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

Small Business Commercial Solar With A 3 Year Payback – A Real World Case Study

February 16, 2018 2018-04-23T14:54:28 by 5 Comments
Small scale commercial solar

Can commercial solar power for small business really slash overheads and pay for itself in 3 years? A real-world example.

A few days ago I wrote an article on commercial solar for small businesses but I was worried it may have been a little abstract.  I mentioned this to Finn, my boss1, and he said people might:

  • not believe that they can get a 3 year payback on a small business solar system – it seems too good to be true
  • appreciate something a little more hands on

.. and suggested I do a case study. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Solar, Solar Panels

Commercial Solar For Small Businesses Can Pay Back In Under 3 Years

February 13, 2018 2018-04-23T14:55:04 by 1 Comment
commercial solar power system

Don’t let soaring power bills kill your business – commercial solar can slash your bills.

Business is a kind of miracle where humans put aside their natural desire to screech and fling stuff at each other to work together to achieve common goals.  And the most common goal among businesses that are still in business is making money.  Unfortunately, focusing on this has led to some undesirable consequences such melting the icecaps.

If our civilization wants to continue as an ongoing concern then we need to make money in a way that doesn’t damage the environment.  Fortunately, I know something that can help business both make money and protect the environment and that something is commercial rooftop solar power. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Solar, Solar Panels

SA Plan For New Private Generator Using Solar Panels On Roofs And Tesla Powerwalls Is Virtually Brilliant!

February 5, 2018 2021-02-10T13:43:42 by 57 Comments

But is is a good idea?

Yesterday I was surprised by the South Australian Government announcing a plan to put solar panels on the roofs of 50,000 or more homes along with a Telsa Powerwall 2 and smart meter.  The goal is to have them work together to create a virtual power station with 250 megawatts of solar panels and battery storage that can provide 250 megawatts of power over two and a half hours. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

South Australia’s New Diesel Generators Ready To Rumble — But Probably Won’t

February 2, 2018 2024-08-06T13:25:19 by 13 Comments
TM2500 turbine generator ready to rumble

A General Electric TM2500 turbine generator yesterday. Or possibly earlier.

In order to improve the probability of South Australia making it through the summer without one or more blackouts, the state government has leased, with an eye to buy, 9 mobile General Electric TM2500 turbine generators.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

Black Max Solar Panels Review: Beware Conflicting Warranty Claims

January 30, 2018 2018-02-01T11:50:12 by 26 Comments

What the hell is a Black Max solar panel?

I recently wrote an article on black solar panels and included pictures of sexy black ones from SunPower and LG Solar.  What I didn’t do was mention Seraphim Black Max panels.  This is something I probably should have done, as we have received some inquiries about ‘Blackmax panels’.

Fortunately I wasn’t asked directly because all I could have said about them a few days ago was, “They are black solar panels made by Seraphim that are called Max.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Panels

Trump Solar Tariffs — Evil, But Not As Evil As They Could Be

January 24, 2018 2018-01-24T17:09:12 by 7 Comments

The United States has announced import tariffs of 30% will apply to all imported solar panels but a yearly quota of 2.5 gigawatts of imported solar cells, or enough to make around 9 million panels, is allowed.  Just how much the United State’s Figurehead in Chief, Donald Trump, had to do with this decision I don’t know, but when you vote in someone who is only good for being blamed you may as well get as much mileage out of that as possible. So they will be forevermore known as the Trump solar tariffs and that’s definitely what they’re being called in the news. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy Tagged With:

Black Solar Panels: Is Lower Efficiency Worth The Sexy?

January 19, 2018 2021-02-10T13:09:51 by 23 Comments
black solar panels

Black solar panels in Alice Springs. Black frame, black cells, black backsheet. Photo Credit: Finn

Black Solar Panels Are Hot!  This Reduces Efficiency.

I want you to think about someone you know who has rooftop solar.  It doesn’t matter who.  It could be a friend, a relative, or that handsome bearded man you’ve been stalking for months — it doesn’t matter.  I want you to think about where they live.  Picture their home in your mind’s eye and then answer these two questions: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Panels

Want Hundreds Of Dollars Worth Of Cool Cash?  Buy An Energy Efficient Fridge

January 16, 2018 2021-02-10T13:11:03 by 39 Comments
fridge

Ronald’s fridge yesterday.

Disaster has struck the Brakels household! And I’m not talking about a minor disaster like a son or daughter breaking a leg.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Electricity Prices Tagged With:

Australian Standards Must Be Free For The Benefit Of Education, Business And The World.

January 11, 2018 2024-01-25T11:36:48 by 29 Comments
australian solar standards and freddie

Australian Standards must break free. Charging hundreds of dollars per standard is nuttier than wearing high heels while vacuuming.

People say I have no standards, but that’s only true in a legal sense.  You see, I do have access to Australian Standards that have been purchased by my employer, SolarQuotes.  While these particular standards have a heavy focus on how not to kill people when mucking around with electricity, there lots of other ones covering almost everything you can think of – and quite a few things you’d be very unlikely to think of.   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

Rooftop Solar And Exclusion Zones: Where Solar Panels Dare Not Go

January 4, 2018 2024-10-03T09:01:16 by 46 Comments
solar panel exclusion zones

How close to the edge of the roof should your solar panels go?

In the past I’ve written about solar panel clamping zones which determine where, on a solar panel’s edge, you can place the clamps that attach the modules to their mounting rails.  What I didn’t do was go into just where on a roof solar panels can and can’t be installed. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Installation
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