Search Results for: tasmania

Don’t Let Retailers Force You On To Time-Of-Use Tariffs When You Go Solar

March 15, 2021 2021-03-15T10:56:52 by 86 Comments
Are time of use tariffs compulsory when installing solar panels?

There are 16 different electricity distribution networks in Australia. Don’t let them (or retailers) try and force you on a time-of-use tariff when you go solar.

When you get solar panels installed, your old electricity meter is replaced with a smart meter.  Unless you already have one.    

This isn’t a bad thing in itself, as smart meters provide some advantages.  But there is a problem if installing a smart meter is used as an excuse to foist a time-of-use (TOU) tariff on people who would rather not have one. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Installation

Shalom College Solar Farm Officially Opened

March 9, 2021 2021-03-09T05:22:59 by Leave a Comment

Shalom College Solar Farm

Solar installer GEM Energy has another big commercial solar and storage project in the spotlight; this one at a secondary school in Bundaberg, Queensland. [Read more…]

Filed Under: General Solar & Storage News

Another Road Incident Involving Solar Panels

March 5, 2021 2021-03-05T05:26:55 by 10 Comments

Loose solar panels

This is something you don’t want to see come flying towards you on the road to wherever. It’s another case of improperly secured solar panels – but a different scenario. [Read more…]

Filed Under: General Solar & Storage News

AEMC Introducing New Solar Inverter Standards

February 25, 2021 2021-02-25T08:21:51 by 4 Comments

AEMC solar inverter standards

Where South Australia has already gone with some solar inverter standards, most other states will follow by the end of this year. [Read more…]

Filed Under: General Solar & Storage News

Renewables Help Achieve Lowest Wholesale Electricity Prices In Years

February 19, 2021 2021-02-19T05:27:33 by Leave a Comment

Renewables and wholesale electricity prices

Wholesale electricity prices in the National Electricity Market last year were at their lowest since 2015 says the Australian Energy Regulator. [Read more…]

Filed Under: General Solar & Storage News

Scrap Your Old Solar System & High Feed-in Tariff For A Bigger & Better Return

February 15, 2021 2021-03-01T12:36:01 by 62 Comments
Replacing or upgrading a solar power system

If you have a small, old system, replacing it with a bigger, more efficient modern system is worth serious consideration. Even if it means losing that premium feed-in-tariff you’ve enjoyed for all these years.

Do you have a faithful, old, 1.5 kilowatt solar system installed?

Has it sat on your roof churning photons into electrical energy for 10 years or more?

Has it earned you a heap of money because it gets an old, premium feed-in tariff far higher than anything available now? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar

AEMO Virtual Power Plant Reports Released

February 12, 2021 2024-07-31T10:45:15 by Leave a Comment

Virtual Power Plants - AEMO reports

The Australian Energy Market Operator has published its latest Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Knowledge Sharing Report and VPP Consumer Insights Interim Report. [Read more…]

Filed Under: General Solar & Storage News

Renewables Need More Long Distance Transmission. Low Interest Rates Can Make That Happen.

February 8, 2021 2021-02-08T10:46:43 by 19 Comments

Renewable energy and long distance electricity transmission

Long-distance transmission sends electrical energy from where it’s generated to where it’s used.  If we had more of it, electricity prices would be lower, and the integration of solar and wind farms would be easier.  Thanks to record low-interest rates, more of it is exactly what we’re going to get.   [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

SA’s Wholesale Electricity Prices Now Lowest In Nation Thanks To Renewables

February 1, 2021 2021-02-01T13:37:31 by 21 Comments
South Australia has the cheapest wholesale electricity.

South Australia’s gone from embarrassingly expensive to the cheapest wholesale electricity in just 10 years.

Over the past 12 months wholesale electricity prices have tumbled across Australia.  For the nation overall, they’re the lowest they’ve been for nine years.  But one state did particularly well and a large part of its success was because it now generates over 60% of its electricity from wind and solar. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar

Tesla Now Supporting Powerwalls For Off Grid Living In Australia

January 26, 2021 2025-04-16T21:54:12 by 28 Comments

Off-grid Tesla Powerwall battery storage.

Wanna go off-grid? Now you can officially do it with Tesla Powerwalls.

Please Note; Tesla withdrew support for off-grid applications of the Powerwall 2 in March 2023. Off-grid systems installed before March 31, 2023, would continue to be supported, but new off-grid installations after that date would not be recommended or covered by warranty.

For the ordinary on-grid customer, batteries are optional. They’re nice to have if you can afford them. Although they’re unlikely to pay for themselves, there are plenty of people who want them for backup, lower power bills, and the joy of using much less grid electricity.

But if you’re off-grid (as I am), batteries aren’t optional – they are how you get through the night and have the lights come on in the morning. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Battery Storage
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