Hi everyone,
 
Are off peak hot water tariffs a waste of time if you have solar panels installed? Ronald has the answer, along with other interesting information on hot water use in Australia.
 
Ever wanted to know when is the "greenest" time to use electricity from the grid? Nemy can tell you.
 
Speaking of the grid, many Australians are keen to cut ties with electricity companies - completely. While understandable, learn why keeping a grid connection is a smart idea.
  
Also find out what's happening with the cost of solar in Australia and two very good reasons to install panels now in our latest Australian Solar Prices report.
 
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

Australian Solar Prices: October 2021 Update
Australians in some states were paying more for solar power systems in September 2021, but still getting a bargain given the benefits solar energy brings.
 
Are Off Peak Hot Water Tariffs A Waste Of Time For Solar Owners?
Last week Finn got Ronald into hot water by referring Ronald to a study looking at if electric hot water systems any good at soaking up excess solar electricity.
 
Thinking Going Off-Grid In The City? Perhaps Think Again
Many Australians are keen to cut ties with electricity companies by installing solar panels and batteries with view to taking their homes entirely off the grid. And who could blame them?
 
Nemy: Telling You When Electricity Is Green (And Cheap)
Take a couple of electrical engineers sharing a home, add lockdown boredom, and what you might get is a nifty way of using electricity market information to help customers consume electricity when it’s green. And where their electricity retailer passes on real time wholesale electricity prices, cheap.
 
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

Enphase IQ8 Microinverter Launch – Backup Without A Battery
Enphase Energy has announced its IQ8 microinverters should begin shipping in December for customers in North America. Hopefully, shipments to Australia won’t be far behind.
 
Smart Solar Powered Security And Shark Safety Solutions
This Australian company is doing some interesting stuff on the security and beach safety scene by combining cameras and AI with solar power.
  
More Cash For Brisbane Clubs To Go Solar
More clubs in the Brisbane City Council local government area will have solar panels installed under its Resilient Clubs Support Program.
  
Wind Power Supports More Solar Energy In VIC’s Golden Plains
A bunch of community buildings in Victoria’s Golden Plains Shire now have solar panels thanks to a local wind farm.
  
Remote Rooftop Solar Power Management For WA’s SWIS
Energy Policy WA has kicked off a discussion on the introduction of remote rooftop solar management capability for new installations in Western Australia – and it could be introduced quite soon.
  
Big Community Battery Proposed For Phillip Island
A proposed community battery energy storage system for Victoria’s Phillip Island has been announced by AusNet Services and Mondo.
 
LG Chem To Produce Plastic Solar Panel Frames
South Korea’s LG Chem has announced it has developed a plastic material that can replace the aluminium frames used in solar panels.
  
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 2021 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.
 
NEW! 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.
 
NEW! 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.
 
NEW! 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.