Hi everyone,

Did you know the average electric water heater uses more electricity per day than the average EV? That's how important energy-efficient water-heating is. Kim's crunched the numbers to show you how modern heat-pumps stack up compared to old-school resistive water heating.

Speaking of EVs, you can get apps that measure your EV battery's degradation - but there's nothing for your expensive home battery. If your home battery's capacity has dropped too much, filing a timely warranty claim could save you thousands. Anthony shows you how to measure your battery's performance to check you are still getting what you paid for.

More solar news below!

P.S. Looking to pay less for electricity (or get more for your exported solar)? My easy-to-use retailer comparison tool shows you all the plans on offer in your area.

Best,

SQ ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SQ VIEWS

BYD Battery-Box LV, HV & Pro Discontinued. Expand Your System Now Or Never

The clock is ticking for BYD’s legacy Battery Box products.

Battery Degradation Part II: How To Measure It

All batteries degrade over time. The battery warranty specifies the maximum degradation you can expect – typically over ten years. But how do you know how much your battery has actually degraded?

Is The Budget Sungrow Battery Any Good? I Installed One To Find Out...

Recently, I decided to retrofit a 12.8 kWh Sungrow battery and hybrid inverter to a 6.6kW solar system on a rental unit I own. 

What’s Better? Heat Pump Or Conventional Hot Water + Solar?

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of heat pumps vs. solar and resistive HWS.

Even more news below!

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

Tesla Operated “Big Bessie” Battery Rocks Rockhampton

Rockhampton residents will soon reap the benefits of grid-scale renewable storage soaking up excess solar production, with Powerlink flicking the switch on a 50MW/100MWh battery in Bouldercombe.

Are Chinese Inverters a Security Risk?

The federal opposition seems to think it has discovered a “gotcha” to argue against the proliferation of rooftop solar PV – and against Australia’s renewable energy target: Chinese hardware.

Tesla Megapacks Included in NSW’s Latest Giant Battery Approvals

Two more grid-scale battery projects have been approved in NSW renewable energy zones.

Read more from the blog

SOLAR TOOLS & REVIEWS

There's a bunch of hardware and installer reviews along with handy and easy to use tools and calculators on SolarQuotes. Find them 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.

FINN'S "101" GUIDES

Understanding Solar
This runs through the basics of residential solar energy and the components that make up the system. It demystifies the magic turning sunlight into clean power for your home that can save you a bundle of cash on your electricity bills, and clearly explains some important concepts you should understand.
 
Buying Solar
My original guide, updated for 2023 that also includes a printable and video version. Now you have a basic understanding of all the bits that make up a solar power system and how they work to generate electricity, it’s time to think about getting quotes. After reading this, you’ll be able to communicate effectively with a salesperson and be confident you’re paying the right amount of money for a properly-sized system with the right components  – and from the right installer.
 
Owning Solar
The panels are now on your rooftop and the installers have packed up and left. What should you do now and how can you make the most of the new valuable addition to your home? From checking the installation to maximising electricity bill savings, find the answers here.
 
Understanding Home Batteries
This chapter will provide you an understanding of solar batteries – and will help you determine if installing one is right for you. It covers topics such as how a home battery works, the different types of energy storage and how energy storage can save you money.
 
Buying Solar Batteries
My guide to buying solar battery storage provides useful advice on how to go about purchasing a good quality home battery system installation at a reasonable price – and how to identify some of the traps. By reading this, you’ll be better equipped to make a solid purchase decision.
 
Owning A Battery System
As the proud new owner of home energy storage, you’ll want to make the most of it. This chapter provides very useful information about owning a battery system and maximising the benefits it can provide.
 
EV Charging 101
This comprehensive guide covers pretty much everything you’ll need to know about EV charging at home and away from it; and all explained clearly.