Solar panel output reduces (slightly) as the temperature rises.

It’s an unfortunate fact the hotter it gets the worse solar panels perform.  As fossil fuel generators can suffer even greater efficiency loss due to heat, this is nothing to get all steamed up about.  But it’s still not a good thing.  [Read more…]

Solar panel manufacturers are always on the lookout for low cost improvements they can make to get an edge over the competition.  Or rather, stay in competition, as they are involved in a Red Queen Race¹ where they have to run as fast as they can just to stay where they are. [Read more…]

Optimal Orientation For Solar Panels In Australian Capitals: Directly North Isn’t Always Best

It is generally accepted the best direction to face solar panels to get the maximum possible output is directly north.  While this is not a bad direction, it is often possible to get a very small boost by having them face slightly away from due north.  Usually facing them a little to the east will improve output, but in some locations a small nudge to the west is best. [Read more…]

Hyundai Panels: Driving A Good Bargain?

After a 7 year absence Hyundai solar panels became available again in Australia around 10 months ago.  Michael wrote about their return last year and in this article I’ll let you know what I’ve found out about them. [Read more…]

The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre Puts Panels Through Their Paces: SunPower, Winaico, Q-CELLS, & Tindo Do Well

The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre isn’t just a mouthful, it’s also where they test a range of solar panels and display their performance on the internet for everyone to see. [Read more…]

ZNShine Solar Panels:  Low Cost & Tier One But No Australian Office

If you want the dirt on ZNShine panels I’ve got some bad news for you.  According to ZNShine Solar, dirt just slides right off their new graphene coated panels when it rains.  [Read more…]

Solcast Has A New Free Tool For Rooftop Solar Owners

TLDR: The tool is here

Hey SolarQuotes crowd! Remember me? I’m the bloke who made you all sign up for the Solcast API service in order to check in on the performance of your home solar PV system.  [Read more…]

Who The Hell Are Tongwei Solar?  The Good, The Bad, And The Weird.

Tongwei Solar is not well known in Australia.  While it’s possible goldfish fans are aware Tongwei Group is the world’s largest producer of fish food, their solar subsidiary is very low key.  This is despite it being one of the world’s largest producers of solar cells (if not the largest) with a production capacity of 12 gigawatts.  [Read more…]

Is it possible to keep a family home comfortable in an extreme heatwave using only solar energy? Yes.

Last week I received a phone call from an ABC journalist. Unfortunately he didn’t want to invite me on Gruen to talk about the joys of solar advertising, or book Ronald & Tonto23 to perform on Mad As Hell. Rather, he’d been told that solar panels lose efficiency when it gets hot, and was keen to learn more. Specifically, he wondered how much solar panel efficiency would be lost if the temperature hit 45º during the heatwave – as forecast for the following day. [Read more…]

Solar panels are amazing things.  They cut pollution, save planets, and — by draining its power — move us closer to humanity’s ancient dream of destroying the sun.  But they’re not quite perfect.  If you happen to buy the cheapest panels you can get your hands on I’m sure you’ll soon find they can be very far from perfect.  So bloody far you’ll need a goddamn spaceship to get there. [Read more…]