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

How Virtual Power Plants Can Improve Battery Payback

Virtual Power Plants and solar battery systems

Virtual Power Plants: What Are They And Can They Make Batteries Pay?

I’m really excited to have this opportunity to tell you about Virtual Power Plants.  I’m virtually beside myself with excitement.  That’s not just a horrible joke.  I’ve actually written little bits of this post in a variety of houses and used t’internet to store each file in the cloud.  Once I’m done pasting them all together I’m sure you won’t be able to tell the difference between this and an article that was centrally generated. [Read more…]

Breaking News: Alinta Door Knocker Breaks Law

alinta energy door knockers

Shock Horror! Australian Electricity Retailer Does Dodgy Stuff!

On Friday I was sitting at home staring at a computer screen, as is my habit on beautiful spring days, when there was a knock on my door.  I wasn’t expecting anyone so I called out “Cho-to ma-te!”1 so I could pretend not to speak English if it turned out to be the police.  When I opened the door I saw it was a salesperson from the energy retailer Alinta. [Read more…]

Everything You Need To Know About The SA Battery Scheme Now It’s Up & Running

SA Home Battery Scheme subsidy update

The South Australian Battery Subsidy / Rebate / Scheme Is Now Under Way – Here’s What You Need To Know

When I first wrote about South Australia’s battery subsidy not all the details were available to me.  But now the Home Battery Scheme website is up and running I still don’t have all the details.  However — and this is the important point — I have more details than I had before.  [Read more…]

Amber Electric: Buy & Sell Your Electricity At Wholesale Prices? Not Quite…

amber electric review

Amber Electric review: low prices and moderate solar feed-in tariff, but could be the best retailer for battery owners.

As I’m sure you’re aware, in this country we pay through the nose for grid power.  Electricity bills are so high I’m surprised the police aren’t required to random drug test them.  [Read more…]

Are Time-Of-Use Tariffs The Secret To Fast Battery Payback?

Time of Use tariffs and solar battery storage

Do batteries save money with time-of-use tariffs?

Home battery systems continue to fall in price — with an exception or two — and we are getting closer to the day when they will save a typical household money without subsidy or being part of a Virtual Power Plant.

But there is one thing that almost gets batteries to pay for themselves right now: the ridiculously expensive peak rates some time-of-use electricity tariffs charge.  But, without a subsidy, time-of-use tariffs and batteries will only save money for a few exceptional households.  [Read more…]

SonnenFlat Review: Is It A Good Deal?

sonnenFlat review

SonnenFlat — good if you already have a Sonnen battery but maybe not good enough to buy a Sonnen battery.

I think the German home energy storage company, Sonnen, must be having an exciting time in Australia at the moment: [Read more…]

How To Deal With Solar And Battery Telemarketer Pests

solar telemarketing phone rage

Sick of unwanted solar phone calls? Then read our handy guide to dealing with this scourge of modern Australia.

Have you ever settled down to enjoy a particularly intense episode of My Little Pony1 when you were rudely interrupted by a cold-hearted cold caller trying to sell you a potentially shoddy and possibly overpriced solar power system?  If so, you are not alone.  Lots of grown men watch My Little Pony.  Also, plenty of people get called by dodgy solar marketers. [Read more…]

Tesla Raises Powerwall 2 Price – Just In Time For Australian Battery Subsidies

Tesla Powerwall 2 price rise

Wanna buy a Powerwall 2? Then it may cost you a couple of grand more than it did last week.

Only 8 months after increasing the price of the Powerwall 2 in February, Tesla is about to bump it up again.  This time by a much heftier amount.  [Read more…]

Is SunPower’s Product Warranty All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

cracked solar panel

Is cracked silicon a defect that should be covered under the Product Warranty? Or is a crack only a defect if if affects performance?

When it comes to solar panel manufacturers, SunPower is basically royalty.  At 33 years old I can’t think of any solar panel focused company that’s survived longer.  It was founded in 1985 by Richard Swanson who is a solar panel genius.  By that I mean he’s been an important figure in field of solar photovoltaics and not that he’s a talking solar panel or something. [Read more…]

Sonnen Battery Updated For Australia: New Prices, Features & Specs Revealed

Sonnen battery update - sonnenBatterie Eco 9.43 review

Sonnen updates their battery systems: outdoor enclosure, backup option and lower pricing now available.

Sonnen claim to be the first company to successfully market on-grid home battery systems.  Founded in Germany in 2010, they have sold systems to Australians for two years now.  Their 9th generation of home batteries — known as the sonnenBatterie Eco 9.43 — have been on sale in Oz since the 16th of August.  [Read more…]

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