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

Here at SQ, we tend to harp on about this, but it's important information - installing a home battery system right now will not save you money, and the main reason is simple - feed in tariffs. In his latest post, Ronald goes into detail as to why feed in tariffs wreck battery economics. Check out his post and view other interesting news over the last week from the world of solar below.
 
By the way, if you're among our many newsletter subscribers that already have solar installed, perhaps you'd like to share some thoughts on your system's components and/or installation with other potential Australian solar owners. Your views could help them in making a purchase decision.
 
You can submit hardware and installer reviews that will be displayed on the SolarQuotes web site by clicking one of the links below. 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 | Installer 
 
For tips on writing a review, click here.
 
For those without systems, 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

Feed-In Tariffs Hurt The Economics Of Batteries
If you use a kWh of stored solar energy from your battery instead of paying 30c for it from the grid, how much have you saved? If you said '30c' go to the back of the class! You've forgotten about feed in tariffs.
  
The South Australian Election: Energy Policies Compared
The SA state election this Saturday could make or break the state's leadership in renewable energy. How do the parties' policies compare and do they make any sense in the real world?

SOLAR NEWS

Abbott (Again) Calls For An End To Solar Subsidies
Surprise, surprise – Tony Abbott has joined the call for an end to solar subsidies – in fact, all new renewables – after backbench colleague Craig Kelly’s recent ill-informed dummy spit. 
 
Jacinda Ardern Urged To End Oil And Gas Exploration In New Zealand … Now
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden’s green energy street cred is being put to the test after an open letter was published urging her government to end oil and gas exploration in the country.
 
Craig Kelly (Again) Applies Pressure To Slash Australia’s Solar Subsidy
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is being pressured by NSW Liberal MP Craig Kelly to act on reducing Australia’s solar subsidy, which could be relatively easily done by tinkering with an important mechanism. 
 
Knitting Nannas Needling Cowper MP Over Coal And Renewables
Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG) is quite possibly the most likeable pro-renewables and anti-fossil fuels activist group in Australia. 
 
Community Energy Storage Trial For Western Australia
WA’s Western Power will soon give owners of solar panels in the suburb of Meadow Springs a way to “bank” their solar electricity. 
 
Australia’s University Of New England’s Solar + Storage Project Approved
The University of New England in Armidale, New South Wales has received the green light for construction of a solar farm that will also incorporate battery storage. 
 
AEMC Wants Your Solar Power And Battery System Information
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) wants to establish a national register of small-scale distributed energy resources – including battery storage and rooftop solar power systems.
 
Castlemaine’s Historic Market Building Going Solar
Old meets new – the Market Building in Castlemaine will have solar panels installed this month, with the blessing of Heritage Victoria. 
 
NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Pledges $5 Million For Solar Power In Niue
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern isn’t only popular at home (and here in Australia, particularly with a certain 60 Minutes reporter) – she’s just won a bunch of new fans in Niue with the promise of more solar power. 
 
A Sting In The Tail Of QLD’s No-Interest Solar And Battery Loans Program
The upcoming Queensland Government’s “no-interest” solar and battery loans program holds an unpleasant surprise for some installers looking forward to a bit of extra work – and it will limit consumer choice.
 
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!

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 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 | Installers 
 
Pick up some tips on writing a review.

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.