If you’re shopping around for solar battery storage, chances are you’ve come across the terms AC-coupled and DC-coupled batteries. To the layperson, these terms can be confusing. However, knowing what they mean is important if you want to be sure you’re getting the right battery for your home. In this blog: What is AC and […]
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Why install solar on your rental property?
Thanks to generous government rebates and tax incentives, as well as falling solar prices, the economic rationale for installing solar panels on rental properties has never looked so good. For landlords, installing a rooftop solar system on your rental property is a great way to increase the value of your asset and improve your rental […]
What size solar panel system do I need to charge my EV?
On this post, we show you how to work out the size solar panel system you’ll need to charge your electric vehicle, or EV, from home. The good news is that working this out is simple. Once you’ve got a handle on how the method works, you’ll find it a quick and useful way to […]
Tesla Solar Tiles. Are they ever coming?
In 2016 when Elon Musk launched his revolutionary concept for solar tiles, it captured the imagination of homeowners everywhere, including in Australia. In case you didn’t know, Tesla solar tiles are a roofing material that also produces solar electricity. And they look pretty fabulous. Back in 2016, the question was: When can I get them? […]
What size solar panel system should I get for my home?
Ten years ago, the average size residential solar system was around 2.6kW (approx. 13 panels at 200 watts per panel). Today it’s around 6.6kW (approx. 17 panels at 390 watts per panel). Industry projections are for the average size to increase to 10kW or more. In fact, that’s happening already. Look around and you’ll see […]
GST: A ticking time bomb for the Australian solar industry
There’s a right way and a wrong way to calculate GST on residential solar power (PV) systems. For various reasons, some solar companies are calculating GST in the wrong way. This is resulting in a massive underpayment of GST by Australian solar companies worth millions in unpaid taxes. This is a ticking time bomb for […]
Zero exports for your solar panels system. What does it mean?
Before a new solar panels system can be installed, it must first be approved for connection to the electricity grid by the local network distributor. Generally, this happens without a hitch. But in a minority of cases, would-be solar owners are sometimes told their property is zero export limited for solar. If you get export […]
How does a Virtual Power Plant Work?
A Virtual Power Plant is a network of homes with solar batteries, connected using smart software. The purpose of a Virtual Power Plant, or VPP, is to share energy, reduce power bills and reduce reliance on the grid. VPPs are an important step towards greater use of renewable energy in the national electricity grid. They […]
How to maximise solar self-consumption.
You’ve got solar panels installed. Congratulations! Now you want low electricity bills. The best way to achieve this is by maximising your solar self-consumption. Solar self-consumption sounds boring. But it’s the key to getting the most of out your solar. Read this post to get the lowdown on solar self-consumption. It’s worth knowing about if […]
Will I be charged for my solar exports anytime soon?
You may have heard about a proposed “Sun Tax” on solar exports. Maybe you’ve seen recent media coverage about curtailment of rooftop solar. Clearly, there are challenges in the national electricity market. But does that mean you’re going to be charged for exporting your surplus solar to the grid? The short answer is ‘probably not’. […]
