Posts By SolarQuotes Founder Finn Peacock

Best Solar Panels In Australia? Top Brands Chosen By Installers In 2021

Best solar panels in 2021 chosen by Australian installers

Which solar panels would the top installers in Australia put on their homes?

Since I started writing about solar energy in 2009, one of the most common questions put to me is:

“Finn, what are the best solar panels?”

[Read more…]

I’ve Seen The Future And It’s Tesla’s New UK VPP

Tesla UK virtual power plant - VPP

Late last month Tesla, in partnership with electricity retailer Octopus Energy, announced a new Virtual Power Plant (VPP) in the UK. Interestingly, Tesla’s UK VPP is a much simpler proposition than Tesla’s Australian VPP. [Read more…]

Catch Solar Relay: Put Your Solar Self Consumption On Autopilot

Catch solar relay review

The Catch Solar Relay is a cheap, simple & smart way to improve your solar self-consumption.

Update: See our 2024 review of the Catch Solar Relay’s new features here.

As we approach the final quarter of 2020 even COVID can’t stop Australians installing more solar than ever before.

And with so much solar electricity being generated in the middle of the day, the value of energy between 10 am and 3 pm is falling. [Read more…]

How To Evaluate Solar When Your House Is Nestled Among Trees

solar panels amongst trees - shading

There’s nothing better than a house surrounded by lush green trees. But will those trees make solar panels pointless, or will the shade they cast be manageable? Here’s how to find out.

Max from Sydney emailed this question to the support inbox last week:

“Hi, We have 3 large gums on a small property in Sydney. We are planning to build a 2nd floor and are hoping that gives us enough height to put solar on. Can you help us figure out if we can?”

Here are the drawings he sent through: [Read more…]

The New Energy Tech Consumer Code & The Battle To Purge ‘Interest Free Deals’ From Solar

Solar code of conduct and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)

There’s a new solar code of conduct on the horizon, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) credit providers are not happy with it.

The ‘CEC Approved Solar Retailer’ (ASR) scheme, a code of conduct for solar companies, may soon be obsolete. I think that’s a good thing. [Read more…]

DIY Shadow Analysis: Learn How To Quantify Any Shade Cast On Solar Panels

How to do solar panel shading analysis When I came to Australia from the UK in 2002, I was struck by how rare double storey houses were over here. Fast forward 18 years and, as medium density living becomes the new norm in the suburbs, double storey houses are popping up everywhere.

[Read more…]

Installers Need More Representation On The CEC Board: Vote Jack Hooper!

Jack Hooper - Gem Energy 2020 CEC Board Nominee

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?

Licenses 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. 

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?

Victorian solar rebate botched

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,  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

A family in India with a solar powered light

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…]

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