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

Amber Electric: Buy & Sell Your Electricity At Wholesale Prices? Not Quite…

amber electric review

Amber Electric review: low prices and moderate solar feed-in tariff, but could be the best retailer for battery owners.

As I’m sure you’re aware, in this country we pay through the nose for grid power.  Electricity bills are so high I’m surprised the police aren’t required to random drug test them.  [Read more…]

Are Time-Of-Use Tariffs The Secret To Fast Battery Payback?

Time of Use tariffs and solar battery storage

Do batteries save money with time-of-use tariffs?

Home battery systems continue to fall in price — with an exception or two — and we are getting closer to the day when they will save a typical household money without subsidy or being part of a Virtual Power Plant.

But there is one thing that almost gets batteries to pay for themselves right now: the ridiculously expensive peak rates some time-of-use electricity tariffs charge.  But, without a subsidy, time-of-use tariffs and batteries will only save money for a few exceptional households.  [Read more…]

SonnenFlat Review: Is It A Good Deal?

sonnenFlat review

SonnenFlat — good if you already have a Sonnen battery but maybe not good enough to buy a Sonnen battery.

I think the German home energy storage company, Sonnen, must be having an exciting time in Australia at the moment: [Read more…]

How To Deal With Solar And Battery Telemarketer Pests

solar telemarketing phone rage

Sick of unwanted solar phone calls? Then read our handy guide to dealing with this scourge of modern Australia.

Have you ever settled down to enjoy a particularly intense episode of My Little Pony1 when you were rudely interrupted by a cold-hearted cold caller trying to sell you a potentially shoddy and possibly overpriced solar power system?  If so, you are not alone.  Lots of grown men watch My Little Pony.  Also, plenty of people get called by dodgy solar marketers. [Read more…]

Tesla Raises Powerwall 2 Price – Just In Time For Australian Battery Subsidies

Tesla Powerwall 2 price rise

Wanna buy a Powerwall 2? Then it may cost you a couple of grand more than it did last week.

Only 8 months after increasing the price of the Powerwall 2 in February, Tesla is about to bump it up again.  This time by a much heftier amount.  [Read more…]

Is SunPower’s Product Warranty All It’s Cracked Up To Be?

cracked solar panel

Is cracked silicon a defect that should be covered under the Product Warranty? Or is a crack only a defect if if affects performance?

When it comes to solar panel manufacturers, SunPower is basically royalty.  At 33 years old I can’t think of any solar panel focused company that’s survived longer.  It was founded in 1985 by Richard Swanson who is a solar panel genius.  By that I mean he’s been an important figure in field of solar photovoltaics and not that he’s a talking solar panel or something. [Read more…]

Sonnen Battery Updated For Australia: New Prices, Features & Specs Revealed

Sonnen battery update - sonnenBatterie Eco 9.43 review

Sonnen updates their battery systems: outdoor enclosure, backup option and lower pricing now available.

Sonnen claim to be the first company to successfully market on-grid home battery systems.  Founded in Germany in 2010, they have sold systems to Australians for two years now.  Their 9th generation of home batteries — known as the sonnenBatterie Eco 9.43 — have been on sale in Oz since the 16th of August.  [Read more…]

How To Save Money With The South Australian Home Battery Scheme

South Australian Home Battery scheme

Wahey! In SA it is possible to save money with batteries – thanks to the battery rebate.

For a long time now Australia has been drawing closer to the day when home batteries will pay for themselves.  With the announcement of  South Australia’s battery subsidy scheme we know that day will soon come — unless the scheme’s lack of competition prevents battery prices from falling enough. [Read more…]

The Gigawatt Project Reviewed: Solar For Rented Roofs

gigawatt project review - solar power for renters

Another company who can help get solar on tenant’s roofs is the Gigawatt Project. Ronald looks over the details…

The Gigawatt Project is a Queensland company that helps put solar panels on the roofs of rental properties.  They give tenants some of the savings from rooftop solar power while giving landlords a good enough return to make installing it worthwhile.  In Queensland the Gigawatt Project can:

  • Install a solar power system.
  • Monitor tenant electricity use.
  • Bill tenants for solar electricity they use at a rate less than the cost of grid electricity.  The bill is paid to the landlord.

[Read more…]

SA Battery Rebate: Examining The Scant Details Released So Far

sa battery rebate details

Battery Subsidy Scheme Outline Released By South Australian Government Is Short On Details

As part of their election campaign the the South Australian Liberal Party promised to provide a $100 million home battery subsidy.  Five months after victory they have released information outlining the subsidy scheme that will: [Read more…]

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