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 […]
Category: australian
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’. […]
Bigger rebates for Victorian households who join a new Virtual Power Plant Pilot
Victorian homeowners who purchase battery storage now have the option to join a new Virtual Power Plant Pilot (VPP) through the Victorian Government’s Solar Homes Program. If eligible, homeowners will receive a boosted battery rebate of $4,174 as well as financial incentives from their VPP provider. Each VPP plan is different. Most provide ongoing electricity […]
What are distributor inverter limits?
When you’re looking into getting solar panels on your home or business, you may hear the term, ‘distributor inverter limits’. You may even be told that you can’t have the size system you want because of these limits. For anyone new to solar, it’s fair enough to query these limits. Why put a limit on […]
More than 750 solar installers have disappeared since 2011. Why?
Australia leads the world in rooftop solar with over 3 million solar panels systems installed. A staggering 360,000 rooftop solar systems were installed in Australia in 2021, an increase of almost 40 per cent compared to 2020. Now, more than 1 in 4 Australian homes have installed a solar panels system. It’s a great result […]
New community solar program for Brimbank
We found that Specialized Solar was the obvious first choice Solar Retailer and Installer for Brimbank Community Solar. Quality is everything when it comes to solar; that’s quality of components, quality of installation and quality of customer service. We’re confident that Specialized Solar & Electrical provides top-notch quality on all counts, combined with warranties that […]
Solar Warranties: What to Look Out For
When buying a solar panels system, one of the most important things to check is the warranties. Talking to prospective customers, we find there’s often confusion when it comes to solar warranties. A lot of people think the 25-year performance warranty that’s heavily advertised on many solar systems is all they need to worry about. […]
Aussie start-up breaks solar cell efficiency world record
The solar panels installed on your roof may soon be from an Australian start-up solar technology company that’s beating world records for solar cell efficiency. Sydney-based SunDrive was founded in a garage by two UNSW graduates in 2015 – Vince Allen and David Hu. Today, SunDrive is backed by billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and the Australian […]