Hi everyone,
 
Do you have an old 1.5kW solar system? What will save more money: keeping it or upgrading to 6kW+? What if you lose the premium feed-in tariff? We've run the numbers for you.
 
Over to battery storage and less than three months after jacking up the cost of Powerwall in Australia, Tesla has *again* hit Aussie buyers with another significant price hike - find out more here.
 
At the time of writing, SolarQuotes has published 54,613 customer-submitted reviews of 2,345 solar installation companies. Added to this are our solar panel, battery and inverter reviews sections - check out our solar reviews centre here. Running a website that asks the public to review and rate companies and products is not for the faint-hearted. Discover how SolarQuotes does it.
 
.. and in case you missed it - the first episode of SolarQuotes TV was launched last week; check it out here. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback!
 
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

Should You Scrap Your Old Solar Power System?
Do you have a faithful, old, 1.5 kilowatt solar system installed? Has it sat on your roof churning photons into electrical energy for 10 years or more? Has it earned you a heap of money because it gets an old, premium feed-in tariff far higher than anything available now? If you want to make more money, odds are you should scrap that small old system and replace it with a new larger installation. 
 
Yet Another Tesla Powerwall Price Hike: Aussies Now Pay $1,500 More Than In US.
If you’re an Australian hoping to buy a Tesla Powerwall battery system, I have bad news. It’s so bad that before I reveal it, you may want to sit down and prepare to offer words of comfort to your wallet.
 
How SolarQuotes' Ned Ensures The Integrity Of Our Solar Reviews
What happens on SolarQuotes’ review pages is clearly part of the beating heart of this business, and anyone who has experience with open forums will know what it’s like. There are trolls, people with a grudge (both fair and unfair), honest mistakes, and occasionally dishonest reviews.

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

Commbank Announces Green Loan For Solar Power
CBA, Commbank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia or whatever you want to call it has announced an upcoming very low interest green loan that can be used to finance the purchase of a solar power system.
 
SA Concession Holders To Be Offered Solar Power Swap
Eligible concession holders in South Australia will be offered a shiny new free solar power system under a $4.25 million Marshall Government program that involves a swap.
 
Clean Energy Finance Corporation Invests In Ingenia Communities
Ingenia Communities Group has secured a $75 million debt facility with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) for carbon reduction and energy initiatives.
 
WA Election 2021 – Climate Change, Renewable Energy and EVs
While it’s still just under a month before voters in Western Australia go to the polls, here’s some of what WA Labor, Liberals, Nationals and Greens have committed to at this point in terms of renewable energy, electric vehicles and climate change.
 
AEMO Virtual Power Plant Reports Released
The Australian Energy Market Operator has published its latest Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Knowledge Sharing Report and VPP Consumer Insights Interim Report.
 
Another Cracking Quarter For Enphase Energy
Microinverter and battery storage manufacturer Enphase pleased shareholders once again, delivering another strong quarter.
 
Fossil Fuel Air Pollution Responsible For 18% Of Deaths Globally In 2018
A study out of Harvard University estimates the number of deaths attributable to fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion is likely far higher than previously thought.
 
Climate Change And Renewable Energy Attitudes In Victoria
A majority of Victorians want to see even more investment in renewable energy and remain concerned about climate change according to a recent survey.
 
Sunways Solar Inverters Arriving In Australia Soon
It won’t be long before there will be yet another solar inverter choice available in Australia – Sunways, which is being launched here exclusively through Suntech Australia.
  
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.