More calls for review of Victoria’s Solar Homes Program
Following similar calls from other industry bodies, the Clean Energy Council has urged the Victorian government to review its landmark Solar Homes Program and warned about the serious effects its dynamics has on the industry.
Smart meter time of use pricing to drive up household energy costs without the help of solar and batteries
New research released this week by The Australia Institute shows that ‘time of use pricing’ (ToU) facilitated by smart meters is likely to drive up household energy costs by $429 a year on top of already high prices. Analysis of national electricity market data suggests that demand for electricity in Australia is very inelastic, which makes ToU more likely to increase the profits of electricity companies than to assist consumers. Households with solar PV and batteries, however, are best suited to cope with this type of pricing.
UniSA research finds batteries make economic sense in South Australia
Under the right conditions, solar batteries are economically beneficial for South Australian homeowners and can pay for themselves off within the warranty period, a new research finds.
Victoria’s solar PV rebate out of stock for July
The July quota for solar PV rebates under Victoria’s Solar Homes program has been filled within days. The next release will be available in August.
Industry urges consumers to do due diligence as Victoria’s Solar Homes scheme reopens
With the comeback of the Victorian government’s first-in best-dressed Solar Homes program, consumers are urged to do their due diligence as they rush to apply for popular rebates. If incorrectly installed, batteries are a serious safety risk, industry body Future Energy Skills underlines.
WA’s novel solar lease popular with homebuyers at The Amble Estate
A housing development in Perth’s northern suburb Girrawheen is the first of its kind for Western Australia to provide a solar system with every home. Launched last year by provider Infinite Energy, the solar lease has proved to be a winner for homebuyers, resulting in a 40% saving on daytime power costs.
Victoria’s Solar Homes program returns with a bang
The first-in best-dressed Solar Homes program kicked off on Monday, with a half of solar rebates available in July snapped in the first day. The revamped scheme will be accompanied with a more stringent auditing program and other measures to optimize the rollout following difficulties that have plagued round one.
Solar Cutters build a community to slash poor quality PV installations, components
Poor quality installations and components plagued the state-based FIT era of Australian solar. Unscrupulous ‘phoenix’ retailers remain a problem today. Solar Cutters directors, founders and good friends, Kosta Bourandanis and Jack Long decided to take the problem into their own hands, in a pretty unique way.
Adelaide announces incentives for shared solar, V2G, demand response
The City of Adelaide is going big on technology for low-carbon living. It has announced a new round of incentives for solar, bidirectional EV charging infrastructure, energy storage and controlled load under its Sustainability Incentives Scheme.
NSW readies to launch interest-free solar battery loan program
The Berejiklian government is gearing up to deliver on its election pledge and roll out interest-free loans for home battery systems. The program holds the promise to help up to 300,000 households save hundreds of dollars on their power bills.
