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…]
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.
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…]
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…]
Are vertical solar panels the best orientation for new Australian solar farms?
Last week I wrote about double glass bifacial panels that are able to use light coming from the front and behind, while on Christmas Eve I mentioned large scale solar farms are taking off in Australia. Because it’s the season for togetherness, I thought maybe we could put these two things together and make a bifacial solar farm.
Well, another year is almost gone and so to everyone I say, Merry Christmas and a Happy Old Year! [Read more…]
Glass is a vital part of almost every solar panel installed on Australian roofs. The sheets of glass used to protect solar cells are long lasting, non-reactive, very tough, and — above all else — it’s transparent. As a result glass functions far better than wood, cheese, iron, or mucus. [Read more…]
Presenting “Ronald’s Solar Panel Warranty Paradox™ “. Or what happens when you spend too much time thinking about solar panels and not enough time playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Why Solar Panel Warranties Are Less Important Than You May Think
I’ve written one or two blog articles over the years and if you’ve happen to have seen them, you may have noticed I have a thing about solar panel warranties. Specifically, I like ’em long. The longer the better. It’s a little peccadillo of mine. Because of my predilection for impressive warranties you could, quite understandably, reach the erroneous conclusion that I think a good solar panel warranty is a valuable thing for a household to have. But this is not the case. I think for all practical purposes most solar panel warranties will be almost worthless. [Read more…]
Should you bite the bullet and scrap your 1.5kW solar system so you can fit a bigger system on your roof?
Five to eight years ago, just as the Australian solar industry was getting underway, many people locked in high feed in tariffs for their new, cutting-edge solar power systems. For example, many people in Victoria with systems installed before 2012 are now getting 71.3 cents per kilowatt-hour of solar electricity exported into the grid. And they will continue to receive this for almost 7 more years. [Read more…]
Installing solar in SA after 1 December 2017? Here’s what you need to know…
SA Power Networks Makes Radelaide Sadelaide
It’s December and the latest rules for connecting rooftop solar to the grid in South Australia are now available from SA Power Networks (SAPN). I called them late last month to try and get a scoop on what they were planning, but no luck there — SAPN play their cards close to their chests.
So first thing on Friday morning I checked their website and found no change from November. But that’s okay, I completely understand. I know there are times people will say they’ll get things done by Friday but actually get them in first thing Monday morning. Or possibly three weeks later. That also happens.
But now they’ve had a whole week now to catch up and I see there have been some changes on their site. There is movement at the station and I’m passing the word around. The colt from old Regret has got away…
If you can’t be bothered to read this whole post then here’s what you need to know about installing solar in SA from 1 December 2017: [Read more…]
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