With that smile, how could you not vote for Jack?
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) is a rich and powerful non-profit organisation that claims to represent Australia’s solar industry and solar installers. [Read more…]
What Licences Are Needed To Sell Solar in Australia?
Is your company licensed to sell solar power in all the states & territories it operates in? Are you sure?
Note: When I say ‘selling solar’ I mean selling residential solar systems including installation.Â
At SolarQuotes, we constantly get applications from solar companies across Australia hoping to join our network.
Today we received a promising application from New South Wales. It was a 3 month-old company, founded by two experienced installers. The installers had been operating as sole traders for many years and had decided to take the next step: forming a company. They had a website up and running and were out selling and installing solar, trading as the new company. They appeared to have lots of happy customers.
But I quickly spotted a showstopper of a problem with their application… [Read more…]
Has Daniel Andrews Killed The Residential Solar Industry In Victoria?
Many small and medium Victorian solar businesses are on their knees. The Victorian Government is killing them with its botched solar rebate.
This is serious. Really serious. Good businesses will go bust, Â families will lose homes unless drastic action is taken. Now. Right now. [Read more…]
SolarQuotes To Help Pollinate Install More Off-Grid Solar In India & Nepal
An entrepreneur demonstrating a new solar powered light in India. A little solar power can go a long way.
Starting today, SolarQuotes will be helping Indian and Nepalese families install off-grid solar systems. Specifically 3.3 watt, 17 watt-hour off-grid solar systems. [Read more…]
Good People Making Bad Decisions: A ‘Community Solar’ Case Study
I nearly choked on my kale smoothie reading this article in the latest Renew magazine…
The Alternative Technology Association (ATA to its friends) is a wonderful organisation. They started as the Alternative Technology Cooperative in 1980 and ever since they have been urging Australians to think differently and more sustainably about how they use and generate energy. [Read more…]
ABC 7:30 Report On Shonky Solar: Fair Comment Or Beat-up?
Is the solar industry full of shonks like the ABC implied? Should you be worried?
Who saw the 7:30 report last night? Its lead story was questioning the safety and quality of the Australian solar power industry. Leigh Sales promised to reveal “the dark side of Australia’s solar obsession”. [Read more…]
Want A Battery? Then Don’t Claim The $2,250 Victorian Solar Rebate
Hey Victorians, do you want the $2,250 panel rebate or the $4839 battery rebate?
Update 17 May 2019: Solar Victoria have provided us with two clarifications
- The VIC battery rebate is capped at 1,000 per year for 10 years. So there is a chance you won’t get it even if eligible. Bear that in mind if you decide not to claim the VIC panel rebate.
- You can pay a deposit before you apply for your rebate – but it is recommended that your installer confirms, in writing, that it will be refunded if you don’t get the rebate.
At the moment the Victorian solar industry is at a standstill. Phones that were ringing off the hook two weeks ago have fallen silent. [Read more…]
How To End Dodgy Solar For Good? 100% Inspections By State Electrical Bodies
This is a guest post by John Inglis, owner of Positronic Solar. John is a veteran of the solar industry. Rumour has it that his involvement predates the invention of the sun dial. Take it away John… [Read more…]
Why Solar Analytics Is Better Than The Fronius Smart Meter
If you want consumption monitoring you should buy Solar Analytics instead of a Fronius Smart Meter. If you need Fronius export limiting you should buy both. Here’s why…
UPDATE: Solar Analytics now integrates with the Fronius Smart Meter. That means you don’t have to decide between Solar Analytics and Fronius Smart Meter anymore. You can buy a Fronius inverter with Fronius Smart Meter and then Solar Analytics can talk directly with the Fronius Smart Meter. No need to buy the Solar Analytics Hardware.
I love Fronius. The last solar power system I bought came with a Fronius Primo inverter. 1
I also love Solar Analytics. It is the best monitoring system I’ve ever used. I love the way it proactively tells you if there is a problem with your PV system. I love the number showing you how well your solar installation is performing from 0-100%. [Read more…]
BrownPower: Finally Some Innovative Thinking From The Coal Industry
Finally! Some innovation from the traditional energy industry.
During the recent kerfuffle about the Approved Solar Retailer scheme, I had an epiphany.
It dawned on me that the ‘new energy’ media landscape in Australia has become a victim of the ‘filter bubble’ culture – and is, in 2019, horribly lopsided. To be specific, scrolling through the news feeds there is very little coverage of what the other side of the energy industry are up to. Rather narcissistically the ‘Clean Energy’ industry only ever publish news about low emissions technology, blatantly ignoring any innovation from ‘the other side’. [Read more…]
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