Hi everyone,

Last week, chief blogger Ronald strapped himself in for political prime-time: The release of the 2023 budget. He selflessly spent an entire 30 minutes listening to treasurer Jim Chalmers speech - read his take here.

Austrian company Fronius is considered by many solar installers to make the best residential string inverters money can buy. Our in-house installer Anthony gives his considered opinion of their new Gen24 inverter here.

In the solar battery space, Chinese manufacturer Sungrow has put out a pretty compelling new product. But is it let down by some strange warranty conditions?

Over to EVs - While the consumer switch to EVs is accelerating, logistics software company Adiona Tech says electrifying Australia’s truck fleet offers a much greater decarbonisation opportunity.

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 ON SOCIAL MEDIA

SQ VIEWS

Budget 2023. Direct Bill Reductions: Dumb. Low Cost Loans: Smart

Explore the government's flawed energy relief plan for low-income households, and how a cash-based approach would lead to better outcomes.

Fronius Gen24 Review: A Solar Installer’s Considered Opinion

Explore the features, pros, cons & technical specs of this solar & hybrid inverter, written by a qualified installer.

A Deep Dive Into The Sungrow Battery Warranty — It Can’t Take The Heat

Home battery sales are growing, with around 47,000 Australian installations last year.  One popular choice that won’t break the bank — but may still put a major dent in it — is from Sungrow.

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

Ausgrid Proposed Tariffs Could Make EVs More Expensive Than Petrol

The EV Council has warned the Australia Energy Regulator (AER) that Ausgrid’s current regulatory proposal offers a tariff structure that would push up the price of public chargers.

Core Lithium Cleared to Open Second Mine in Northern Territory

Core Lithium, which opened its first lithium mine in the Northern Territory last October, has received government approval to open a second operation.

EV Council: Don’t Over-Regulate Charge Station Cyber-Security

The Electric Vehicle (EV) Council has recently appealed to the Australian federal government to exclude EV charging stations from the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act (SoCI) regulations.

Australia Needs To Electrify Its Heavy Vehicles ASAP, Says Adiona Tech

While the consumer switch to EVs is accelerating, logistics software company Adiona Tech says the electrifying Australia’s truck fleet offers a much greater decarbonisation opportunity.

WA Invests $126 Million in Grid Upgrade to Accelerate Renewable Transition

Western Australia has revealed the scale of investment needed in its main electricity grid to cope with the renewable transition in the face of likely growing energy demand.

  
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.