Batteries beat Snowy Hydro 2.0 on cost – Sound crazy? Read on…
In the Snowy Mountains, a monumental machine has begun to carve its way into the earth creating a giant tunnel for what will be one of the world’s largest pumped hydro energy storage systems. The Snowy Hydro 2.0 scheme is so ambitious politicians may be legally required to wear two hard hats when posing for photo ops. [Read more…]
There are 16 different electricity distribution networks in Australia. Don’t let them (or retailers) try and force you on a time-of-use tariff when you go solar.
When you get solar panels installed, your old electricity meter is replaced with a smart meter. Unless you already have one.
This isn’t a bad thing in itself, as smart meters provide some advantages. But there is a problem if installing a smart meter is used as an excuse to foist a time-of-use (TOU) tariff on people who would rather not have one. [Read more…]
A solar power system in Tasmania. Pic: Scott Logie
If you are lucky enough to live in Tasmania, I have some bad news:
Using solar panels to get low bills is more challenging than on the mainland.
But I also bring good news: [Read more…]
If you want to find out how much solar power capacity Endeavour Energy will let you install, don’t go to their website. It’s hopeless. Their phone support, however, is excellent.
Update July 1st 2021: After a commenter kindly informed me Endeavour does not require export limiting on properties with 3 phase power I wrote to Origin to clarify this and they confirmed in (email) writing, “That is correct, there is no export limit on 3 phase systems.” While different from information I was given 4 months ago over the phone, I am confident this is correct.
A few days ago I received an email from a reader saying it appeared NSW’s Endeavour Energy had altered the amount of solar they allow to be connected to the grid. Because this was relevant to my interests, I immediately went to the Endeavour Energy site to see what size solar systems could be installed. Unfortunately, I immediately became confused. [Read more…]
Thousands of Texans caught in a deadly, polar vortex blizzard have been charged thousands of dollars for electricity over just a few days. They were exposed to wholesale electricity prices that hit their maximum price of over $11 Australian per kilowatt-hour. [Read more…]
Ronald analyses the latest battery test results just as you like it. This twice-told tale shows the course of true battery love may not run smooth.
Do you enjoy reading about home batteries? I know I do. This is why I’m addicted to reports from the Canberra Battery Test Centre. They’re like Shakespeare! That is, they’re mostly tragedy but there’s also some comedy as well. [Read more…]
If you have a small, old system, replacing it with a bigger, more efficient modern system is worth serious consideration. Even if it means losing that premium feed-in-tariff you’ve enjoyed for all these years.
Do you have a faithful, old, 1.5 kilowatt solar system installed?
Has it sat on your roof churning photons into electrical energy for 10 years or more?
Has it earned you a heap of money because it gets an old, premium feed-in tariff far higher than anything available now? [Read more…]
If you’re an Australian hoping to buy a Tesla Powerwall battery system, I have bad news. It’s so bad that before I reveal it, you may want to sit down and prepare to offer words of comfort to your wallet. [Read more…]
Long-distance transmission sends electrical energy from where it’s generated to where it’s used. If we had more of it, electricity prices would be lower, and the integration of solar and wind farms would be easier. Thanks to record low-interest rates, more of it is exactly what we’re going to get. [Read more…]
Yesterday at the National Press Club, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the following:
“Our goal is to reach net-zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050.”
My response was, “Thank god for that.” Twenty-nine years to get our emissions down to zero is a lot more time than we should be spending, but it looked as though our PM had come a long way from the days he pranced around Parliament, lovingly cradling a lump of coal.
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