The sonnenBatterie Evo. You could install it in the middle of a field – but think of the voltage-rise!

Just the other day, Finn was having a whinge about sonnen batteries.  He mentioned a few problems the current sonnenBatterie Eco has: [Read more…]

Canberra Battery Test Centre just released Report #11 describing its third round of battery testing and the results.

I’ll give details below but, if you want a quick overview, I can tell you the new batteries didn’t do well.  Only 2 of the 8 battery brands tested worked as they were supposed to.   The rest had problems that ranged from temporary breakdowns to complete failure. [Read more…]

SA’s New Solar Sponge Tariffs Can Make Home Batteries Without Solar Panels Pay

South Australia has a lot of solar.  Relative to total generation it’s well ahead of any other state. 

All this solar power reduces daytime wholesale electricity prices.  This is a good thing.  Not only is solar energy clean, it cuts costs for homes and businesses. [Read more…]

Like just about everybody, Australian battery innovator Gelion has had its business plans disrupted. But the company hopes it can have its first pilot trial production line ready early in 2022, and also anticipates commercial availability next year. [Read more…]

Yes, You Can Go Off-Grid With A $10,000 Battery — But I Don’t Recommend It

If you’re sick and tired of paying a supply charge to connect your solar home to the grid, then I have good news.  You can now go off-grid with a battery system for around $10,000. 

The bad news is, I don’t recommend it at all. [Read more…]

Introducing The Huawei Luna2000 Battery — A Home Battery That May Pay In WA

Huawei is the world’s largest inverter manufacturer and has been selling residential solar inverters in Australia for years.  They’re now offering home energy storage with the launch of their Luna 2000 battery in May. [Read more…]

I’ve been given a mission.  It’s to determine how much money a home can save using a battery with a time-of-use tariff in every Australian capital.  

This isn’t easy to do. [Read more…]

On October 1st, Australia’s National Electricity Market is changing from 30-minute to 5-minute settlement.

In this article, I’ll explain exactly what Australian households need to do to prepare for this event. [Read more…]

If you have a home battery, a time-of-use tariff can save you money. 

How much depends on…

• Battery Capability:  This includes usable storage capacity, power output, and flexibility.
• Location:  Time-of-use tariffs vary greatly from state to state.  To a lesser degree, they can vary within states.
• Electricity consumption habits and solar electricity production
• Whether or not you are part of a VPP (Virtual Power Plant) that allows a time-of-use tariff.

[Read more…]

SolarQuotes Founder Finn Peacock offers some important advice for Australians considering signing up for a VPP (Virtual Power Plant) program. [Read more…]