Posts By SolarQuotes Founder Finn Peacock

About Finn Peacock

I'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.

Phase Shift: Buying a Battery? Don’t Be a Tightarse

An illustration of a man thinking about money and another man thinking of happinessWith the federal battery rebate kicking in from July 1, demand for home battery quotes has gone ballistic.

It’s not hard to see why. Thousands of dollars in subsidies. Rising grid prices. More households with solar. And batteries finally starting to feel like part of the modern home, not a science experiment bolted to the garage wall.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: The Solar Industry Is Eating Its Own

tradie trolls

A little while back, SolarQuotes’ in-house installer Anthony Bennett wrote a solid post on a niche issue: whether power and data cables can run in the same conduit.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: Boycott The Products, Not The Progress

It’s okay to boycott Tesla products.

If Elon Musk’s tweets make your teeth itch, if his politics repulse you, or if his general vibe just gives you the ick, fair enough. Buying something is emotional and if seeing a Tesla logo in your garage would make you miserable, you shouldn’t buy one. [Read more…]

Phase Shift: Can You Trust a Solar Installer Who Works From Home?

A man working from home with a sofa behind him

Every now and then, someone pops up on Facebook with a gripe:

“SolarQuotes lets installers in their network who work from home!!! 🤬”

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: Premium Solar Panels Are Dead

A sun sets over a premium brand of solar panels

The sun appears to be setting on the premium offerings from high-end solar brands.

I’ve got top-of-the-range REC Alpha panels on my roof. I’m a solar snob.

Or at least, I was.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: The Real Winner of The Election? Batteries.

SolarQuotes founder finn Peacock clutches his head and points at a home battery systemLabor’s back in power, and now the battery rebate is locked in.

From July 1, Australians will be able to knock about $4,000 off a home battery. The goal? A million new batteries by 2030. Based on the number of quote requests we’ve seen at SolarQuotes, up 5x since election night, this is going to move the needle fast.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: This Election, The Energy Story Was All Wrong

A voting boothAs an ex-pommie, compulsory voting still feels a bit odd to me.

Skip it and you’ll cop a $20 fine — more than it costs to fill your EV on off-peak electricity.

What’s really strange, though, isn’t the voting. It’s the energy policies on offer — and how little they match what the major parties claim to believe.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: The Business Advice I Ignore (And Why You Benefit)

Finn Peacock is handed a fake diploma.

Receiving my MBA certificate from the MBA School of MBA Credentials – after 45 minutes of tuition at Adelaide Fringe.

Every now and then, someone asks: How does SolarQuotes make money?

Fair question. We run a popular site, send thousands of referrals a month, and have a reputation for helping people avoid the dodgy end of the solar market.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: I’ve Seen The Future, And It’s… Simple Timers

An app for charging EVsIn a world full of ‘smart’ energy tech, AI-driven optimisation, and dashboards that would make a Qantas cockpit blush, I’ve come to a confronting conclusion: the future isn’t clever. It’s just… timers.

[Read more…]

Phase Shift: New Battery? Great! Now Switch It Off Until July

A battery with a 'do not use' sign, in reference to a rule in Labor's proposed battery rebate.Credit where it’s due: Labor’s proposed home battery rebate is the right policy at the right time — for the most part.

[Read more…]

Get the latest solar, battery and EV charger news straight to your inbox every Tuesday