Hi everyone,
 
The SA Government commissioned a calculator for the state's Home Battery Scheme that shows, for most homes, even subsidised solar batteries don’t add up yet. So they buried the calculator on their website. Find out more.
  
Clean energy investor and advocate Ramez Naam says utility-scale solar electricity is going to drive fossil fuels out of the power generation market sooner rather than later as solar power is getting cheaper faster than anyone predicted.
 
Hopefully your dinners haven't been interrupted lately by pesky solar telemarketers. It appears they've been cleaning up their act somewhat - recent figures from the ACMA indicate complaints dropped by half between July 2019 and March 2020 compared to the previous period..
 
More on these and other stories 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 Home Battery Scheme’s New Calculator Gives Dismal Results 
Finally, after one and a half years, the South Australian Home Battery scheme has added a battery calculator to their site. 
 
Solar Power Is Getting Cheaper, Faster Than Anyone Predicted
Utility-scale solar electricity is going to drive fossil fuels out of the power generation market, sooner rather than later, according to clean energy investor and advocate Ramez Naam.

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

Rise Of The 500W+ Solar Panel
JinkoSolar is the latest manufacturer to unveil a 500W+ solar panel – and it boasts significantly more capacity than others recently announced. 
 
Aurora PV + Storage Project Update
Last week, CEO of SiliconAurora Marie Pavlik addressed some questions related to the Aurora Project near Port Augusta in South Australia.
 
City Of Greater Geraldton Reaping Solar Rewards
Western Australia’s City of Greater Geraldton Council says it is reaping “mega” returns from solar panels recently installed on the Library and Aquarena. 
 
Payback Time: REC Files Patent Suit Against QCells
The patent battle between QCells and REC has taken a new twist, with REC returning fire with its own (unrelated) complaint. 
 
Bathurst Council Readying For More Solar Power
Bathurst Regional Council is preparing to have another significant solar power system installed – this one on the Memorial Entertainment Centre; and it’s likely not the last.
 
Hopes Solar Will Help Save Struggling Tourist Park
Western Australia’s McGowan Government is kicking in for half the cost of a new solar power system for the struggling Gascoyne Junction Tourist Park.
 
Alleged Battery Thieves Arrested
If you’ve recently bought a pre-owned deep cycle battery in the Gold Coast region, read on.
 
Solar Telemarketing Complaints Plummet
Telemarketers peddling solar power systems are getting the message about playing by the rules according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
 
Big Solar In Victoria – Statistics
With so much large scale solar activity going on in Australia over the last few years, it can be hard to keep track of it all. The Victorian Government has recently made it easier to see projects in that state.
  
Read more from the blog

RELEVANT COVID-19 INFO

Making Going Solar A COVID-19-Free Experience
In among all the challenges of late, some good news is arranging the purchase of a solar power system and having it installed doesn’t require you to be in close physical contact with anyone – social distancing can be observed.
  
The Value Of Solar In Uncertain Times
Solar installers are still working – albeit with extra precautions. Make your investments dependent on the strength of the sun – not the strength of the economy.
 
8 Reasons Why Right Now Is A Great Time To Go Solar
Australians have been a little distracted lately – and who can blame them? But the distraction is leading to some missing out on the advantages of installing solar panels right now.
 
Most Commercial Solar Can Now Get Instant Asset Write-Off Until June 30
The Federal Government announced a $17.6 billion economic stimulus including tax deduction incentives that makes commercial solar power even more attractive
 
How The Financial Stimulus Can Help Your Solar Business
If you own a solar business, the government has announced a surprisingly generous support package for small/medium businesses. Here’s what you need to know.

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

NEW! - 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.
 
NEW! - 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.
 
NEW! 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.
 
NEW! 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.
 
NEW! 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.