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 […]
Category: technical
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 […]
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 […]
Could solar panels ever get to 1000 watts per panel?
The improvement in solar panel technology continues in leaps and bounds. Every year, solar panels are becoming more powerful, with a higher wattage per panel. Ten years ago, the average power rating of a solar panel was 250-270 watts. Three years ago, the most powerful residential solar panels in the world were just reaching 350 […]
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 […]
Tier 1 Solar Panels: Are they the best?
The term ‘tier 1 solar panels’ is used a lot by solar salespeople. It sounds good, but what does it mean? And if you buy a tier 1 solar panel, are you getting good quality? This post explains what the Tier 1 solar panel ranking is. It also covers: Why the Tier 1 rating is […]
Why the Solar Feed-in Tariff Doesn’t Matter
A solar feed-in tariff is the amount you get paid for sending electricity from your solar panels system to the grid. You get paid for your solar exports by your electricity retailer, with the amount appearing as a credit on your electricity bill. Naturally, everyone loves to see a credit on their electricity bill! Better […]
What to look out for when purchasing solar
Where do you start when it comes to buying solar? What are the important things to watch out for? After reading this article, you’ll have the know-how to dodge any dubious solar sales tactics – and feel more confident in your solar purchasing decision. Solar retailer When shopping around for solar, the starting point is […]
Solar Ark: A Pathbreaker in Tiny House Design
Interview with Tiny House Creator, Ben Strong. Solar panels sponsored and supplied by Specialized Solar & Electrical. What is Solar Ark? It’s a fully off-grid Tiny House that’s literally smothered in solar panels. I’ve designed it as a high tech home office and a green, silent power generator. It’s got 4.4kW of solar panels and […]
