Posts By Ronald Brakels, Author & Fact-Checker At SolarQuotes

Is ARENA Wasting Your Money On Useless Consultant Reports?

February 7, 2019 2024-07-03T13:33:00 by 17 Comments
ACIL Allen Consultants hydrogen report for ARENA

If you are in a hurry, the summary of this post is: ‘In my humble opinion: Yes’.

I recently wrote about Labor’s Hydrogen Plan announcement where they referred to a report by ACIL Allen Consultants saying Australia’s hydrogen exports could be over $3 billion a year by 2030.  In my previous article I explained why this is extremely unlikely.

This article is going to be 2,000 words dedicated to me complaining. Specifically about why I consider the consultant report titled “Opportunites For Australia From Hydrogen Exports” worse than useless and why I think ARENA — Australia’s Renewable Energy Agency — wasted your money paying for it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

40% Of Victoria’s Coal Power Out Of Action During Heatwave While Solar Soldiers On

January 31, 2019 2019-02-06T10:24:36 by 38 Comments
Solar energy more reliable than coal power

Solar Power Proves Far More Reliable Than Coal Power During Record Breaking Heatwave

As I’m sure you’re aware, South Australia and the eastern states were hit by a short but intense heatwave last week.  In Adelaide temperatures hit 46.6 degrees on Thursday.  A sweaty record.  It was almost unbearable.  Or at least I think it was unbearable.  I’m not sure because I passed out at about 10 in the morning and didn’t regain consciousness until after nightfall.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar and the Environment

Labor’s Hydrogen Plan Is A Lead Zeppelin

January 25, 2019 2024-05-15T14:22:04 by 88 Comments
Labor hydrogen plan

Why Australia Is Unlikely To Ever Export Large Quantities Of Hydrogen

As Michael reported this week, Labor has announced in a media release that, if elected, they will spend $3 million building a “National Hydrogen Innovation Hub” in Gladstone and make over $1 billion available in loans for to develop hydrogen production.  Labor also say they will remove regulatory barriers and make research into hydrogen production, storage, and transport a priority . [Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar

Do Solar Panels Degrade Over Time? Yes, But Not By Much

January 22, 2019 2020-05-07T19:55:43 by 27 Comments

Solar panel degradation explained

Solar panels are amazing things.  They cut pollution, save planets, and — by draining its power — move us closer to humanity’s ancient dream of destroying the sun.  But they’re not quite perfect.  If you happen to buy the cheapest panels you can get your hands on I’m sure you’ll soon find they can be very far from perfect.  So bloody far you’ll need a goddamn spaceship to get there. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Panels

Solar Installation Audit: 20% Of Installs Sub-Standard – More Than 2% Dangerous

January 16, 2019 2019-01-16T06:53:33 by 14 Comments
Australian solar installation audit

CER Audit: Over 20% Of Solar Installations Are Sub-Standard And More Than 2% Are Dangerous. 0% of installers suspended by CER.

Australia’s Renewable Energy Target or RET was audited last year and a report released last month.  It’s a 25,000 word report so I’m not going into everything it covers.  There’s way too much detail for that.  It’s enormous.  If you wanted me to write that many words it would take me all day.  Even longer if you wanted them in coherent sentences. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Installation

Tesla Popup Store In Adelaide Quotes $9,300 Powerwall Installed By Killer Robots

January 10, 2019 2024-10-03T09:27:43 by 28 Comments
Tesla popup store in Adelaide, South Australia

Yesterday I visited a pop-up Tesla store in Adelaide.

Tesla has told me they can provide a fully installed Powerwall 2 in South Australia for $9,300 after the state’s $6,000 battery subsidy.  The three phase version will cost “a few hundred dollars more” and there is a 12 week waiting period. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Battery Storage

China’s “Cheapest Electric Car” — The ORA-R1 — May Cost Around $28,000

January 8, 2019 2025-01-02T08:52:07 by 13 Comments
ora-r1

Does this electric car really cost less than $13,000? Err, unfortunately no.

Great Wall Motors has has released the electric ORA R1 passenger car in China.  Or at least I think they have. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Electric Vehicles

The New Catch Power Green Hot Water Diverter Reviewed: Smaller, Cheaper, Cuter

January 3, 2019 2024-01-03T18:50:53 by 95 Comments
Catch Power Green Catch PV diverter review

Hot water diversion is now more affordable with the new Catch Power ‘Green Catch’

Hi everyone.  Happy New Year!  This is a short article about a new hot water diverter developed by Australia’s Catch Power.  I’m just letting you know it’s available and because I don’t really have anything bad to say about it this may seem like an advertisement.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Hot Water

Tesla Big Battery’s First Year: Lowers Electricity Prices, Makes Money, Is Not On Fire

December 19, 2018 2018-12-19T23:09:30 by 34 Comments
Tesla Big Battery - Hornsdale Power Reserve

The Hornsdale Power Reserve or “Tesla Big Battery” is One! And it’s been quite successful.

The Tesla Big Battery in South Australia came online last year on the first of December.  It’s now one year and 18 days old.  Despite the involvement of Elon Musk and Tesla it’s not actually called the Tesla Big Battery.  Its real name is the Hornsdale Power Reserve.  Personally, if I had been asked, I would have called it Elonia Princess of Power, but I wasn’t consulted and so my naming talents continue to be squandered. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Battery Storage

It Appears Impossible To Save Money With The Queensland Battery Grant

December 13, 2018 2024-06-05T11:59:58 by 53 Comments
Queensland battery grant - a useless subsidy?

Don’t Rush Into Getting A $3,000 QLD Battery Grant:  It Can Cost You Dearly.

Yesterday a Queenslander asked me for advice.  This is not unusual.  I’m originally from Queensland, so I understand their primitive ways.  I also take care to maintain their respect by never making fun of my home state and only ever saying things about it that are factually true.  Such as the plants want to kill you.

This Queenslander asked me if he should take advantage of his state’s $3,000 battery grant scheme.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Battery Storage
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