On October 1st, Australia’s National Electricity Market is changing from 30-minute to 5-minute settlement.
In this article, I’ll explain exactly what Australian households need to do to prepare for this event. [Read more…]
2021 Solar Panel Torture Testing: ET, & SunPower Do Well
At the moment we’re locked down in Adelaide. Because I’m no longer able to smuggle badgers across the border in my beard as I’d planned, I’m catching up on stuff I should have written about weeks or months ago.Â
One of these things is the PVEL 2021 Module Reliability Scorecard report that came out in May. While I’ve been tardy bringing it to your attention, it’s far too interesting to let slip by. [Read more…]
Can A Home Battery On A Time-Of-Use Tariff Pay For Itself Yet?
If you have a home battery, a time-of-use tariff can save you money.Â
How much depends on…
- Battery Capability:Â This includes usable storage capacity, power output, and flexibility.
- Location: Time-of-use tariffs vary greatly from state to state. To a lesser degree, they can vary within states.
- Electricity consumption habits and solar electricity production
- Whether or not you are part of a VPP (Virtual Power Plant) that allows a time-of-use tariff.
Don’t Panic: SA Homes Can Remain On Flat Tariff When Getting Solar
SA homes are not required to have a time-of-use retail electricity tariff when getting solar
Last week I heard from a South Australian concerned they’d be forced onto a time-of-use tariff after installing solar panels.Â
Since this was at the start of the new financial year, my initial response was, “Oh god! What are the electricity retailers doing now?”
Silicon Price Hike Increases Solar Panel Production Cost By Around $34
Ninety-eight percent of the world’s solar cells are made from silicon. This is thanks to its suitability as a PV material and its low cost compared to alternatives. While the price of solar silicon has its ups and downs, the overall trend has been downwards. It reached a record low in June 2020. After taking inflation into account, it was around one-thirteenth of its 2007 price.Â
But the record low didn’t last, and over the past 12 months it has gone from under $7 US per kilogram to over $28 US. In relative terms, this has been the largest solar silicon price increase in history.   [Read more…]
New Energy Rating Labels For Air Conditioners Are Brilliant
New aircon energy rating labels! Are you excited? You should be…
The most energy-efficient and cost-effective way to heat your home is to use your reverse-cycle air conditioner. Even the least efficient aircon uses far less energy than electric resistance heating. But buying the least efficient air conditioner is a bad idea. You’ll be better off with a highly efficient one — or at least the most efficient one that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. [Read more…]
Texans Get Screwed Over By Electricity Retailers In Heatwave
Texas provides a great example of how not to treat electricity consumers during a heatwave.
Last week Texas suffered through a stinking hot heatwave.
And just like the polar vortex five months ago, we saw an excellent example of villainous electricity retailer behaviour we must never allow in Australia. [Read more…]
Wind & Solar Power Use Far Less Land Than Coal
The lowest cost way to replace the coal power now providing 63% of Australia’s electricity is to replace it with a combination of wind and solar generation plus energy storage. [Read more…]
How Well Does Solar Work Through Winter?
Over the next week or so I’ll write some articles busting solar myths because, if I’ve learned anything from 25 years of internet use, it’s way easier to complain about something than go through the effort of doing something useful. Today I’m tackling solar energy output in winter in Australia. [Read more…]
Will A Demand Tariff Improve Home Battery Payback?
Last week I was contacted by a Queenslander named Terry. He was chuffed about the electricity bill savings he was getting by using a demand tariff with his home battery. [Read more…]
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