If one renewable energy technology for your home deserves particularly careful due diligence, it’s the home battery system. A solar battery is an incredibly dense box of energy. If something goes wrong, the consequences could be dire. [Read more…]
Best Solar Inverters In Australia? Here’s What Installers Trust In 2021
There are a lot of solar inverter brands on the Australian market in 2021. But which ones are the best?
That’s a tough question to answer. So we asked installers we trust what they thought. [Read more…]
Best Solar Panels In Australia? Top Brands Chosen By Installers In 2021
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?”
I’ve Seen The Future And It’s Tesla’s New UK 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
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
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
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
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.
Installers Need More Representation On The CEC Board: Vote Jack Hooper!
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.
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…]
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