The Pleasures & Sorrows Of Tesla’s Powerwall: An Installer’s Perspective

Tesla Powerwall 2 - installer perspective

SolarQuotes has sometimes faced accusations of lacking independence, with critics suggesting Tesla must be footing the bill for our positive coverage of the Powerwall. We’ve also been accused of rigging Tesla’s gold medal in our 2023 Installers’ Choice Awards. [Read more…]

Sungrow Wins ‘Best Budget Battery’: An Installer’s Reaction

Sungrow solar battery - installer's opinion

The words ‘budget battery’ strike fear into many installers’ hearts. The thought of a too-cheap battery going wrong is the stuff of nightmares. [Read more…]

Australian Researchers Develop Vegemite-Based Sodium Gel Batteries

Vegemite and sodium ion gel batteries - Dr. Matilda "Tilly" Wattle

The scientist who made the groundbreaking discovery linking Vegemite to improved sodium-ion battery performance is Dr. Matilda “Tilly” Wattle, a renowned electrochemist and renewable energy researcher based in Brisbane, Australia. Image Credit: Journal Of Australian Electrochemistry.

The world is in crisis on multiple fronts.  Global warming is disrupting weather patterns and affecting food production.  Electricity grids cannot close down fossil fuel power stations because of a lack of clean energy to fill gaps in renewable production. [Read more…]

An Installer’s Take On Sungrow Inverters & Batteries

Sungrow inverters and home batteries

Sungrow inverters and batteries are a popular choice for Australian solar systems thanks to their proven performance and accessible pricing. I thought I’d take a closer look at what makes Sungrow inverters such great value, along with some of their limitations. [Read more…]

An Australian Installer’s Take On Home Battery Brands

Home battery brands - a solar installer's view

We recently polled installers in the SolarQuotes network to discover their favourite home batteries. Tesla, Sungrow and BYD batteries took the podium.

This post looks a little deeper into the winning brands from an experienced battery installer’s perspective. [Read more…]

Amber Electric Review: My First Six Months

Amber Electric For Batteries review

Six months ago, I retrofitted a SolarEdge Energy Bank battery to my 6.6kW solar system.

Finn encouraged me to join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to add depth to my battery ownership experience. I chose Amber Electric’s ‘Amber for Batteries’. [Read more…]

The Best Home Batteries In Australia In 2023: According To Installers

Best home solar batteries in 2023

Every year we ask installers in the SolarQuotes network which batteries they would trust in their own family homes. [Read more…]

Kevin And The Case Of The Missing Kilowatt Hours

Electricity consumption mystery in a solar/battery powered home solved.

Be careful when engaging non-battery-savvy electricians to work on your battery-powered home…

There was so much red ink, it looked like a murder scene.

Not long ago, in a suburb not too far away from SolarQuotes HQ, a solar/battery system owner made contact. He was engaged in an age-old battle, arguing with his electricity retailer about what seemed to be excessive charges on his power bill. [Read more…]

Lead-Acid Vs Lithium-Ion Batteries. Is Lead Dead?

Lead-acid vs. Lithium-ion batteries

We live in an age where your camper trailer can power an induction cooktop, a mine can go off-grid, and giant grid-scale batteries are being announced almost weekly. [Read more…]

SolarEdge + Home Assistant Hack Puts Battery Owner In Control

SolarEdge Home Battery control with Home Assistant

This is the story of Mathias Boer-Mah, a self-confessed tinkerer, energy nerd and SolarEdge Home Battery owner. Mathias wanted more control of his battery than SolarEdge could provide, so he hooked up his SolarEdge inverter to a free open-source software application for home automation. [Read more…]

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