Hi everyone,
 
The Catch Solar Relay is now shipping - it's a great way to put solar energy self consumption of lots of appliances on autopilot. Find out more here.
  
Could solar, wind and batteries be cheaper than Snowy 2.0? Yes they could. Before you call this crazy, check the maths and assumptions here.
  
Flooding in NSW, Queensland and SA bring to mind something all solar owners should know - solar power system safety ahead of, during and after flood events.
 
More news below!
 
Don't forget you can get 3 solar quotes from trusted solar installers at our website - and everyone can also stay in touch with what's happening on SQ via our Facebook page.
 
Regards,

SQ VIEWS

Catch Solar Relay: Load Diversion For Local Grid Stability
Australian solar owners: you now have a new option to put your self-consumption on autopilot while helping both stabilise the grid and enabling more of your neighbours to install solar power systems. 
 
Snowy Hydro 2.0: More Expensive Than Battery Storage
The Snowy Hydro 2.0 scheme is so ambitious politicians may be legally required to wear two hard hats when posing for photo ops. But is it money well spent? No. batteries beat Snowy Hydro 2.0 on cost. Sound crazy? Read on..

THE GOOD SOLAR GUIDE - READ ONLINE FREE!

7 Steps To Tiny Bills For Australian Homeowners - An Amazon Best-Seller!

The Good Solar Guide, authored by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock, demystifies the solar buying process in Australia; showing you how many panels you need, which panel brands to buy, which to avoid, and how to find a great installer.

The seven-step process revealed in this book, developed over 10 years in the industry, walks you through understanding, evaluating, buying, installing and using solar to deliver on its promise of tiny electricity bills. Order the book (available in paperback or Kindle) or read the whole book online free! Yes, for free. Crazy eh?

SOLAR NEWS

Campbelltown City Council Trialling Electric Car
Sydney’s Campbelltown City Council is putting a Nissan Leaf through its paces – and it will be charged with some help from solar energy.
 
Cessnock City Council Confirms Power Partnership Pledges
New South Wales’ Cessnock City Council is another step towards a cleaner energy future with confirmation of pledges under the Cities Power Partnership. 
 
Solar Power System Safety – Flood Events
If you’re a solar owner, it’s important to know about solar power system safety ahead of, during and after flood events.
 
Canadian Solar Warns Of Panel Price Increase
Although a challenging year, Canadian Solar saw major growth in panel shipments in 2020 – but also warned of a price rise looming.
 
Call For Net Zero Emissions In Australian Healthcare
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) want to see Australia’s healthcare sector slash its carbon emissions 80 per cent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040.
 
Yallourn Power Station Closure Inquiry Announced
Victoria’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee is to delve into the economic impacts of the early closure of Yallourn Power Station.
 
Germany’s Home Battery Storage Boom Continues
While yet to really take off in Australia, home batteries are installed more often than not with new solar power systems in Germany.
 
2020 A Record Year For Solar Power In The USA
Even given the challenges of Trump and COVID-19, the USA managed to install a record 19.2 gigawatts (DC) of solar power capacity in 2020, up 43% on 2019.
 
NGS Super Pledges Carbon Neutral Investment Portfolio
Australian industry superannuation fund NGS Super announced yesterday it has set a target of 2030 to create a carbon neutral investment portfolio.
  
Read more from the blog

POPULAR SOLAR TOOLS

There's a bunch of handy and easy to use tools and calculators on SolarQuotes. You can find a selection of my most popular tools by clicking here.

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!

SUBMIT YOUR SOLAR REVIEW

If you're an Australian solar power system owner and would like to share a review of your solar panels, inverters, battery or installer with other potential Australian PV buyers to assist them in a purchase decision, SolarQuotes is the place to do it!
 
Please note in the case of solar panel and inverter reviews, the equipment should have been installed for at least one year.
 
Submit a review: Panels | Inverters | Batteries | Installers 
 
Pick up some tips on writing a review.

USEFUL SOLAR INFO

Solar Battery Reviews
We've kicked off our new battery reviews section with more than 40 manufacturers listed where you can find more information on energy storage companies and read or submit reviews.
 
Virtual Power Plant Comparison Table
Find out details of various Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs on offer in Australia with our regularly updated VPP comparison table. See which VPP might be best for your home or business.
 
Solar And Battery Calculator
Our  new solar calculator provides you a complete picture of the savings and payback for solar power in Australia - with or without batteries - and it's very simple to use.
 
Solar In Your Location
Our extensive database contains useful information and up-to-date statistics on solar energy for practically every town and suburb in Australia.
 
Compare Electricity Retailers: Solar Feed-In Tariffs & Energy Prices
An easy to use comparison tool enabling you to instantly see which electricity retailers would be cheapest for a typical solar power system owner in your postcode.

Solar Panel Comparison Table
Easily compare solar panels, specifications and their prices side-by-side in our new solar panel comparison table.
 
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?
 
Solar Battery Comparison Table
Discover battery prices and specifications of dozens of energy storage solutions with our solar battery storage comparison table.