Hi everyone,
 
Some exciting news! SolarQuotes and Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, have partnered on a project - find out more here.
 
Speaking of consumer issues - if you’ve organised quotes for a solar power system installation and then found another company offering the same brands for half the price; how is that cheaper company able to do so? I explain here.
 
A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) can improve the payback of a home battery - if you are willing to hand over control of it to an electricity retailer. We've put together a new tool to help you compare various VPP's - discover more about that and VPPs generally in this post.
 
Did you know an electric car charged from the Australian grid will result in around twice the emissions of a hybrid per kilometre driven? That is, unless you have solar panels.
 
Over to large-scale solar now - and really large-scale - the proposed Sun Cable project in the NT will be designed around HVDC (high-voltage direct current) transmission technologies rather than AC. Here's why.
 
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

SolarQuotes And Consumer Group CHOICE Team Up On Solar
SolarQuotes and Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, CHOICE, have partnered to provide Australian households with an easy way to discover the financial benefits of installing solar panels.
  
Solar Power Systems – How Cheap Is Too Cheap?
Organised quotes for solar and then found another company offering the same brands for half the price? In this video (plus transcript) Finn explains what might be happening.
 
SolarQuotes’ Virtual Power Plant Comparison Table Is Up And Running
Do you own a home battery, or are planning to get one? Then we have good news. The SolarQuotes Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Comparison Table is up and running. So if you are interested in joining a VPP, you’d better go catch it.
 
One Kilowatt Of Solar Makes Electric Cars Greener Than Hybrids
An electric car charged from the Australian grid will result in around twice the emissions of a hybrid per kilometre driven. Unless you have solar panels.
  
AC? DC! Why SunCable Chose DC To Export Aussie Sun to Singapore
Sun Cable, the proposal to export solar power to Singapore, will be designed around HVDC (high-voltage direct current) transmission technologies. Here's why.

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

Canadian Solar Spruiks 450W HiKu Solar Panels For Australia
Canadian Solar has announced the launch of its HiKu monocrystalline solar panel range for the Australian market in 2020.
  
New South Wales’ Net Zero Plan Stage 1 Unveiled
The NSW Government says its economy will see $11.6 billion of private investment and thousands of new jobs under Stage 1 of its plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 
  
Longi Commits To 100% Renewable Electricity
China headquartered solar panel manufacturing giant Longi has committed to sourcing 100% renewables-based electricity across all its operations by 2028. 
  
More Solar Powered Lighting For Moreland
Victoria’s Moreland City Council will be making greater use of solar powered lighting to improve night-time safety near several sports facilities.
  
Environmental Lawyers Launch Yallourn Power Station Legal Proceedings
Lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) recently commenced legal proceedings to secure documents relating to pollution control technology at Yallourn.
  
The STP And Small-Scale Solar Power In 2020
Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator has published the Small-scale Technology Percentage (STP) for 2020. Drum roll..
  
NSW Regional Community Energy Project Funding Winners Announced
The Berejiklian Government has announced recipients sharing in more than $15 million in grants for community energy projects in regional areas across New South Wales.
   
SA Home Battery Subsidy Reduction Revealed
South Australia’s Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan has announced how much the state’s home battery subsidy will soon be reduced by.
  
Read more from the blog

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! - 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.