Hi everyone,
 
There were a bunch clickbait headlines after the Australian Energy Market Commission released its *draft* determination on how to integrate more small-scale solar power into Australia's electricity system and support home battery uptake. There was a lot to unpack in it but a summary of where things may be heading, along with links to further information can be found here.
 
In other news, an SA Labor plan outlines how hydrogen will be produced, stored, and burned to generate electricity. Ronald's run the numbers to see if it makes sense - find out here.
  
On the solar tech side of things, Fronius's GEN24 Plus hybrid inverter is now available in a Primo single-phase variant – and it can supply backup power without a battery.
 
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

SA Labor’s Hydrogen Hype: A Second Rate Plan For The First Element
South Australian Labor clearly hope their new Hydrogen Plan can help them win back power in the March 2022 state election. Will their huffing of hydrogen hype lift them higher than a zeppelin, or will it bomb?

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

FIMER Announces SwitchDin Compatibility
Inverter manufacturer FIMER has announced some of its solar inverter models have been integrated with Australian SwitchDin technology, with more to come.
 
Ambulance Victoria Brings Forward Net Zero Emissions Target
Ambulance Victoria (AV) announced on Friday it is raising the bar on reaching net zero carbon emissions for its operations. 
 
Maitland City Council Votes To Join Power Partnership
NSW’s Maitland City Council’s decision to join the Cities Power Partnership is particularly significant for a couple of reasons.
 
Regulator Ramping Up Solar Installer Dodgy Details Focus
Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator published its latest compliance update last week, outlining some of its recent activities and what’s ahead.
 
Darwin International Airport Powers Ahead With Solar Energy
Building on its already impressive amount of PV capacity, more solar panels will soon appear on rooftops at the 311-hectare Darwin International Airport (DIA) site.
 
Adding More Home Solar Power To The Grid: AEMC Draft Determination
The Australian Energy Market Commission has released its draft determination on how to integrate more small-scale solar power systems, support home battery uptake and address solar energy “traffic jams” in the grid.
 
More Small Utility Scale Solar Farm Success For MPower
In the last couple of weeks, Sydney-headquartered MPower has connected two 5MW solar farms in South Australia to the grid.
 
Fronius Primo GEN24 Plus Hybrid Inverter – Backup Without A Battery
Fronius has announced its GEN24 Plus hybrid inverter is now available in a Primo single-phase variant – and it can supply backup power without a battery.
 
NSW Inquiry Tackles Coal Ash Issue
A NSW Parliamentary Inquiry has delivered a report recognising coal ash is a toxic waste product that needs better regulation and utilisation.
  
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.