Out of my twenty-four 2V, 1200AH batteries, one has developed a fault and is dragging on the whole system. It would be a simple warranty claim except that I have to get the battery tested, and where I live nobody has the equipment needed.

As a result of my battery discussions with my installer, I was very interested to learn that a solar battery performance standard is under development; so last Thursday (June 20), I joined a webinar hosted by the Smart Energy Council briefing the industry on its progress. [Read more…]

I nearly choked on my kale smoothie reading this article in the latest Renew magazine…

The Alternative Technology Association (ATA to its friends) is a wonderful organisation. They started as the Alternative Technology Cooperative in 1980 and ever since they have been urging Australians to think differently and more sustainably about how they use and generate energy. [Read more…]

Hey Victorians, do you want the $2,250 panel rebate or the $4839 battery rebate?

Update 17 May 2019: Solar Victoria have provided us with two clarifications

1. The VIC battery rebate is capped at 1,000 per year for 10 years. So there is a chance you won’t get it even if eligible. Bear that in mind if you decide not to claim the VIC panel rebate.
2. You can pay a deposit before you apply for your rebate – but it is recommended that your installer confirms, in writing, that it will be refunded if you don’t get the rebate.

At the moment the Victorian solar industry is at a standstill. Phones that were ringing off the hook two weeks ago have fallen silent. [Read more…]

Last Sunday the South Australian State Government issued a press release spruiking its Home Battery Scheme.

It is clearly aimed at getting more South Australians to fork over thousands of dollars for a home battery, no doubt triggered by the fact that – at the current run rate – it will take 15 years for them to flog all 40,000 subsidies, despite throwing about $100,000 per month at advertising the Home Battery Scheme.

This will be a very simple blog post. I will simply rate each paragraph of the press release on my humble opinion of its truthfulness. [Read more…]

Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly is upset the SA big battery is not magical.

Craig Kelly is…

• A Liberal Member of Parliament.
• A supporter of health damaging and environmentally destructive coal power.
• The only Federal MP with a nuclear reactor lodged in his seat.
• A man who resembles a big cuddly koala bear with a shaved face.

Recently he published a 419 word essay on his facebook page titled, “THE GREAT BATTERY CONJOB EXPOSED”. [Read more…]

The results show some big name batteries performing pretty poorly…

The Lithium Ion Battery Test Centre in Canberra has released a new report.  They released it 5 months ago but I’ll make apologies for tardy reporting later.  [Read more…]

Yesterday I visited a pop-up Tesla store in Adelaide.

Tesla has told me they can provide a fully installed Powerwall 2 in South Australia for $9,300 after the state’s $6,000 battery subsidy.  The three phase version will cost “a few hundred dollars more” and there is a 12 week waiting period. [Read more…]

The Hornsdale Power Reserve or “Tesla Big Battery” is One! And it’s been quite successful.

The Tesla Big Battery in South Australia came online last year on the first of December.  It’s now one year and 18 days old.  Despite the involvement of Elon Musk and Tesla it’s not actually called the Tesla Big Battery.  Its real name is the Hornsdale Power Reserve.  Personally, if I had been asked, I would have called it Elonia Princess of Power, but I wasn’t consulted and so my naming talents continue to be squandered. [Read more…]