cheap batteries have finally arrived.”. [Read more…]
Adding Solar Panels To Existing System? Here’s What You Need To Know.
Here are your options and gotchas when adding solar panels to an existing system.
Please note: this post was written in 2016
***Please read this 2022 post for the latest information on upgrading your solar panel array.***
So you’ve got solar panels on your roof and you want more so you can get your bills even lower?
The Truth About Battery Ready Solar Systems
Do you want your new solar system to be ‘battery ready’? First you have to know what that actually means…
Most homeowners I speak to are really keen to get batteries.
Just not right now.
They want to wait a few years until the price has come down substantially. And who can blame them when a typical battery system in 2016 has a payback of 20 years but only carries a 10 year warranty.
So clued up homeowners looking to buy solar are really keen to get a system that they can easily add batteries to in the future.
Solar companies have caught on to this and we are starting to see solar systems sold without batteries but advertised as ‘battery ready’.
Here at SolarQuotes we are getting more and more questions about what ‘battery ready’ actually means in these adverts, and the best way to buy a solar system that really is battery ready.
The truth is that ‘battery ready’ can mean lots of things. Many of the ads I have seen are technically correct – in that you can add batteries in the future – but probably not as easily, or with the functionality that many people will be expecting.
In my opinion if you are going to claim a specific solar system as battery ready then you must be more specific and explain the basis on which you are making the claim.
In this post I’ll go through 3 different interpretations of ‘battery ready’ – make sure you understand which one you are being offered. [Read more…]
Powerwall Alternatives That You Should Consider as Tesla Battery Hype Reaches Fever Pitch
Just 3 of the Powerwall alternatives now available in Australia.
Manufacturers of Powerwall alternatives struggled to be heard last week as the mainstream media went crazy over the beautifully stage managed, first residential Powerwall battery storage installation in Australia.
The mood was one of expectation and excitement — mixed with a tinge of dread in fossil fuel circles – as it heralded the advent of affordable home batteries from Tesla and its many competitors in the home battery market. [Read more…]
Tesla Powerwall vs. Enphase AC Battery
How the Tesla Powerwall and Enphase AC battery specs compare.
In terms of good marketing in Australia, two batteries stand head and shoulders above the rest in Australia right now: the Tesla Powerwall and Enphase AC battery. Both of which are due for mainstream release in 2016.
(There are lots of alternative batteries around – many of which are worth considering – but this article is about Tesla vs Enphase due to the volume of enquiries we get about them.) [Read more…]
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