Hi everyone,
 
Welcome to another issue of the Solar Quotes weekly newsletter - please feel free to forward it on to others.

As always, it's been an interesting week on the solar scene in Australia and overseas - check out the stories below. 
 
By the way, don't forget you can get 3 solar quotes from trusted solar installers at our website - and you can also stay in touch with what's happening on SQ via our Facebook page.
 
Regards,

SQ VIEWS

What Does The Reduced STC Price Mean For Solar?
The STC price drop means solar prices have risen. How are payback times affected and is rooftop solar power still a worthwhile investment for Australians?
  
Peer Reviewed Study: Grid Connect Solar Helps Environment But Batteries Harm It
A peer-reviewed study has shocked the solar industry by finding that residential batteries actually harm the environment.

SOLAR NEWS

Huge Solar Thermal Power Plant Project Secured For Port Augusta
A 150MW solar thermal power plant to be built near Port Augusta in South Australia will be the largest of its type in the world and supply electricity even when the sun isn’t shining. 
  
Parkes Harnesses Solar Energy To Reduce Electricity Costs
Two 100kW solar power systems have been installed for Parkes Shire Council in New South Wales, which combined will generate 612 megawatt hours of clean electricity a year. 
  
ARES – Advanced Rail Energy Storage
While it’s not the sort of solution you could install at home, rail based energy storage may prove to be a viable option for grid-scale applications and an alternative to pumped hydro in some scenarios. 
  
NT’s Daly River Solar + Storage Project A “Shining Light”
The remote aboriginal community of Daly River will be the first in the Northern Territory to reach 50% renewables, thanks to solar and battery storage, and will serve as a model for powering others.
  
India Powers Ahead With Solar – Coal, Not So Much
In the first half of this year, the Indian solar market added more capacity than it did during all last year – and its appetite for coal is waning. 
  
EnergySmart South Australia Launched
A new initiative providing South Australian households and small businesses with information on how to improve energy efficiency and reduce power bills was launched last week.  
  
Solar Power Slashing City of Canterbury Bankstown’s Electricity Costs
The City of Canterbury Bankstown has announced it will install solar power systems on more buildings to make further substantial savings on its electricity bills and increase local efforts on addressing climate change.  
  
Unapproved Solar Panels In Clean Energy Regulator’s Crosshairs
The Clean Energy Regulator has announced it is targeting installations of unapproved solar panels for which STC’s have been claimed – and has already taken its first scalp. 
  
Progress on Tasmania’s “Battery of the Nation” Aspirations
From little things, big things grow – Hydro Tasmania has reported on progress of engineering work underway that will contribute towards a goal of making the Apple Isle the “Battery of the Nation”. 
  
Power-To-Gas Trial For Adelaide
A power-to-gas trial using a new electrolyser will seek to produce cheap hydrogen from splitting water, with the hydrogen then injected into the gas grid.  
 
Read more from the blog

FRESH IS BEST

If you're yet to get 3 obligation-free solar quotes from our network of trusted installers, or perhaps you didn't go ahead on a set of quotes issued previously for whatever reason and still want to install solar, now is a great time to submit for fresh quotes!

USEFUL SOLAR INFO

Solar Power Forecast Tool
We developed this handy tool in collaboration with WeatherZone to help you forecast your solar system's output up to 48 hours ahead. 

Important Mistakes To Avoid In Buying Solar 
Don't become a lost sheep in a field of wolves. Learn about the top 7 mistakes people make when buying solar power systems.

13 Questions To Ask A Solar Company
Before you sign on the dotted line, ensure you have satisfactory answers to these important questions.

Solar Battery Storage Explained
How to buy a solar system with battery storage. Do you need backup functionality or not? How much should you pay, and what batteries are safe and reliable?
 
Compare Solar Feed In Tariffs 
Make sure you are getting a good solar feed in tariff - try this easy to use comparison tool

Solar Battery Comparison Table
Discover battery prices and specifications of dozens of energy storage solutions with our solar battery storage comparison table.