Hi everyone,
 
I’ve just taken the wraps off an interesting new interactive tool – the SolarQuotes Australian Solar Price Index.
 
Updated in real-time, it shows the average price paid over time for rooftop solar power system installations across the whole of Australia and in individual states; based on installation date. You can also drill down to see figures for specific system sizes, and systems with various brands of panels and inverters. 
  
Bear in mind it’s a work in progress, but we hope you find it useful – check it out here.
 
Millions of homes across Australia have solar panels. But there are many millions more that don’t and are still 100% reliant on expensive grid electricity. Here are the common reasons we hear for putting off a solar installation – and why in many cases these reasons are needlessly stopping Australians from achieving tiny electricity bills.
  
If you're a solar owner who knows people who could benefit from installing solar but who have been putting it off or decided against it; perhaps point them to the article for a bit of motivation - it's likely their reason is covered.
  
In other news, we've grown accustomed to Tesla Powerwall battery systems going up in price these last couple of years, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a recent price drop - find out more here.
 
While on the topic of batteries, a demand tariff charges less per kWh, but adds a 'demand charge'. Is this the ideal tariff to make home batteries pay? Ronald did the maths.
  
And in case you missed it last week, SolarQuotes TV Episode 5 is live. It's the all you can eat and drink edition showcasing the important role solar power can play in the growing, processing and cooking of food -  check it out here!
 
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

18 Reasons Australians Don’t Install Solar – And Why They Should
The common reasons we hear for putting off a solar installation – and why in many cases these reasons are needlessly stopping Australians from achieving tiny electricity bills.
 
Will A Demand Tariff Improve Home Battery Payback?
I’d heard people claiming demand tariffs can allow a home battery to pay for itself inside 10 years. To find out how much a demand tariff was likely to save a battery household, I crunched the numbers.
 
Australian Solar Systems Interest Index: June 2021
See what Australian solar and battery buyers were wanting in May and check out SQ’s new tool showing solar pricing across Australia.
 
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

Solar Power High Up On Home Buyers’ Energy Efficiency Wishlists
Energy efficient features such as solar panels are becoming increasingly important to Australians looking to buy, rent or build. But buyers should do some additional research if considering purchasing a home with an existing PV system.
 
Paltry Particle Pollution Penalty For Coal Fired Clunker
Far from making polluters really pay, the NSW EPA signals it pays to pollute – the sooner we see Liddell Power Station’s exit, the better.
 
Victoria’s Solar For Business Rebate Opens
Victoria’s small business owners are now able to take advantage of additional incentives of up to $3,500 for the installation of a solar power system.
 
Solar Energy And Batteries To Support QLD Turtle Power
Solar panels and battery storage will soon be almost fully powering Mon Repos Turtle Center and Conservation Park near Bundaberg in Queensland.
 
Home Solar Installations Restart In Victoria
The green light was given last week for solar panel installations to restart in Victoria, including in metropolitan Melbourne.
 
NSW Productivity Commission Has “Lost The Plot” On Nuclear Power
The Electrical Trades Union has weighed in on the New South Wales Productivity Commission’s recommendation to lift the ban on nuclear electricity generation for small modular reactors.
 
AU Powerwall Price Drop + Tesla Battery Without Solar SA VPP Trial 
Shock, horror – but in a good way. Tesla has recently quietly dropped the price in Australia for its popular Powerwall battery system.
 
Be Wary Of Solar Rebate “Eligibility Quizzes” 
You don’t need to jump through hoops or give away personal information to find out if you qualify for the federal “solar rebate”. It’s really simple.
  
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.