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

Do We Have Enough Critical Minerals For A Solar & Battery Powered Future?

Critical minerals for solar panel and battery production

Last year the International Energy Agency (IAE) published a report titled…

The Role of Critical Minerals In Clean Energy Transitions

I recently dived deep into its 260 pages to see if a shortage of critical minerals threatens the world’s transition to a renewable future. [Read more…]

Is Solar Still Worth It – If You Are Single?

Solar panels for single-person households - are they still worth it?

I’m So Lonely!  Will Solar Panels Fill The Aching Void In My Heart?  And Do I Have To Pay Them Folding Money?

If you ask me,

“Hey Ronald, should I get solar power?”

My answer will be, [Read more…]

Which Solar Panels Can Be Installed Flat Without Voiding Their Warranty?

Installing solar panels flat and warranty

Solar panel warranties have lots of interesting conditions in them.  Some require panel cleaning while others forbid any shading of any panels.  [Read more…]

Solar Panels On A South Facing Roof Can Pay Anywhere In Australia

South facing panels - worth it in Australia

TLDR: Can you put solar panels facing south in Australia? Hell yeah!

In 2010, when Australian rooftop solar power really started to take off, nearly every Australian solar system faced north to maximise energy yield.  But today, on an unshaded roof, panels facing any direction can pay for themselves.  This includes the ‘worst’ direction: south. [Read more…]

Tonga Eruption Won’t Cool Planet Or Reduce Solar Output

Tonga eruption impacts on cooling and solar power

After I heard about the Tongan volcanic eruption, the first thing I did was determine if the Tongans I knew were all right.  While conditions there are serious, they aren’t as bad as they could have been, so they’re probably okay.  Australia and New Zealand are sending relief, which is a relief.  [Read more…]

EV Ranges In The Real World — How Far Will You Really Go?

Real-world electric vehicle range

Electric car manufacturers know exactly how much range drivers get on average from a full charge.  Despite this, they continue to give inflated figures based on unrealistic tests rather than a realistic real-world range. [Read more…]

Coal Uses 100x More Mined Material Than Solar Per kWh Generated

Coal vs. solar power - mining materials

On Christmas Eve, on Twitter, DaveMySpace asked this question: [Read more…]

Why Don’t All Electric Cars Have Solar Roofs?

Solar panels on electric cars

Image: Edison Future

It makes sense to install solar panels on homes, but does it make sense to put solar on cars? [Read more…]

Don’t Install A Smaller Solar System To Get A Higher Feed In Tariff. Here’s Why..

Solar feed in tariffs and system size limits

Finding a high feed-in tariff is becoming harder. Our feed-in-tariff comparison tool makes the job easier, but increasingly electricity retailers are putting system size limits on their most generous solar feed-in rates. [Read more…]

Top 10 Electric Car Myths Busted

Some people have strange ideas about electric cars. 

I know because they’ve been kind enough to share them.  I’ve collected so many I’ve made a Top 10 list.   

[Read more…]

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