<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>egsolar</title><description>egsolar</description><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/blog</link><item><title>Battery Powered Homes</title><description><![CDATA[There's a power revolution heading for our homes – a device that allows you to take power into your own hands. Its batteries, home batteries, and they've been called the holy grail of renewables – the key to the transition away from fossil fuels.Watch report below for full story.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/yxABosWfuus/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>ABC TV Catalyst</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/03/05/Battery-Powered-Homes</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/03/05/Battery-Powered-Homes</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Mar 2017 04:11:56 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>There's a power revolution heading for our homes – a device that allows you to take power into your own hands. Its batteries, home batteries, and they've been called the holy grail of renewables – the key to the transition away from fossil fuels.</div><div>Watch report below for full story.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yxABosWfuus"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Is SolPad The New Way To Personal Free Solar Energy From The Sun</title><description><![CDATA[SunCulture Solar Inc. announces the launch of SolPad™, a new series of disruptive energy products designed to be the most advanced integrated-home or off-grid solar energy products in the world. The SolPad’s integrated solar panel combines multiple patented technologies into a single beautiful device, including breakthrough battery storage, an innovative inverter system and intelligent software that engages and interacts with the user, giving them an unparalleled personal energy experience that<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/1V7y3kc4veA/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>SunCulture Solar Inc.</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/02/12/Is-SolPad-The-Way-To-Person-Free-Solar-Power</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/02/12/Is-SolPad-The-Way-To-Person-Free-Solar-Power</guid><pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2017 12:25:58 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>SunCulture Solar Inc. announces the launch of SolPad™, a new series of disruptive energy products designed to be the most advanced integrated-home or off-grid solar energy products in the world.</div><div> The SolPad’s integrated solar panel combines multiple patented technologies into a single beautiful device, including breakthrough battery storage, an innovative inverter system and intelligent software that engages and interacts with the user, giving them an unparalleled personal energy experience that gamifies energy distribution, delivery and usage.</div><div> SolPad is truly the world’s first fully integrated solar energy solution created for the modern smart home and sustainability minded global citizen.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1V7y3kc4veA"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>ABB: We Flew With Only Solar Power</title><description><![CDATA[ABB is once again leading the way in advanced solar solutions for 100% clean energy.From Electric Car Solar Charging Stations, Solar Boats, Solar Trains, and now Solar planes. ABB has now created a plane that can fly without using one drop of fuel, Solar Impulse has now flown over both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. This sends a strong message: that transportation, in all its forms, can be a part of the clean energy solution.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/qqp5a7oh65E/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>ABB Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/02/05/We-Flew-With-Only-Power</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/02/05/We-Flew-With-Only-Power</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 16:15:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>ABB is once again leading the way in advanced solar solutions for 100% clean energy.</div><div>From Electric Car Solar Charging Stations, Solar Boats, Solar Trains, and now Solar planes. ABB has now created a plane that can fly without using one drop of fuel, Solar Impulse has now flown over both the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. This sends a strong message: that transportation, in all its forms, can be a part of the clean energy solution.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qqp5a7oh65E"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Make The Switch To Solar Hot Water</title><description><![CDATA[Did you know that up to 55% of your household’s energy usage goes to water heating alone? So cutting a quarter of your monthly electric bill by installing a solar water heating system absolutely makes sense.Call East Gippsland Solar today on: 03 5153 0722 , to switch your hot water over to Solar Hot Water. Don't forget East Gippsland Solar is your trusted local Solahart Dealer.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/NW4NIzL8yRE/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/01/22/Make-The-Switch-To-Solar-Hot-Water</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2017/01/22/Make-The-Switch-To-Solar-Hot-Water</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jan 2017 13:49:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Did you know that up to 55% of your household’s energy usage goes to water heating alone? So cutting a quarter of your monthly electric bill by installing a solar water heating system absolutely makes sense.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NW4NIzL8yRE"/><div>Call East Gippsland Solar today on: 03 5153 0722 , to switch your hot water over to Solar Hot Water. Don't forget East Gippsland Solar is your trusted local Solahart Dealer.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Say No To Fossil Fuels - Tell Our Government To Use 100% Renewable</title><description><![CDATA["Australia wake up - More than 7 Million people are killed by pollution every year, that is more than wars, car accidents, and homicides combined." -- Arnold SchwarzeneggerIf we do not stand up and fight for the immediate change of getting rid of fossil based fuels, our current Australian Government will keep allowing the mining (click here) and use of these toxic pollution based fossil fuels, that will continue to ruin our environment for good, in both stages. The effects have already started<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/USV5XKoUfVI/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>EG Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/12/18/Say-No-To-Fossil-Fuels---Tell-Our-Government-To-Use-100-Renewable</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/12/18/Say-No-To-Fossil-Fuels---Tell-Our-Government-To-Use-100-Renewable</guid><pubDate>Sat, 17 Dec 2016 15:02:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>&quot;Australia wake up - More than 7 Million people are killed by pollution every year, that is more than wars, car accidents, and homicides combined.&quot; -- Arnold Schwarzenegger</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/USV5XKoUfVI"/><div>If we do not stand up and fight for the immediate change of getting rid of fossil based fuels, our current <a href="https://www.facebook.com/juicerapnews/videos/10155497479598452/">Australian Government</a> will keep allowing the mining (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/juicerapnews/videos/10155497479598452/">click here</a>) and use of these toxic pollution based fossil fuels, that will continue to ruin our environment for good, in both stages. The effects have already started with longer than ever droughts, land and soil corrosion, air quality vastly dropping, drinking water polluted by <a href="http://www.activistpost.com/2012/05/demonstration-of-water-contaminants-and.html">fluoride</a> and more and more as the list goes on and on. We can create a whole new economy and job market based on the research and development of better technology for renewable energies that work in peace for our environment while still taking care of the needs of the Australian economy that benefits us all.</div><div>Here is a list of renewable energies which all of Australia could change to in the next 5 years to stop the destruction and deaths.</div><div>Bio-fuel.Biomass.Geothermal.Hydro-power.Solar energy.Tidal power.Wave power.Wind power.</div><div>To find out more our solar power click here, to find out more about the very cheap to run other renewable energies <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy">click here</a>.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>SolarEdge: History of Electricity</title><description><![CDATA[In 130 years, production of electricity increased from zero to over 24,000 terawatt hours. Thomas Edison once said: “We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy--sun, wind and tide. I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” Visit the www.egsolar.com.au/solaredge-inverters website to find out<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/c7X3Svkalj4/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>EG Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/12/11/SolarEdge-History-of-Electricity</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/12/11/SolarEdge-History-of-Electricity</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Dec 2016 12:24:42 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>In 130 years, production of electricity increased from zero to over 24,000 terawatt hours. Thomas Edison once said: “We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy--sun, wind and tide. I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” Visit the www.egsolar.com.au/solaredge-inverters website to find out more about the leading DC power optimization solution for solar power harvesting</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c7X3Svkalj4"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Why Australian solar installers are suffering, and consumers are laughing</title><description><![CDATA[Here’s a statistic that will make Australian solar installers green with envy, or at least cry in frustration. The average margin for a rooftop solar installation in the United States market is 40 per cent. In Australia, some installers are struggle to get into double figures.That actually turns out to be good news for consumers – who in Australia enjoy some of the cheapest prices for installed rooftop solar in the world, and more than 1.5 million homes and businesses have already taken<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_4a26115ed5824314b1b73a5a56fe9ba7%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_463%2Ch_235/f7dbdb_4a26115ed5824314b1b73a5a56fe9ba7%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>RenewEconomy</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/09/23/Why-Australian-solar-installers-are-suffering-and-consumers-are-laughing</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/09/23/Why-Australian-solar-installers-are-suffering-and-consumers-are-laughing</guid><pubDate>Fri, 23 Sep 2016 00:52:45 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_4a26115ed5824314b1b73a5a56fe9ba7~mv2.jpg"/><div>Here’s a statistic that will make Australian solar installers green with envy, or at least cry in frustration. The average margin for a rooftop solar installation in the United States market is 40 per cent. In Australia, some installers are struggle to get into double figures.</div><div>That actually turns out to be good news for consumers – who in Australia enjoy some of the cheapest prices for installed rooftop solar in the world, and more than 1.5 million homes and businesses have already taken advantage of this.</div><div>This in turn has turned Australia into one of the leading markets for rooftop solar in the world, and puts it at the forefront of the battery storage revolution, with many leading battery storage companies using Australia as the launch-pad for their battery storage products, including Tesla, Enphase, LG, Redflow and many others.</div><div>Still, the situation with installers and the cost of rooftop PV is an interesting one, although it should be noted that it is not the only factor governing installation rates. In the US, most states retain a generous feed in tariffs, equivalent to the full retail price. In Australia, tariffs have been slashed to a fraction of the retail price.</div><div>But the US market is also subject to heavy “balance of system” costs, mostly related to the planning and approvals process, although this is being smoothed out. Still, Australian solar system prices average around $1.63/watt, less than half the $US3.50/watt average price for residential installation in the US.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_98d8d4a9654449b3a7d763f71c2db87d.jpg"/><div>Part of this is explained by the intense competition in the Australian market, the impact of large utilities in the rooftop installation market, and the tendency for many Australian households to be happy to put up “cheap” solar panels, equipment of lower quality.</div><div>But the mark up from installers is still quite stunning. As Deutsche Bank notes in a research report that looks at big price falls from manufacturers:</div><div>“Even though we expect some of the cost reductions to be trickled down towards the end customer, we still expect installers to make the most money in the supply chain.”</div><div>Geoff Bragg, from the Solar Energy Industries Association in Australia, says margins for Australian installers ranges from around 17 per cent to 26 per cent. “Any Aussie installer marking up less will be heading for closure in my opinion,” he said. And many have in recent years.</div><div>It is one of the ironies of the solar market that utility scale solar in the US is so cheap, while its rooftop installations are so expensive. In Australia, it is the exact reverse.</div><div>The good news for consumers in both countries is that rooftop solar module prices are about to fall sharply, with analysts predicting that module costs could fall by nearly half in the next year to as low as US30c/watt – due to massive amounts of new capacity, and significant cost reductions in the manufacturing process.</div><div>Bloomberg New Energy Finance said last week that module prices could fall to US30c/watt in 2017, and now analysts at Deutsche Bank says they now expect module prices to fall as low as US35c/watt.</div><div>Deutsche Bank says prices have already fallen to as low as US41c/watt, and US35c/watt is likely to be reached within 6-9 months. Part of the reason is lower import duties, but components such as solar cells have also fallen rapidly, with Taiwanese cells down to US20c/watt, from more than US30c/watt.</div><div>As for manufacturers, Deutsche Bank expects margins to contract to the low teens later in 2016, but in 2017 could fall into the single digits. That will put some pressure on share prices for the listed manufacturers. That might make consumers as the happiest of all the components of the solar supply chain.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>REC Solar Panels: The TwinPeak Series</title><description><![CDATA[The award-winning REC TwinPeak Series packs in multiple innovative technologies, each of which adds real value and benefits; more power output compared to standard 60-cell panels, combined with cost savings. Find out how REC does it in this short video that introduces the REC TwinPeak Series.The REC TwinPeak features an innovative design with high panel efficiency and power output, enabling you to get the most out of the space available – helping to lower your energy bills and shorten the<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/NrT-tgmB1Q8/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>RECGroupMedia</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/08/22/REC-Solar-Panels-The-TwinPeak-Series</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/08/22/REC-Solar-Panels-The-TwinPeak-Series</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2016 05:20:58 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NrT-tgmB1Q8"/><div>The award-winning REC TwinPeak Series packs in multiple innovative technologies, each of which adds real value and benefits; more power output compared to standard 60-cell panels, combined with cost savings. Find out how REC does it in this short video that introduces the REC TwinPeak Series.</div><div>The REC TwinPeak features an innovative design with high panel efficiency and power output, enabling you to get the most out of the space available – helping to lower your energy bills and shorten the payback time through increased yield and lower costs.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Tesla and Elon Musk Are Introducing Solar Rooftops For A Paradigm Shift In The Industry</title><description><![CDATA["It's a solar roof, as opposed to modules on a roof," says Musk, as he reveals his strategy to enhance homes around the world. "I think this is really a fundamental part of achieving differentiated product strategy, where you have a beautiful roof. It's not a thing on the roof. It is the roof." The new technology gives Musk the opportunity to corner a new market of solar paneling - those houses that need new roofs. "You don't want to put solar panels on a roof you know you are going to replace,"<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_153c2f9243654622add8664ce590b6e5%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_417/f7dbdb_153c2f9243654622add8664ce590b6e5%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ian Crossland | Minds Beta</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/08/12/Tesla-and-Elon-Musk-Are-Introducing-Solar-Rooftops-For-A-Paradigm-Shift-In-The-Industry</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/08/12/Tesla-and-Elon-Musk-Are-Introducing-Solar-Rooftops-For-A-Paradigm-Shift-In-The-Industry</guid><pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:46:33 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_153c2f9243654622add8664ce590b6e5~mv2.jpg"/><div>&quot;It's a solar roof, as opposed to modules on a roof,&quot; says Musk, as he reveals his strategy to enhance homes around the world. &quot;I think this is really a fundamental part of achieving differentiated product strategy, where you have a beautiful roof. It's not a thing on the roof. It is the roof.&quot; The new technology gives Musk the opportunity to corner a new market of solar paneling - those houses that need new roofs. &quot;You don't want to put solar panels on a roof you know you are going to replace,&quot; Musk said. &quot;However, if your roof is nearing end of life and you have to get a new roof anyway... why not have a solar roof that is better in many other ways as well.&quot;</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_2cf38c5d73494ee2bf7475f98ef7b365.png"/><div>The expected merger between Musk's Tesla Motors and Solar City is expected some time near the end of 2016 and hooking houses up with solar roof tops is a perfect way to integrate electric charging with your Tesla car or home battery. Not much information has been given about how the roofs will actually work, but production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2017. Expect to hear more when the merger between Tesla and Solar City is complete.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmseRFA-K6A"/><div>Image Credit - AP Photo/Gerry Broome</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>WARNING TO ALL BAIRNSDALE RESIDENTS THE SOLAR SCAMMERS ARE BACK!!!</title><description><![CDATA[Watch out the solar scammers are at it again and this time they are knocking on the doors of Bairnsdale residents, making big promises that are full of lies. Their bogus claims that you will only have German made solar panels installed, when in fact, the panels they install are cheaply made Chinese ones that have no backup warranties to cover any issues that you will have with them in a few short years. One of the biggest lies theses solar con-artists are telling people is that, you only have 48<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_bf5a1a716c0440deac1129c458d51ff3.jpg/v1/fill/w_344%2Ch_240/f7dbdb_bf5a1a716c0440deac1129c458d51ff3.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Grant Templar | E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/07/28/WARNING-TO-ALL-BAIRNSDALE-RESIDENTS-THE-SOLAR-SCAMMERS-ARE-BACK</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/07/28/WARNING-TO-ALL-BAIRNSDALE-RESIDENTS-THE-SOLAR-SCAMMERS-ARE-BACK</guid><pubDate>Thu, 28 Jul 2016 12:30:35 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_bf5a1a716c0440deac1129c458d51ff3.jpg"/><div><div>Watch out the solar scammers are at it again and this time they are knocking on the doors of Bairnsdale residents, making big promises that are full of lies.</div> Their bogus claims that you will only have German made solar panels installed, when in fact, the panels they install are cheaply made Chinese ones that have no backup warranties to cover any issues that you will have with them in a few short years.</div><div>One of the biggest lies theses solar con-artists are telling people is that, you only have 48 hours left cash in on the Government Solar Rebate Scheme of $6,000. They do this to create a sense of urgency to make you think you will miss out on ever getting a rebate.</div><div>1. The Government has not put a time limit on the Solar Rebate Scheme.</div><div>2. The solar rebate will slowly drop in rebate value over the next 10 –15 years.</div><div>3. There are no rebates at the exact amount of $6,000, a rebate is calculated based purely on how many Kilowatts the solar power system is installed on your house, and every household has different energy requirement needs. So based on your household's energy requirements, this will determine what kilowatt solar power system you will need, and to the rebate amount you will be entitled too. (Roughly works out $700 rebate amount to every 1 kilowatt)</div><div>Watch this video for more information on how your rebate works.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aueo9UYq2SU"/><div>4. We have provided you with this link: <a href="http://yourenergysavings.gov.au/rebates/renewable-power-incentives">Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)</a>so you can view all the correct and legal information on how solar rebates work. 5. A Solar Scam Alert has also been printed in this weeks Advertiser of 3 companies trying to defraud Bairnsdale Residents of there hard earn cash.</div><div>Please visit the <a href="https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/">Scam Watch Website setup by the ACCC</a> for more information in regards to these Solar Scammers. 6. Solar Scammers make their money on over charging you on cheaply made solar panels and solar inverters at 3 times the recommend retail cost of the solar equipment they will install for you, and at that price you paid for such poorly made cheap knock off solar equipment, you could have had a top of the line quality solar power system installed that is rated and tested for Australian conditions.</div><div>7. Always ask for proof, if it sounds too good to be true it is too good to be true, if they are unwilling to give it to you in writing and signed by the owner of the company this is a scam.</div><div>8. Do you own homework, find out what your rights are as a consumer, shop around, and get more than just one quote.</div><div>9. Please also remember, you may think you are saving a few dollars by buying a cheaper Solar Power System and you may even think, YES, I showed that local solar salesman who gave me a more expensive quote, but in the long run you are going to spend more money to fix the issues you are going to run into later on down the track with Solar Products that were never Quality Tested or have Passed the Australian Electrical Safety Standards, due to our extreme weather conditions we have here in Australia. 10. Always check to make sure the company you are doing business with has a ABN and is registered for GST as any Solar Company will easily make over $75,000 every financial year. It is illegal to operate any business in Australia without an ABN or ACN (Australian Business Number or Australian Company Number)</div><div>11. Last but not least trust your Local Solar Installers that have been in business in your town or local region for a long time and have built up a good community reputation, they will only recommend and sell to you a system that best suits the needs of your home and power requirements, that is Australian tested and approved for our weather conditions.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Learn How Your Tesla Powerwall Battery Works Throughout The Day</title><description><![CDATA[Learn how SolarEdge’s DC Solar Inverter works coupled with a Tesla Powerwall storage solution, that allows homeowners to maximize self-consumption and enables energy independence.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/N7tDmLgv1gA/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>EG.Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/06/26/Learn-How-Your-Tesla-Powerwall-Battery-Works-Throughout-The-Day</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/06/26/Learn-How-Your-Tesla-Powerwall-Battery-Works-Throughout-The-Day</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Jun 2016 09:00:35 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Learn how SolarEdge’s DC Solar Inverter works coupled with a Tesla Powerwall storage solution, that allows homeowners to maximize self-consumption and enables energy independence.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N7tDmLgv1gA"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Battery Storage Solutions Are Now Here!!!</title><description><![CDATA[GCL SI at the launch of its lithium ion battery in Australia The much-anticipated arrival of the Enphase AC battery draws one step closer with solar installers now able to place orders through authorised distributors in Australia and New Zealand.Watch the video below about the Enphase Storage Solution The first global shipment of the Enphase AC Battery which features Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and is marketed as “suitable for any home regardless of the brand of inverters or solar<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/3nVf3ixOiVI/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>EG Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/06/16/New-Battery-Storage-Solutions-Are-Now-Here</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/06/16/New-Battery-Storage-Solutions-Are-Now-Here</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2016 03:30:34 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>GCL SI at the launch of its lithium ion battery in Australia The much-anticipated arrival of the Enphase AC battery draws one step closer with solar installers now able to place orders through authorised distributors in Australia and New Zealand.</div><div>Watch the video below about the Enphase Storage Solution</div><div> The first global shipment of the Enphase AC Battery which features Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and is marketed as “suitable for any home regardless of the brand of inverters or solar panels used” should land in Australia and New Zealand in August 2016. Enphase Energy boasts a partner network of more than 1000 installers in the region, who will be the first in the world to have access to the Enphase AC Battery which is available through AC Solar Warehouse, One Stop Warehouse, RFI, Solar + Solutions and Sun-Edison as well as Solar Partners NZ and YHI in New Zealand. Enphase anticipates initial demand will be driven by installers looking to retrofit existing residential solar PV systems. Customers will be spoilt for choice; GCL SI has launched its lithium ion battery in Australia with units available through One Stop Warehouse, and the first installation anticipated in July this year. As reported in the last e-newsletter, GCLs lightweight battery housed in a range of colours to blend in with home décor comes a more affordable price and orders are already piling up. Midwinter also marks the release of Brisbane-based Redflow’s new residential energy battery system, ZCell, that includes a battery made from “easily recyclable or reusable components” and can store up to 10 kWh of energy which Redflow chairman Simon Hackett says “makes it ideal for the home market”. Clearly there are no shortages of offerings but what the Australian market needs is a community that has the interest (which seems a given) and ability (less so) to invest in home storage solutions. Meanwhile, in the first quarter of this year, German battery maker Sonnen sold 100 more batteries than Tesla: specifically 2,600 Sonnen batteries were sold and 2,500 Tesla Powerwalls snapped up. Last year Sonnen sold 4000 batteries so this year’s sales are off to a powerful start and the company – which exports significant amounts of batteries to Italy and the US – is looking to double its revenue this year. Still on storage, Nissan and power management provider Eaton have announced their collaboration on a new residential energy storage system that they claim will be “the most affordable in the market today”. Available to pre-order in Europe in September 2016, the ‘xStorage’ unit combines Nissan’s expertise in vehicle design and reliable battery technology with Eaton’s leadership in power quality and electronics, resulting in “a formidable second life battery solution”. Homeowners will be able to control the xStorage from a smartphone. Nissan plans to recycle old electric vehicle batteries to build the new xStorage units however the starting price for the xStorage will be 4,000 euros (US$4,500) for a 4.2 KWh unit, whereas Tesla’s 6.4 kWh Powerwall residential energy storage unit is currently priced at about 2,600 euros (US$3,000).</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3nVf3ixOiVI"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Finally, A Push To Crack Down On Dodgy Solar Panels and Solar Inverters...</title><description><![CDATA[Did you know that out of the 1.5 Million Solar Power Systems that have been installed on Australian rooftops , over 600,000 of these customers are now solar orphans?What does this mean? The companies that sold and installed them or the manufacturers that made them are NOW OUT OF BUSINESS and can no longer fulfil their obligations of warranties or repairs. With more than 250,000 customer complaints to The Clean Energy Council, finally something is about to be done about it, as we can see in the<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_f9fe637d9ffb4ef8b0964cf90c26da51%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Reneweconomy</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/05/25/Finally-A-Push-To-Crack-Down-On-Dodgy-Solar-Panels-and-Solar-Inverters-1</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/05/25/Finally-A-Push-To-Crack-Down-On-Dodgy-Solar-Panels-and-Solar-Inverters-1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 May 2016 01:58:31 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_f9fe637d9ffb4ef8b0964cf90c26da51~mv2.jpg"/><div>Did you know that out of the 1.5 Million Solar Power Systems that have been installed on Australian rooftops , over 600,000 of these customers are now solar orphans?</div><div>What does this mean? The companies that sold and installed them or the manufacturers that made them are NOW OUT OF BUSINESS and can no longer fulfil their obligations of warranties or repairs.</div><div>With more than 250,000 customer complaints to The Clean Energy Council, finally something is about to be done about it, as we can see in the below article.</div><div><div>The Clean Energy Council</div> has outlined new rules and standards that will allow it to de-list rooftop solar modules and inverter products that fail to meet safety and performance standards, or do not deliver on marketing and warranty claims.</div><div>The CEC says the new initiatives will allow it to take action against suppliers that fail to meet standards, and it will also introduce a random testing program for solar panels and inverters to ensure that the actual performance of products being sold in Australia live up to their marketing claims.</div><div>The initiatives have been welcomed by the solar industry, and are considered long overdue. Australia is ranked as possibly the cheapest market in the world for rooftop solar installations, but that is at least partly because a small, but significant section of the market is, well, cheap in price and cheap in nature.</div><div>“The amount of rubbish that is being imported into the country is staggering,” said the head of one wholesaling group. He said the issues were poor quality, relabeled and copied products.</div><div>Numerous companies have been caught out. Some installers have collapsed because of the cost of trying to fix poorly performing equipment. It hits the big end of town too. Origin Energy last year said it had to pay out $17 million to repair poor inverters.</div><div>And there is much anecdotal evidence about poorly performing products, backed up by a survey by the Clean Energy Regulator which found that 15 per cent of the then 1.3 million solar installations in Australia were of poor quality. (There are now 1.52 million systems in Australia, with total capacity of 4.7GW, or more than 24 million panels).</div><div>This situation left the industry exposed when the Coalition government took pot shots at the industry last year over quality issues, with environment minister Greg Hunt raising “safety issues” – even though the CER had found no evidence of safety issues at all, despite 13,000 inspections.</div><div>That led to some alarmist stories in the mainstream media that put the issue out of context, as Tristan Edis pointed out in an article in the now defunct Climate Spectator. (from where this graph below is sourced).</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_b4fc2af4f62f421eb36a1aa0be2e969a~mv2.jpg"/><div>While Hunt overplayed the safety issues, it is true that Australian households have installed a higher proportion of “tier 3” panels than other countries.</div><div>This trend is now reversing, particularly after the more generous “money-making” premium tariff structures were wound down and because there is a greater push to educate consumers about the need for quality products. Most analysts advice not touching any panel that is not “tier one”. But quality issues persist.</div><div>The most significant of the new rules introduced by the CEC appears to be the decision to conduct random and ongoing testing of panels and inverters.</div><div>Previously, a manufacturer or importer needed to subject its products to testing just one, on applying for CEC listing – leading to accusations that the organisations were producing a “golden panel” with no scrutiny on the rest of its products.</div><div>The CEC, on the prompting of complaints from consumers, will now get an independent panel to test those modules and if they are found to be substandard, will delist the product.</div><div>CEC chief executive Kane Thornton said products will also de-listed if suppliers breach consumer law – such as a failing to honour warranties. Delisting means they are no longer eligible for government incentives, and will make them unable to compete on price with better quality panels.</div><div>“These changes will improve overall product quality in the solar industry by making sure customers get what they pay for when buying panels and inverters, and by penalising companies that do the wrong thing. Protecting consumers is our highest priority,” Thornton said in a statement.</div><div>Thornton said the introduction of other initiatives by the Clean Energy Council such as the Solar Retailer Code of Conduct and the continuous professional development program for solar installers were also helping to progressively improve standards across the industry.</div><div>Another initiative is labelling of modules with serial numbers so that the origin can be properly traced. The CEC is also seeking to ensure that the country of manufacturing is also made clear.</div><div>Some manufacturers, it seems, liked to pretend that their panels came from elsewhere. Some, it is said, would refuse to reply to requests on maintenance and warranty, but quick to respond on sales enquiries.</div><div>Darren Gladman, the head of solar energy division at the CEC, said the new rules were designed to lift standards overall, and were particularly targeted at “fly-by-night” suppliers who might seek to sell “one-off” container loads of cheap and poor quality equipment in Australia.</div><div>The changes to the panel listing process are as follows:</div><div>New terms and conditions will allow products to be de-listed from the registers of approved modules and inverters if suppliers breach consumer law – such as a failure to honour warranties.An independent testing program will be introduced to ensure the alignment of marketing claims and product performance. Products that fail this program will be removed from the Clean Energy Council’s list of approved products.An independent Product Listing Review panel has been appointed.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Tesla, Tesla, Read All About It, Watch East Gippsland Solar Install Another Tesla Powerwall</title><description><![CDATA[Watch as the boys from East Gippsland Solar install another Tesla Powerwall for another satisfied customer, you won't believe how fast these lads work.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/jh1_hZLLbQw/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/05/19/Tesla-Tesla-Read-All-About-It-Watch-East-Gippsland-Solar-Install-Another-Tesla-Powerwall</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/05/19/Tesla-Tesla-Read-All-About-It-Watch-East-Gippsland-Solar-Install-Another-Tesla-Powerwall</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2016 10:16:35 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jh1_hZLLbQw"/><div>Watch as the boys from East Gippsland Solar install another Tesla Powerwall for another satisfied customer, you won't believe how fast these lads work.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>East Gippsland Solar Is Interviewed @ Solar Energy &amp; Energy Storage Conference</title><description><![CDATA[John Hulme from East Gippsland Solar is Interviewed by John Degitarti from Supply Partners @ Solar Energy & Energy Storage Conference about East Gippsland Solar's Business Practices and the Solar Storage Solutions. The Australian Solar Council is hosting its 54th annual Australian Solar Council Industry Exhibition & Conference, on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th May 2016 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/vHd4OR2Xlpw/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Johm Hulme</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/05/07/East-Gippsland-Solar-Is-Interviewed-Solar-Energy-Energy-Storage-Conference</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/05/07/East-Gippsland-Solar-Is-Interviewed-Solar-Energy-Energy-Storage-Conference</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 May 2016 08:59:28 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vHd4OR2Xlpw"/><div>John Hulme from East Gippsland Solar is Interviewed by John Degitarti from Supply Partners @ Solar Energy &amp; Energy Storage Conference about East Gippsland Solar's Business Practices and the Solar Storage Solutions. The Australian Solar Council is hosting its 54th annual Australian Solar Council Industry Exhibition &amp; Conference, on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th May 2016 at the Melbourne Convention &amp; Exhibition Centre.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>KNOCK KNOCK
WHO’S THERE?
SOLAR SCAMMER!</title><description><![CDATA[BEWARE OF ALL SOLAR SCAMMERS THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. For the last two years, East Gippsland Solar has been trying frantically to warn and educate all East Gippsland Residents about the unscrupulous actions of the “Shark Tank Feeding Frenzy Solar Companies”, either by their phone calling or door to door knocking on a MASSIVE scale. These unethical solar companies are claiming their solar products will wipe out all your power bills, while falsely promising you they will only install high quality<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_bf5a1a716c0440deac1129c458d51ff3.jpg/v1/fill/w_288%2Ch_200/f7dbdb_bf5a1a716c0440deac1129c458d51ff3.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Grant Templar | E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/04/26/KNOCK-KNOCK-WHO%E2%80%99S-THERE-SOLAR-SCAMMER</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/04/26/KNOCK-KNOCK-WHO%E2%80%99S-THERE-SOLAR-SCAMMER</guid><pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2016 12:43:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_bf5a1a716c0440deac1129c458d51ff3.jpg"/><div>BEWARE OF ALL SOLAR SCAMMERS THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.</div><div>For the last two years, East Gippsland Solar has been trying frantically to warn and educate all East Gippsland Residents about the unscrupulous actions of the “Shark Tank Feeding Frenzy Solar Companies”, either by their phone calling or door to door knocking on a MASSIVE scale.</div><div>These unethical solar companies are claiming their solar products will wipe out all your power bills, while falsely promising you they will only install high quality German Solar products. Unfortunately, what these solar scammers are doing is overcharging their victims on Solar Power Systems, that are so cheaply made by Chinese manufacturers, they usually only have a small shelf life before burning out, literally.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_260134f341fb44a4b2034fd36483c4f8.jpg"/><div>But the scam doesn’t stop there, the system they install on your roof will most likely only meet half of your daily power requirements as these solar scam companies have no idea how to read your current power utility bill, or even understand just how many Kilowatts of power your home uses on a daily basis. So the real sad story is, you end up with a poorly made solar power system that you have paid 3 times the market value for and you will still end up having to pay a portion of your power bill every month.</div><div>During their sales process they will try and push you to choose their “Interest Free Finance Option” and then they will blatantly lie to your face and tell you, that your fortnightly or monthly repayments will equal what your current power bill is, making it seem like your not paying for anything.</div><div>East Gippsland Solar would like to empower all East Gippsland Residents, about the unethical practices of these “here today gone tomorrow solar companies”, proclaiming misleading facts about solar power generation, which is a MASSIVE problem. So if you are interested in installing solar, you need to do your homework and get the right advice including pricing from a reputable local solar business.</div><div>This is one of the reasons why East Gippsland Solar is a Solahart Dealer, because we meet all the criteria that is necessary to be a local trusted Solar Installer. Always have your check-list on hand so if anyone comes knocking at your door trying to sell you a solar power system, you're ready to ask them questions.</div><div>Do they have an ABN?<div>Do they have an Australian Licensed Electrician on their team, if so ask to see their license, they must show you as it is the law.</div><div>Are they using Australian Approved and Tested Solar Panels and Solar Inverters, ask for proof that meets the Australian Industry Standard for Electrical Safety?</div><div>Make sure their proof is in writing and can be verified by Energy Safe Victoria.</div><div>Ask for the product serial numbers of each solar panel before they are installed, so you can confirm online if they are made from the country of origin the sales rep claim they were from.</div><div>If they are offering you to good to be truedeals verbally, always make sure you get it in writing and signed off by the company owner as legal proof to back up any claims later on.</div>Make sure they check your roof for best possible panel location and if there is any shading issues.If there are going to be any shading issues (panels been shaded by other objects) a good sales rep would identify this problem right away and suggest a very good work around. An experienced Solar Installer will know how to place your solar panels in the best North and West facing positions for the most sunlight all day as well as making sure your panels don't have shading issues.<div>Ask if they know how many Phase Power Supply that you have coming into your house; this is very important for planning purposes of what size Kilowatt system you will need for your home. Phase Power means how many power lines come of the power pole from the street to your house. (It can be 1, 2 or 3 phase)</div>They should also know just by looking at your hot water system if it is gas or electric.<div>They should also know, if your hot water service is electric, it can consume up to 55% of your power use every billing cycle.</div>All these things a solar sales rep must know to give you a correct and fair estimate on a solar power system.</div><div>If the door to door Solar Sales Rep misses at least 3 of these steps or more, warning bells should be going off.</div><div>Please share this post to all your friends to save the heartache of being ripped off.</div><div>If you know someone who was been ripped off by one of these unreputable solar companies, they can contact the links below for recourse:</div><div><a href="https://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/solar-pv-warranties-complaints-and-disputes.html"></a><a href="https://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/solar-pv-warranties-complaints-and-disputes.html">Solar PV Warranties, Complaints and Disputes</a></div><div><a href="https://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/solar-pv-warranties-complaints-and-disputes/dispute-form.html">Clean Energy Council</a></div><div>Consumer Affairs Victoria</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_9881c0d66b1a4ef3bfc3749c430bccfe.jpg"/><div>More Articles On Solar Scams</div><div><a href="http://www.egsolar.com.au/#!BEWARE-Of-The-Solar-Scammers/weakm/560ceb270cf25fa7fe205c25">Beware of the Solar Scammers</a></div><div>Please leave any comment below if you have had any bad experiences with solar scamming companies.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Come And Join Us @ East Gippsland Field Days</title><description><![CDATA[The Biggest Event on the East Gippsland Calendar When: April, Friday 29th and April, Saturday 30th, 2016Where: Bairnsdale AerodromeGoogle Maps: click here to view event locationTimes: Friday 9am to 4.30pm. Saturday 9am to 4pm Prices: Adults $18, Children under 5 free, Children 5 to 15 $5 – EFTPOS is available at the main gate and cash can be taken out at the main office Exhibitors: Go to the Exhibitor Info page to register Visit East Gippsland Solar @ Site number M24We will have on display our:<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_e720ed08cf1248ee83e3a6af70a2a8f1.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/04/12/Come-And-Join-Us-East-Gippsland-Field-Days</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/04/12/Come-And-Join-Us-East-Gippsland-Field-Days</guid><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2016 02:10:13 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>The Biggest Event on the East Gippsland Calendar</div><div>When: April, Friday 29th and April, Saturday 30th, 2016</div><div>Where: <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/UHZM3cxQEm72">Bairnsdale Aerodrome</a></div><div><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/UHZM3cxQEm72">Google Maps:</a><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/kEp3goaUws82">click here to view event location</a></div><div>Times: Friday 9am to 4.30pm. Saturday 9am to 4pm</div><div>Prices: Adults $18, Children under 5 free, Children 5 to 15 $5 – EFTPOS is available at the main gate and cash can be taken out at the main office</div><div>Exhibitors: Go to the <div><a href="http://www.egfielddays.com.au/exhibitor-info">Exhibitor Info</a>page</div> to register</div><div>Visit East Gippsland Solar @ Site number M24</div><div>We will have on display our:</div><div>Solahart Hot Water SystemsTesla Home Battery PowerWallREC Solar Panels Solar InvertersSolatube SkylightSunStar Solar Roof VentilatorOff Grid Storage &amp; Generator OptionsWind Turbine</div><div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_e720ed08cf1248ee83e3a6af70a2a8f1.jpg"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_57a726a8232841bdbcc6f4bc8ab72404.jpg"/><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_05493239011740cb83fa75ecee16fcc1.jpg"/></div><div>With over 350 exhibitor spaces and numerous quality promotions at the Field Days, around 8 – 10,000 visitors are attracted to the event each year, most of them on the lookout for new products, services and information.</div><div>East Gippsland encompasses a diverse range of agricultural and rural industries. It possesses agricultural holdings of some 750,000 ha based around beef, wool, dairy, vegetables and cropping, is seeing a growth in emerging enterprises such as flower growing and viticulture, and has a strong hobby and part time farming population. The region is also home to Australia’s largest fishing fleet, a major timber industry producing 25% of Victoria’s hardwood output, as well as expanding tourism, manufacturing and retail sectors.</div><div>It is clear that East Gippsland has significant equipment, product and service needs, and so there are many good reasons to be an exhibitor. For the visitor, the opportunity to see a vast range of products in one location presents itself but once a year, here at the East Gippsland Field Days. An iconic event on the East Gippsland calendar proudly run by the Lindenow Lions Club since its inception in 1986.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_6672863487ad43fc9e76541d5362539a.png"/><div>Visitor Information / Entertainment</div><div>An information booth is located just outside the main office (see main map for exact location) No dogs are allowed on site. A shuttle bus runs from the Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre on the Saturday each year. The timetable will be posted on this page closer to the event and also printed in the official field days booklet. Each year East Gippsland Field Days engages a host of family friendly entertainment. Keep an eye on this page for 2016 entertainment.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Solar Households Now Have To Pay To Use Their Own Solar Output</title><description><![CDATA[Thousands of solar households in Queensland and Tasmania are being asked by their energy utilities to pay to use the output of their own solar panels inside their own homes. And the utilities involved don’t seem to see any problem with that.The situation has emerged in Queensland and Tasmania for quite different reasons, but essentially resolves around the use of two meters in certain households. The households are being hit for grid payments even though the solar power is generated and consumed<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_0a8c79fd929549baa57e8524fb501471.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>By Giles Parkinson at One Step Off Grid</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/04/01/Solar-Households-Now-Have-To-Pay-To-Use-Their-Own-Solar-Output</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/04/01/Solar-Households-Now-Have-To-Pay-To-Use-Their-Own-Solar-Output</guid><pubDate>Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:12:42 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_0a8c79fd929549baa57e8524fb501471.jpg"/><div>Thousands of solar households in Queensland and Tasmania are being asked by their energy utilities to pay to use the output of their own solar panels inside their own homes. And the utilities involved don’t seem to see any problem with that.</div><div>The situation has emerged in Queensland and Tasmania for quite different reasons, but essentially resolves around the use of two meters in certain households. The households are being hit for grid payments even though the solar power is generated and consumed on site.</div><div>In Queensland, it’s happening because Energex, the operator of the grid in the south east corner of the state, has decided to switch “controlled loads” for heating water from the middle of the night to the middle of the day in some situations, to act as a sort of “solar sponge” to mop up excess output from rooftop solar panels.</div><div>The idea is a good one. As this graph below illustrates, it helps to even out the load across a 24 hour period. In effect, it is using demand for hot water as a sort of storage device, rather than just a “filler” for excess coal capacity at night time.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_4912b884a7b14e33a66599222d74f86f.jpg"/><div>But the question arises out of the treatment of households, and they payments and charges, and in this case households on controlled load tariffs, and who have rooftop solar and are receiving the modest feed in tariffs of between 4c/kWh and 8c/kWh for the solar power they export to the grid.</div><div>These households have two meters. One that monitors their solar “exports” – usually about 6c/kWh for their solar. They are also on a meter for controlled loads, specifically their hot water, and for that service they pay 18c/kWh.</div><div>The problem arises when the hot water controlled load is switched to daytime, even though the load is now being supplied by their own excess solar output.</div><div>But that power is going out one meter (for exports) and into another (controlled load) and not even going back into the grid. It is just travelling a few centimetres down a cable from one meter to another.</div><div>That means that they are effectively paying the utilities 12c/kWh to use the output from their own solar system to power their own hot water system.</div><div>In Tasmania the situation is similar except that the problem occurs within a single ‘dual element’ meter.</div><div>Solar owners in Tasmania who signed up after August 31, 2013, and are on both a light and power tariff and a separate heating tariff are effectively feeding electricity into the grid through one side of the meter and paying an energy charge as though they were receiving power from the grid through the other side of the meter.</div><div>The result means that they are paying Aurora, the local electricity retailer, 9c/kWh for the electricity they generate themselves – that’s the difference between the 6c/kWh they receive for their solar output, and the 15c/kWh they receive for their heating charge.</div><div>The situation has been recognised and acknowledge by the network operator and the government. But after looking at the situation, TasNetworks (the network operator and metering provider) decided that the changes required to fix the problem was too expensive and not in line with their long term tariff strategy to phase out the separate heating tariff.</div><div>TasNetworks suggested that other tariff options exist for allow solar owners to avoid this dilemma, but this requires solar owners to pay for a change to their metering.</div><div>“It is manifestly unfair that around 4000 Tasmanian solar owners are paying for electricity they generated themselves” says Jack Gilding, Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Alliance.</div><div>“To add insult to injury, TasNetworks suggests that solar owners have the option of either missing out on the lower heating tariff or waiting for new time of use tariffs that retailers may offer from July this year, and paying for the required meter changes.”</div><div>And the point of all this? All we ever here from governments and mainstream media are about the enormous “subsidies” paid to solar households.</div><div>There is already huge debate – and perceived injustice – in the rock bottom tariffs paid to solar households for “normal” exports. These tariffs don’t recognise the network, environmental or climate benefits of rooftop solar. But these examples are even more egregious. It is simply a sign that utilities – in some cases – are either not paying attention to detail. Or they simply don’t care.</div><div>So I ask you to leave your feed back at the end of this article and let me know what you think of this new way that the greedy utility companies are lining their pockets.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Solar Module Quality: Why Quality Counts</title><description><![CDATA[PV Magazine reports from its first Quality Roundtable event in Munich. Reports on what module quality means, why it is important and what steps can be take to assure quality.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/jDiR_-fPWnE/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>pv magazine global</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/24/Solar-Module-Quality-Why-Quality-Counts</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/24/Solar-Module-Quality-Why-Quality-Counts</guid><pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2016 01:42:23 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jDiR_-fPWnE"/><div>PV Magazine reports from its first Quality Roundtable event in Munich. Reports on what module quality means, why it is important and what steps can be take to assure quality.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Snail Trails In Your Solar Panels Could Be Adding More Money To Your Power Bill</title><description><![CDATA[Snail trails are a visual reference to the presence of micro-cracks in your solar panels which can ultimately, at some stage cause major performance issues due to the depth and length of these cracks within each panel. At this stage, this is where your performance warranty should come into effect, so you can file a claim against the manufacturer.You will have to prove the loss of production or output less than what is stated by the manufacturers claim to their product. This is all very doable<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_0fa91f311bcc4081bc9318e06d65be0f.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>by John at E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/20/Snail-Trails-In-Your-Solar-Panels-Could-Be-Adding-More-Money-To-Your-Power-Bill</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/20/Snail-Trails-In-Your-Solar-Panels-Could-Be-Adding-More-Money-To-Your-Power-Bill</guid><pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:08:47 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Snail trails are a visual reference to the presence of micro-cracks in your solar panels which can ultimately, at some stage cause major performance issues due to the depth and length of these cracks within each panel. At this stage, this is where your performance warranty should come into effect, so you can file a claim against the manufacturer.</div><div>You will have to prove the loss of production or output less than what is stated by the manufacturers claim to their product. This is all very doable with the right Testing Gear such as a PV Analyser.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_0fa91f311bcc4081bc9318e06d65be0f.jpg"/><div>As a professional and very trusted Solahart Solar Installer, we at East Gippsland Solar are starting to seeing more and more of this type of occurrence happen with so many poorly made, cheap quality, Chinese Manufactured, Solar Panels.</div><div>Some would say that it's nothing to worry about but we tend to disagree! I wouldn’t be happy if my panels were under warranty and starting to do this!</div><div>We only get to see theses types of problems when new clients have contacted us about issues with their solar panels, that were installed by other companies. By other less qualified and very untrustworthy companies that care less about the customers real power usage needs and more content on selling a solar power system that is so underpowered to handle the clients daily power needs.</div><div>Along with cheap quality inferior materials that have not been Australian tested or approved that have not passed Australian Industry standards for electrical safety, these companies only care about one thing and that is how much money they can make out of you, so they can move on to their next victim.</div><div>My advice for you today is, please always do your own independent research on solar power systems, find out what are the best solar panels and solar inverters that meet Australian Industry Standards, always use Certified Solar Panel Installers that have an Australian Licensed Electrician on their team or, they at least contract one on a full-time basis.</div><div> This is one of the reasons why East Gippsland Solar is a Solahart Dealer, because we meet all these criteria. So, always have your checklist on hand, so if anyone comes knocking at your door trying to sell you a solar power system, you're ready to ask them questions.</div><div>Do they have an ABN?<div>Do they have an Australian licensed electrician on their team, if so ask to see their license, they must show you as it is the law.</div><div>Are they using Australian Approved and Tested Solar Panels and Solar Inverters, ask for proof that meets the Australian Industry Standard for Electrical Safety?</div>If they are offering you deals verbally, always make sure you get it in writing and signed off by the company owner as legal proof to back up any claims later on.<div>Make sure their proof is in writing and can be verified by Energy Safe Victoria.</div></div><div>IF YOU WANT PEACE OF MIND ABOUT YOUR SOLAR PANELS WHY NOT GIVE EAST GIPPSLAND SOLAR A RING AND ORGANISE AN INSPECTION.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Why SolarEdge Inverters Are Leading the Way</title><description><![CDATA[Before I go on and on about, just how wonderful SolarEdge Inverters are, along with their Power Optimizers and why I would always recommend this Inverter to be installed over any other inverter, I need to share with you why I am a huge fan of this product. 1. A SolarEdge Inverter is different from all the other solar inverters that have come before it, as it has been designed not only to work as a normal On-Grid Connect Inverter, but it can also works as a Hybrid Inverter, which means connecting<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/-Bsq7umcffg/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/04/Why-SolarEdge-Inverters-Are-Leading-the-Way</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/04/Why-SolarEdge-Inverters-Are-Leading-the-Way</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:34:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_e753c521f79e4707968c9d19619aacf1.jpg"/><div>Before I go on and on about, just how wonderful SolarEdge Inverters are, along with their Power Optimizers and why I would always recommend this Inverter to be installed over any other inverter, I need to share with you why I am a huge fan of this product. 1. A SolarEdge Inverteris different from all the other solar inverters that have come before it, as it has been designed not only to work as a normal On-Grid Connect Inverter, but it can also works as a Hybrid Inverter, which means connecting to both the main supply electrical grid or to Solar Batteries and not just any solar battery, but a Tesla PowerWall battery. So this means the inverter can also be used for Off-Grid Solar Power System as well.</div><div>So by installing a SolarEdge Inverter even for a normal On-Grid Connect Solar Power System, this will give you the option to later on, turn your solar power system into either a Hybrid System or a Off Grid System by simply adding a Tesla PowerWall.</div><div>Why is this so important you might ask, well think of it this way, you have just spent $8000 on a normal inverter and solar panels that only allows you to connect to the to the main supply electrical grid and your house, yes you have saved yourself some money by paying less on your power bill each month and sometimes you don't even have to pay a bill at all.</div><div>However if you ever decide that you want to go Off-Grid or even connect a Hybrid Solar System, meaning connecting to both batteries and the main supply electrical grid, the inverter you installed is now useless, as it was not designed to and can not connect to solar batteries, so you would need to spend more money on a new inverter that can connect to solar batteries. This means you would have to pay for a new Inverter and the installation costs to install the new the inverter along with the changes that need to be made to connect with the solar panels and solar batteries to that inverter.</div><div>So my advice to you on this matter is, if you are looking to connect to solar batteries later especially a Tesla PowerWall, please keep this in mind, paying a little extra for a SolarEdge Inverter will save you a lot of grief and money in the long run when it does come to connect to Solar Batteries.</div><div>I know money can also be an issue as well and sometimes we just don't have that little extra to give for the a better Solar Inverter, this is why East Gippsland Solar also offers 36 Months Interest Free Finance Plans to help get you the little extra you might need and also giving you the peace of mind to know there is no pressure to now over spend. 2. SolarEdge has designed a new technology called a Power Optimizer; A Power Optimizer sits behind each solar panel that has been installed on your roof for 2 main reasons, which I am going to allow the video below to explain to you why a Power Optimizer combined with a SolarEdge Inverter has turned the solar industry on its head.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Bsq7umcffg"/><div>Solar Power Harvesting, Optimization and Monitoring System The SolarEdge portfolio of products includes power optimizers, highly efficient PV inverters and a web portal for module-level monitoring and fault detection. The SolarEdge system enables harvesting more solar power from any PV system by effectively removing the known system constraints across the photovoltaic energy space</div><div>SolarEdge Power Optimizer.</div><div>SolarEdge Power Optimizer</div><div>The SolarEdge power optimizer is a DC/DC converter which is connected by installers to each PV module or embedded by module manufacturers, replacing the traditional solar junction box. The SolarEdge power optimizers increase energy output from PV systems by constantly tracking the maximum power point (MPPT) of each module individually. Furthermore, the power optimizers monitor the performance of each module and communicate performance data to the SolarEdge monitoring portal for enhanced, cost-effective module-level maintenance. Each power optimizer is equipped with the unique SafeDC™ feature which automatically shuts down modules' DC voltage whenever the inverter or grid power is shut down. The MPPT per module allows for flexible installation design with multiple orientations, tilts and module types in the same string. When working with SolarEdge Inverters, SolarEdge power optimizers automatically maintain a fixed string voltage, allowing installers even greater flexibility with longer strings and strings of different lengths in order to design optimal PV systems. Alternatively, the new independent optimization (IndOP™) technology allows power optimizers to be installed without the need for additional interface hardware and to operate directly with any inverter. The SolarEdge power optimizers are compatible with c-Si and thin-film modules and have a 25 year warranty.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_77d001cee81c4b3eae913b9bb203e517.jpg"/><div>SolarEdge PV Inverter The SolarEdge DC-AC PV inverter is specifically designed to work with the SolarEdge power optimizers. Because MPPT and voltage management are handled separately for each module by the power optimizer, the inverter is only responsible for DC to AC inversion. Consequently, it is a less complicated, more cost effective, more reliable solar inverter with a standard 12 year warranty, extendable to 20 or 25 years. The fixed string voltage ensures operation at the highest efficiency at all times (&gt;97% weighted efficiency) independent of string length and temperature.SolarEdge PV Monitoring Portal The SolarEdge PV Monitoring Portal is a web-based application that provides module-level, string-level and system-wide monitoring. The solar monitoring software provides enhanced maintenance of PV systems and yield assurance. The portal automatically provides alerts for accurate and immediate fault detection, localized on a virtual site map for on-site and remote troubleshooting at the module level. Module performance is communicated across existing power lines, so no extra wiring is required.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>1st Country In The World To Go Completely Solar</title><description><![CDATA[Tokelau is one of the world’s most remote countries – and the first to generate its energy supply using only photovoltaics. The island nation consists of three small atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, north of Samoa, and can only be reached by boat. For a long time, the islanders relied almost exclusively on diesel generators to meet their electricity needs. This was expensive and accounted for the most of pollution in the area. The electricity supply was far from reliable, with intermittent<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/6dEFPws4BiQ/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/02/09/1st-Country-To-Go-Completely-Solar</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/02/09/1st-Country-To-Go-Completely-Solar</guid><pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2016 11:31:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Tokelau is one of the world’s most remote countries – and the first to generate its energy supply using only photovoltaics. The island nation consists of three small atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, north of Samoa, and can only be reached by boat. For a long time, the islanders relied almost exclusively on diesel generators to meet their electricity needs. This was expensive and accounted for the most of pollution in the area. The electricity supply was far from reliable, with intermittent blackouts. However, 2012 Tokelau became the first country in the world with an energy supply based fully on photovoltaics. At one megawatt of power, the entire facility is the largest inverter dominated solar off-grid system in the world. The plants generate more energy than the 1,411 inhabitants of Tokelau need. SMA is proud to play a role in bringing a sustainable energy supply to this beautiful island nation.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6dEFPws4BiQ"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>World's Biggest Floating Solar Farm Powers Up Outside London</title><description><![CDATA[On a vast manmade lake on the outskirts of London, work is nearing completion on what will soon be Europe’s largest floating solar power farm – and will briefly be the world’s biggest. But few are likely to see the 23,000 solar panels on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir at Walton-on-Thames, which is invisible to all but Heathrow passengers and a few flats in neighbouring estates. “This will be the biggest floating solar farm in the world for a time - others are under construction,” said Angus<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_7ff360992d304cda8dba2fce4abf12a7.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Fiona Harvey | The Guardian</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/03/Worlds-biggest-floating-solar-farm-powers-up-outside-London</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/03/03/Worlds-biggest-floating-solar-farm-powers-up-outside-London</guid><pubDate>Tue, 16 Feb 2016 15:33:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_7ff360992d304cda8dba2fce4abf12a7.jpg"/><div>On a vast manmade lake on the outskirts of London, work is nearing completion on what will soon be Europe’s largest floating solar power farm – and will briefly be the world’s biggest. But few are likely to see the 23,000 solar panels on the Queen Elizabeth II reservoir at Walton-on-Thames, which is invisible to all but Heathrow passengers and a few flats in neighbouring estates. “This will be the biggest floating solar farm in the world for a time - others are under construction,” said Angus Berry, energy manager for Thames Water, which owns the site. “We are leading the way, but we hope that others will follow, in the UK and abroad.”</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_32465b0481af41e59d63bb521d4e5b0d.jpg"/><div>Divers fix anchors onto the bed of the reservoir. The panels are fixed to floats at the water’s edge, and then fed down onto the water. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian</div><div>Five years in planning and due to be finished in early March, the £6m project will generate enough electricity to power the utility’s local water treatment plants for decades. The energy will help provide clean drinking water to a populace of close to 10 million people in greater London and the south-east of England, a huge and often unrecognised drain on electricity, rather than nearby homes.</div><div>Why put solar panels on water? The answer, according to Berry, is that the water is there, and might as well be used for this purpose. Floating panels, covering only about 6% of the reservoir, will have no impact on the ecosystem, he says. Though waterbirds, including moorhens and gulls, live on the margins, and a thin scum of litter is visible at the shore, the reservoir is not intended as a home to wildlife, and any fish living here are accidental visitors. Eighteen metres deep, it provides water for Londoners in a constantly churning stream. Although most of the population growth in London tends to be towards the east, most of the water still comes from reservoirs to the west of the city.</div><div>But future projects to make use of water companies’ reservoirs in order to provide solar power might be in doubt, Berry said. The current government has slashed subsidies for solar and wind power. Berry said that this would not affect the QEII project, but might have an effect on whether follow-up projects could go ahead. “We have had to look very closely at the economics of this, at all stages,” he said. “It is not clear what the future economics would be [for other potential projects].” A similar floating solar farm with around half the capacity of the Thames Water project is being built by water company United Utilities on a reservoir near Manchester. Construction of an even bigger farm - at 13.7MW more than twice the QEII farm - is underway on a reservoir in land-scarce Japan and due to finish in 2018.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_444208e823b64553b0ac6d6ffcf98889.jpg"/><div>The system will cover around one-tenth of the reservoir. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian</div><div>Putting solar panels on the water for the QEII scheme has not required planning permission, though big arrays of similar panels on land require official sanction. The government has decided to ban farmers who put solar arrays on agricultural land from receiving EU subsidies for the land. More than 23,000 solar panels will be floated by developer Lightsource Renewable Energy at the reservoir near Walton-on-Thames, representing 6.3MW of capacity, or enough to generate the equivalent electricity consumption of about 1,800 homes. The reservoir was commissioned in 1962, and remains one of the biggest serving London. Thames Water said that plans for a “super-sewer” under London would not affect the solar power project.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Solahart &amp; Tesla Talk Deals</title><description><![CDATA[EXCITING NEWS!!!! Today Solahart announced an agreement with TESLA to become an Authorised Reseller of the Tesla PowerWall Battery Storage System.Stocks of the 7 Kilowatt PowerWall will be available FEB/MARCH. As your Local Solahart Dealer for the past 17 Years we are looking forward to assisting our existing customers and new Ones with this Exciting Product.To know more about the Tesla PowerWall click on the following link. https://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/powerwall or give us a call on 5153<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/yKORsrlN-2k/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/07/01/How-to-Eat-Well-on-a-Budget</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/07/01/How-to-Eat-Well-on-a-Budget</guid><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2016 07:07:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>EXCITING NEWS!!!! Today Solahart announced an agreement with TESLA to become an Authorised Reseller of the Tesla PowerWall Battery Storage System.</div><div>Stocks of the 7 Kilowatt PowerWall will be available FEB/MARCH. As your Local Solahart Dealer for the past 17 Years we are looking forward to assisting our existing customers and new Ones with this Exciting Product.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yKORsrlN-2k"/><div>To know more about the Tesla PowerWall click on the following link. <a href="https://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/powerwall">https://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/powerwall</a> or give us a call on 5153 0722.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BEWARE! Of The Solar Scammers</title><description><![CDATA[About 6 months ago our Local paper the Bairnsdale Advertiser had a front page feature which we had given them the Information for warning people about Solar Companies and the lies, mistruths and outright Scamming that were being done by some Solar Businesses. Not only is this problem not going away despite all the warnings it is getting worse. So we are posting again some important things to be aware of so you don't get scammed like more and more people are.Here are some common things to be<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_3e82dc54df4b4a9d9745bb7bc9395b5b.png"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/06/10/Recipe-Mushroom-and-Chickpea-Stew</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/06/10/Recipe-Mushroom-and-Chickpea-Stew</guid><pubDate>Sat, 16 Jan 2016 07:13:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>About 6 months ago our Local paper the Bairnsdale Advertiser had a front page feature which we had given them the Information for warning people about Solar Companies and the lies, mistruths and outright Scamming that were being done by some Solar Businesses. Not only is this problem not going away despite all the warnings it is getting worse. So we are posting again some important things to be aware of so you don't get scammed like more and more people are.</div><div>Here are some common things to be aware of. </div><div>1. Be very wary when someone randomly knocks at your door offering you free Solar.</div><div>2. When they ask to see your power bill be aware that they will probably get your name and details from the bill, this is often done so they can gather a list of names to use when they are calling on other people in your area so, they will tell people about all these people who you may know that are putting Solar on even when they are NOT! As well as using your and their names without permission (Illegal).</div><div>3. They will claim that the Solar Panels and Inverters that you will get are made in Germany. BIG FAT LIE. What you are getting is often a Tier 3 Chinese manufactured Solar Panel and cheap Chinese Inverter. Ask them for a brochure Good Luck!</div><div>4. They will then tell you how you can pay the Solar system off Interest free and that the savings that you will make from your Solar system will be the same as your Repayments. BIG FAT LIE.</div><div>5. If you do purchase a system and pay it off be assured you will have paid anywhere up to $2000 to $4000 more than what the system is worth.</div><div>6. You are entitled to a 10 day cooling off period this is the LAW. These companies won’t tell you about this which is Illegal. And what we are seeing more often now is if you do proceed with them they will often have the system installed in the next day or two. If you have been one of the Unfortunate people who have been caught out by these Scammers, or they have called at your house there is something you can do let everyone know, through social media, tell your family and friends, report them to the ACCC or Consumer affairs. As a local business that has been operating for 18 years in East Gippsland we are angry and appalled at how many people have been caught out.</div><div>Please when you are looking at a Solar System, do your due diligence and don't be pressured into making a decision straight away...</div><div>REMEMBER IF IT ALL SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE THEN WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU!</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_3e82dc54df4b4a9d9745bb7bc9395b5b.png"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>10 Ways To Use The Sun At Home</title><description><![CDATA[Here comes the sunAs I looked outside my office window this morning and saw a light dusting of snow I was forced to squint and close the wood slat shades. The sun was beaming in, filling my entire work space with radiant sunlight. Even during the winter months the sunshine is a welcome addition to any snow-filled day. Sometimes I forget how truly lucky we are to have an infinite energy resource. The sun.While climate change conversations continue to swirl during the months leading up to the<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_c021d790d1b24f96aff1b4ab05df0b63.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Healthy Living</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/05/10/10-Healthy-Foods-That-Calm-DeStress</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/05/10/10-Healthy-Foods-That-Calm-DeStress</guid><pubDate>Sat, 02 Jan 2016 07:02:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Here comes the sun</div><div>As I looked outside my office window this morning and saw a light dusting of snow I was forced to squint and close the wood slat shades. The sun was beaming in, filling my entire work space with radiant sunlight. Even during the winter months the sunshine is a welcome addition to any snow-filled day. Sometimes I forget how truly lucky we are to have an infinite energy resource. The sun.</div><div>While climate change conversations continue to swirl during the months leading up to the presidential election it’s crucial to remember that more than 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from energy-related sources.</div><div>The sun really comes into play when we become serious about tackling the issue of climate change. Low-carbon energy sources like solar and wind are essential. Annie said it best: “The sun will come out tomorrow.” Solar energy is where it’s at since the sun’s going to be around for a long, long time.</div><div>Solar energy is simply the light and heat that come from the sun and it’s in demand. Over the last year, the solar industry added jobs twelve times faster than the rest of the economy, even more than the jobs created by the oil and gas extraction and pipeline sectors combined.</div><div>There are a few simple ways that we can harness the sun’s energy around our homes.</div><div>Install Solar Panels</div><div>Installing solar panels are one way to use the suns energy in our own homes. Making electricity with solar panels uses 91% less CO2 pollution than using natural gas, and 96% less CO2 than coal.</div><div>Solar Chargers</div><div>A few years ago I reviewed the Solar Joos Orange Portable Solar Charger which is designed to charge all personal electronic devices including smart phones, iPads and more. Now there are so many options for solar chargers. What a simple way to use the sun’s energy!</div><div>Install a Sky Light</div><div>Add a sky light to your home. Sky lights can add extra light and warmth to your home and in turn will reduce your heating and lighting cost.</div><div>Solar Blanket for Your Pool</div><div>If you own a swimming pool you’re going to want to check this out. This eco-friendly solar blanket increases temperature of the pool water by approx. 3 ~ 5 degrees by capturing the sun’s rays.</div><div>Solar Powered Lamp Posts</div><div>Time to replace your lamp posts with this Solar-Powered LED Streetlight-Style Outdoor Light. The LED bulbs are charged by the sun and automatically turn on at dusk.</div><div>Make a Solar Oven Out of a Pizza Box</div><div>This is a fun experiment to try with your kids.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xbwliZJiHe8"/><div>Choose Your Roof Color Wisely</div><div>The color of the shingles you choose can have a significant impact on your home’s energy efficiency. Use the sun to your advantage by choosing lighter colors in warmer climates which will reduce heat absorption from the sun. In cooler climates go for darker shingles to help to melt winter snow.</div><div>Solar Keyboard</div><div>I really want to try this Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard. What a clever idea! The keyboard charges itself with any light, including the one on your desk.</div><div>Solar Flashlight</div><div>It’s time to invest in a flashlight where the battery can be charged with the built in hand crank or the built in solar panel.</div><div>Line Dry Clothes</div><div>An average dryer cycle uses a tremendous amount of energy and contributes to CO2 emissions. If everyone committed to hanging up one load of laundry outside each week, we would save over a million tonnes of CO2 in a year. Yes, you can dry them outside even in the winter!</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_c021d790d1b24f96aff1b4ab05df0b63.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Solar Energy 101: What You Need to Know About the Solar Power Battery</title><description><![CDATA[For off-grid solar power users, the battery is an essential part for your solar power system. While we take everything for granted, leaving all the installation and safety measures to solar power installers it does pay to get yourself familiar with solar energy too. After all, isn’t it time to appreciate these renewable energy systems? Here’s what you need to know about batteries.Tesla Batteries Recently, Tesla announced a game-changer: the Tesla Powerwall. This new energy storage device uses<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_bb76544522ab4cdcb0b2ba0c3091b8b8.png"/>]]></description><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/1/31/Solar-Energy-101-What-You-Need-to-Know-About-the-Solar-Power-Battery</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/1/31/Solar-Energy-101-What-You-Need-to-Know-About-the-Solar-Power-Battery</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2015 01:19:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>For off-grid solar power users, the battery is an essential part for your solar power system. While we take everything for granted, leaving all the installation and safety measures to solar power installers it does pay to get yourself familiar with solar energy too. After all, isn’t it time to appreciate these renewable energy systems? Here’s what you need to know about batteries.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_bb76544522ab4cdcb0b2ba0c3091b8b8.png"/><div>Tesla Batteries Recently, <a href="http://egsolar.wix.com/egsolar#!Solarhart-Tesla-Talk-Deals/weakm/560ce9bd0cf2f0ed7a2a7c18">Tesla</a>announced a game-changer: the Tesla Powerwall. This new energy storage device uses the power of lithium instead of the conventional lead-acid type. Somehow, recent reports claim the company managed to make the battery slim enough and more beautiful enough to fit right on the wall of your home. And somehow, Tesla managed to overcome some challenges with rechargeable lithium batteries such as the tendency to catch fire more easily. Whatever their promises are, it’s a matter of time we’ll now the limitations and advantages of these revolutionary energy storage devices.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_2d5807fb26da4fc89e736ae8d612596c.png"/><div>Deep-Cycle Batteries Because of the nature of how solar energy must be stored, batteries for solar power are the deep-cycle kind. This means the energy storage system regularly gets “deeply” charged to its full capacity. Then the stored power will be used during the night, or when there is not enough sunlight during the day. Deep-cycle batteries are usually the flooded type. The conductive plates inside are submerged in a chemical electrolyte, usually an acid. These submerged deep-cycle type of storage systems are popular because they last longer, are cheap and have good performance ratings. Partial-charged states are not a problem too when using this battery type.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_8f663655aaa94872855fc5b8eaae1d6a.png"/><div>How to Choose Solar Power Battery When contacting licensed solar power installers, you really don’t need to worry about choosing the best energy storage system for your home or business. They do that job for you. But learning more about each component could help you ask more questions about the hardware that the installers use. As a customer, you have the right to know what brand of solar system the engineers are installing. You may ask for the capacity of the battery. Other factors you might want to ask are the cycle life, the cost and origin of the battery. But oftentimes, all you need to do is to inform them what appliances you have at home and how often you use them at certain times of the day. The installers will simply do the math for you to make everything easier.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What Makes Up A Solar Power System</title><description><![CDATA[Ever wondered how solar power systems work? Looking at the static nature of solar panels on a building’s roof, you might not notice anything interesting going. But still, the promising benefits of solar power are just undeniable. So, let’s take a closer look at what makes up your typical solar system. Photovoltaic Solar Panels Solar panels are the most essential part of your solar power system. Each regular photovoltaic solar panel comes in three layers. The first one is made of a mixture of<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_032ae33f1f1745e8ad6aeaaa48b1f342.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/1/26/What-Makes-Up-A-Solar-Power-System</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/1/26/What-Makes-Up-A-Solar-Power-System</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2015 03:09:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Ever wondered how solar power systems work? Looking at the static nature of solar panels on a building’s roof, you might not notice anything interesting going. But still, the promising benefits of solar power are just undeniable. So, let’s take a closer look at what makes up your typical solar system.</div><div>Photovoltaic Solar Panels</div><div>Solar panels are the most essential part of your solar power system. Each regular photovoltaic solar panel comes in three layers. The first one is made of a mixture of silicon and phosphorus. The second comes with pure silicon, and the last one, a mixture of silicon and boron. This special layering of three elements makes it possible for solar energy to converted to electricity.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f7dbdb_032ae33f1f1745e8ad6aeaaa48b1f342.jpg"/><div>As light strikes on the first layer, electrons loosen up and flow through the junction and into the second layer. Then the electrons in the second layer get knocked off too and so on. This one-way flow of electrons creates a direct current. But because our appliances are designed for alternating current (AC), we need a device that converts DC to AC; hence the inverter.</div><div>The Inverter</div><div>Solar panels and batteries have one thing in common: Their output is DC power. But because our main grid supplies alternating current (our appliances too are designed to work with AC), the inverter comes into play. The technical workings of this device would be too long to discuss in this article. But imagine a flow of electricity that flips back and forth 50 times per second, this is the type of power that the inverter needs provide to be usable.</div><div>Energy Storage System (Battery)</div><div>This part of the solar system is optional. Most of the time, the battery is essential only for off-grid power systems. Households or businesses fully independent of the power grid rely on battery for energy storage. At night, in the absence of sunlight, stored energy is converted into AC by the inverter to power our homes and buildings. Grid-connect systems, on the other hand, do not require batteries because the excess power is sent back to the main grid. At night, we revert back to the main power supply. Grid-connect systems work well in countries where government provides subsidies or rewards for the extra power sent back to the main grid.</div><div>Distribution System</div><div>Once the inverter converts DC to the usable AC, a distribution device then feeds the current to the building’s electrical system. The distributor also makes sure that excess power is fed back to the main grid. This proves handy in countries where governments offer rebates and feed-in tariffs as rewards for those who wish to go solar.</div><div>Now that you’ve gained a clearer picture of what a typical solar power, it’s easier to notice how simple this type of system is to harness the power of the sun. It’s quiet, clean and efficient: just the perfect add-on to your property.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>That Saved Us Approximately $1000</title><description><![CDATA[Bob let's us know how much he has saved since using solar power to power his home." We’ve had this installation put in approximately 18 months ago I think it is, in that vicinity. John and his staff, team had done a pretty good job. Unfortunately at the time of installation, I was in hospital and my son was here. We came back and it was all working. It has been quite satisfactory as far as we consider so far both in the fact that we are saving power from what we’d normally buy from the grid. "<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/DtposUvnoow/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/1/2/Customer-Review-by-Bob-Nicholls</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/1/2/Customer-Review-by-Bob-Nicholls</guid><pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2015 01:39:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Bob let's us know how much he has saved since using solar power to power his home.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtposUvnoow"/><div>&quot; We’ve had this installation put in approximately 18 months ago I think it is, in that vicinity. John and his staff, team had done a pretty good job. Unfortunately at the time of installation, I was in hospital and my son was here. We came back and it was all working. It has been quite satisfactory as far as we consider so far both in the fact that we are saving power from what we’d normally buy from the grid.&quot; Over that period of time, we have changed from our grid supplier to a different tariff and I had one complete account from the new supplier over three months, 90-day period, and in that period corresponding to approximately the same period of last year, that saved us approximately $1000.</div><div>Customer Review by Bob Nicholls</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Massive Saving On My Electric Bill</title><description><![CDATA[Johnny let's us know there had been a massive savings on the electric and hot water bills. " Hi, it’s Johnny here. In reference to the solar panels, I went for them obviously because of the cost-saving that I was informed that I would get from John of East Gippsland Solar. I looked around a few people to go for. Some of them were advertising 5 kilowatt inverters but when it went into the cost, you were only getting 1 and a half kilowatt of panels. So, okay they could be upgraded but you weren’t<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/EdH_xzltk50/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/3/7/Its-had-been-a-massive-saving-on-my-electric-bill</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/3/7/Its-had-been-a-massive-saving-on-my-electric-bill</guid><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2015 01:43:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Johnny let's us know there had been a massive savings on the electric and hot water bills.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EdH_xzltk50"/><div>&quot; Hi, it’s Johnny here. In reference to the solar panels, I went for them obviously because of the cost-saving that I was informed that I would get from John of East Gippsland Solar. I looked around a few people to go for. Some of them were advertising 5 kilowatt inverters but when it went into the cost, you were only getting 1 and a half kilowatt of panels. So, okay they could be upgraded but you weren’t getting the 5 kilowatt what you thought you were getting.&quot; I met John here, he described to me what I was going to get. I was more than happy with what he said I’m going to finish up with and I went ahead with the hot water and the solar electric at the same time. It had been a massive saving on the electric bill and the hot water saving. I regard further up but no problems. I rang John once I think for a problem. He was out on the next day, fixed it, after that, everything sound, no problem whatsoever.</div><div>I can’t really add much more to it. They’ve got good service that I’m more than happy with.</div><div>Customer Review by Johnny Smith</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>So Easy To Deal With, Service Was Great</title><description><![CDATA[Brian let's us know he has never had to pay a power bill since his solar power panels were installed. " I’m out here at Granite Rock. When we first considered putting solar in, we brandied it around for some time and read up different bits of information and found out information on different installers and suppliers and through word of mouth actually, it came through us for Solahart and so after getting in touch with them and getting all their recommendations and quotes and so on, we decided to<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/q8TH800xcTQ/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/1/31/Customer-Review-by-Brian-Edwards</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2016/1/31/Customer-Review-by-Brian-Edwards</guid><pubDate>Wed, 28 Jan 2015 01:32:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Brian let's us know he has never had to pay a power bill since his solar power panels were installed.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q8TH800xcTQ"/><div> &quot;  I’m out here at Granite Rock. When we first considered putting solar in, we brandied it around for some time and read up different bits of information and found out information on different installers and suppliers and through word of mouth actually, it came through us for Solahart and so after getting in touch with them and getting all their recommendations and quotes and so on, we decided to go ahead with their installation. &quot;  They were very easy to deal with, the service was great, we had it all up and running in a very short time and from then on it just went wonderful for us because we’ve just never had any trouble at all with it and as said before, we’ve never have to pay a bill since. So, I couldn’t be more pleased.</div><div>Customer Review by Brian Edwards</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I Love What Solar Does To My Power Bill</title><description><![CDATA[Jeff let's us know about the outstanding service he was provided with, truly fantastic. " Hi good day, my name is Jeff Pickley. I live in Eastwood, Victoria. About 12 months ago I spoke to John here in relation to getting a solar system put onto my house that I just purchased as I’d already had a previous solar system in my old house in Canberra and just love what they do to the power bill. And John has been absolutely outstanding with the service that they provided me. Yeah it was good,<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/EgJs9gdQg2Q/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>E.G Solar</dc:creator><link>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/5/15/I-Love-What-Solar-Does-To-My-Power-Bill</link><guid>https://www.egsolar.com.au/single-post/2015/5/15/I-Love-What-Solar-Does-To-My-Power-Bill</guid><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:34:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Jeff let's us know about the outstanding service he was provided with, truly fantastic.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EgJs9gdQg2Q"/><div>&quot; Hi good day, my name is Jeff Pickley. I live in Eastwood, Victoria. About 12 months ago I spoke to John here in relation to getting a solar system put onto my house that I just purchased as I’d already had a previous solar system in my old house in Canberra and just love what they do to the power bill.</div><div>And John has been absolutely outstanding with the service that they provided me. Yeah it was good, installation as you can see behind us here is fantastic. It’s in the best place, get good sun all day and it’s working really, really well.</div><div>Customer Review by Jeff Pickley</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>