A few years ago I was invited to an “energy roundtable” hosted by the South Australian government. The idea was we’d all sit around and hatch some big ideas to push the energy transition forward. This was peak excitement in SA – Elon had recently cut the ribbon on the Big Battery in Jamestown.
About Finn PeacockI'm a Chartered Electrical Engineer, Solar and Energy Efficiency nut, dad, and the founder of SolarQuotes.com.au. I started SolarQuotes in 2009 and the SolarQuotes blog in 2013 with the belief that it’s more important to be truthful and objective than popular. My last "real job" was working for the CSIRO in their renewable energy division. Since 2009, I’ve helped over 800,000 Aussies get quotes for solar from installers I trust. Read my full bio.
The Truth About AC & DC Coupling
The Big Battery Trap
Last week, I mentioned a bloke who was beaming after placing his order for a new 30 kWh home battery. The plan was simple: charge it with solar during the day, then use it to both run his house and charge his EV at night. He reckoned he was set for energy independence.
Why REC Still Backs Australia’s Brutal Solar Market
REC solar panels on my roof.
Australia increasingly loves cheap solar panels. This has led to rumours swirling around the solar industry that premium solar panel maker REC is considering giving up on the Aussie solar market and leaving it to the budget brands.
Efficiency Is Dead
September 20, 2025 2025-09-23T16:18:15 by
I used to worship efficiency. For years as a control systems engineer, I sweated over fractions of a percent, shaving seconds off processes and optimising production lines.
Now I look around and realise: efficiency is dead. Killed by cheap solar and ever-cheaper batteries.
Sticker Overload: When Safety Theatre Kills Productivity
A battery covered in stickers.
Last month, the Government hosted a Productivity Summit. Tristan Edis summed it up in one brutal line:
“If introducing a road user charge for electric vehicles is the best we can do out of the Productivity Summit, then God help this country.”
Forget V2G. Let’s Get Serious About G2V.
I was on a panel at Electrify Adelaide last week, sat next to Saul Griffith, who was promoting his brilliant new book Plug In. During audience questions, someone asked how important Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) would be in the years ahead.
My Powerwall Just Turned Seven. One Thing Still Blows Me Away
Last week, my Powerwall 2 turned seven.
To celebrate, I stumped up $10 for a 1-month subscription to the excellent, third-party, NetZero Powerwall monitoring app and ran some diagnostics.
Phase Shift: Why the Rate My Quote Frenzy Is Toxic for Solar
A couple of years ago, Ronald (SolarQuotes’ Fact Checker) asked me for advice on buying a commuter push bike. I told him:
“Whatever you do, don’t buy a bike from K-Mart!”.
Phase Shift: Homeowners Shouldn’t Be Debugging Their New Battery
Back in my engineering days, I designed control systems for everything from nuclear power plants to optical semiconductor fabs. High-stakes stuff, where things not working properly was frowned upon. One thing that became clear early on: the hardware install was just the beginning. The real work started when you powered things up and tried to make them behave.
Which brings me to today’s Phase Shift.
Phase Shift: The Customer Is Always Right (Except With Solar)
A fancy burger joint near the SolarQuotes office opened six months ago. It was small and stylish. And just closed down. I wasn’t surprised.
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