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
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
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…
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?
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?
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
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
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?
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 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…]
Currently Raging Debates: