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More people in Australia are embracing the eco-conscious life. With all the innovations made available to make your home and office more environment-friendly than ever, it only makes things easier for you and Mother Earth. There are many ways on how everyone can help preserve what’s left of the environment – and installing solar panels is one of them.

What are Solar Panels?

Solar Panels make use of the energy emitted from the sun and convert 10% to 15% of it into electricity. With Australia getting more energy from the sun than any other place on Earth, it only makes sense to utilise such resource to our benefit. Not only will you get to save more by using renewable energy, but you will also get to help save the planet.

How To Choose A Solar Panel Provider?

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Choosing a solar panel provider can be tricky – especially if this is your first time doing so. When purchasing solar panels for your home or office use, it would be best if you have some guidelines to help you make the right choice. Here are some tips to help you find the right type of solar panel and how to find a good provider.

Determine the Type of Solar Panel Installation You Need

There are two types of Solar Panel Installation– those installed at the roof and those that are mounted in the ground. Ground-Mounted Solar Panels are usually more expensive than any other models since you will need more extended wirings to install them. Depending on your preferences, needs, and budget, you can find a supplier where you can buy the type of panel installation you need.

Ask for Recommendations

Word of mouth is the best recommendation to find what you’re looking for – be it a restaurant with the best Italian food in the area or the best solar panel provider near you. Ask a friend, family or anyone whom you trust and has recently had their homes or businesses installed with panels. They can give you recommendations, provide their insights and share their experience with their suppliers.

Research and Check for Online Reviews

Once you’ve asked for recommendations, do your research, create a list of your potential solar panel providers and check what others have to say about the company. See what past and current clients say about their goods and services. Choose one that has a better number of good reviews.

Set Your Expectations Right When it comes to Installation and Solar Panel Pricing

The goods and installation itself come with a price – and one may be surprised just how much it costs. If you seriously want to go green by having solar panels installed, get your wallet ready for the expensive upfront price you need to pay. Be realistic and consider your options. The great thing about having solar panels installed is you get to save energy and money in the long run which makes it all worth it.

Don’t Forget About the Warranty and the Company’s Certification

The longer the warranty, the longer you can expect your solar panel to work. The standard warranty given by manufacturers is 25 years, so look for a provider who offers the same. Also, check if your provider has certifications to make sure they know what they are doing.

Home improvement projects are always a fun and are an exciting way to give your home a makeover. It’s not just about transforming your house into a more beautiful and convenient space. Many homeowners are now leaning towards the green-trend or being eco-friendly where items used for home remodelling are sustainable, money-saving and eco-friendly.

 If you’re up for a more eco-friendly home, check out these fantastic tips you can easily apply on your next home improvement project.

Invest In Green Paint

The typical household paint contains chemicals that can harm not only humans but the environment as well. Most paints have VOCs or volatile organic compounds. When mixed with other elements, they can cause not just air pollution but also a long list of health issues. When exposed to VOCs, one can experience nausea, headache, breathing problems, fatigue, and even allergic skin reactions.  

So, if you’re planning on splashing a new paint colour, make sure to choose paints with low levels of VOCs or no VOCs at all.

Go For LED Lighting

Yes, LED lights can be quite expensive compared to other light bulbs. However, they last longer, require less energy usage and come in a wide variety of styles and colours perfect for every home improvement project. Since LEDs make use of direct light, this means they don’t produce light pollution caused by artificial lights.

One can find an LED lighting fixture that’s perfect for every part of your home. They are easy on the eyes, contains no lead and mercury, plus you get to help save the environment by switching to LED lights.

Take Advantage Of Hardwood Flooring

Even your floors can be eco-friendly too! By choosing hardwood floorings, one can enjoy many benefits that other types of flooring cannot offer. For one, they are sustainable and durable. Installing wood floorings such as oak flooring consumes less energy plus it also helps improve the air quality inside your home.

When choosing new floorings for your home, take advantage of the unique beauty, elegance, and style that natural wood flooring has to offer.

Install Solar Panels

Solar energy systems convert the energy of the sun to produce electricity. Why not take advantage of the unlimited solar supply by installing solar panels in your home? Specially when in Australia, as we get more sun than any other continent, meaning we have an incredible solar power source. By installing solar panels to your home, you are not only saving money but also helping the environment through clean energy generation. There are also solar power installations that stores solar energy for later use.

A solar panel can convert 10%-15% of solar energy into electricity. Since the heat from the sun is renewable energy, it only means we can lessen the amount of electricity used when we use solar panels. No greenhouse gas emission are used to turn solar energy into power, making it an efficient and eco-friendly addition to your home.

Choose Appliances With The Green Stamp Of Approval

Old appliances usually use more energy and water than necessary. When you are buying brand new appliances for your home, make sure to select the energy-efficient machines. These do not only consume far less energy but also helps you save money since you won’t have to pay extra for your electricity bill. Having solar panels installed, together with appliances that has green stamp of approval can surely save you tons of cash and at the same time helping the earth go green.

It doesn’t matter if you want to pick out a new fridge, washer or TV. Make sure to choose appliances that have the Energy Star label, and you’re good to go.

With these eco-friendly home improvement tips, you get to save more money, have a more sustainable and beautiful home while helping make a big difference for the environment. Which advice did you like the best? Are you making the right choice when it comes to your home makeover project?

The billionaire founder of Tesla, Elon Musk, has announced to build the world’s largest lithium ion battery for the purpose of storing renewable energy in South Australia. Tesla has partnered with a French energy utility company called Neoen. Musk has promised to make the 100 megawatt (MW) battery farm in exactly 100 days and he was challenged by Mike Cannon- Brooke’s challenge which is also a massive tech company in South Australia. The Tesla-built battery will function around the clock and be able to provide additional power during the time of emergencies.

What is it?

The 129 megawatt hours (MWh) battery will be prepared by linking an array of lithium ion batteries to the wind farm called Hornsdale. This battery will be able to output 100 megawatts (MW) of power at a time and the larger one will be able to store 129 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy. If it is used at its full capacity, maximum output can be provided for more than an hour. Each Tesla commercial-scale powerpack batteries will be working in a modular network and is about the size of a large fridge which is basically 2.1 meters tall, 1.3 meters long and 0.8 meters wide. It would weigh about 1200 kilograms each. It will have greater storage than the next biggest lithium battery which was built by AES this year in South Carolina. The high power capacity will be available in quick bursts in order to keep the frequency in the right range.

Why is Tesla making it in South Australia?

The main reason of the agreement between French renewable energy provider and Neoen started with a bet placed by Elon Musk and CEO in March. The bet was if they couldn’t deliver an operational battery- powered energy system to the state within 100 days, they would give it for free. After an electricity grid interconnection agreement has been signed, Mr. Musk’s 100 days will start. Unlike before, large-scale battery storage is now both possible and workable.

The battery will put South Asia at the forefront of global energy storage technology. In South Australia, people are suffering from various electricity problems such as widespread load shedding at times and blackout lasted all over the state in September. Last September, about 1.7 million residents didn’t have access to the electricity for a duration of 2 weeks. This statewide blackout was caused by a 50-year stormed which damaged the core infrastructure. These numerous blackouts have caused a politically combative issue between the state and federal governments. In 2017, it was so humid due to the summer season in Australia. Hence, causing more blackouts that year. This motivated the South Australian Government to prepare an energy plan that cost around 550 million dollars in the near future.

SA wanted private sectors to be interested and keen to build as well as operate a big battery. In this process, taxpayers would contribute and the Government would have the authority to use the battery according to the demands of people. Besides Neoen and Tesla, 91 private sectors were interested but their bid was greatest among all.

How much will it cost?

Forbes published the news of Tesla’s world largest 100 megawatt (MW) battery farm to cost around 200 million dollars to 240 million dollars. According to reporters, the project would cost upto 150 million dollars set aside for the alternatives of renewable energy. By stabilizing the South Asian network, the pressure of the prices will become less. It will keep a lid on wholesale electricity prices as gas generators will find it difficult to increase prices up to great levels.

Lyndon Rive, battery division head of Tesla, initially suggested a price of 400 US dollars for 600 kWh. Due to this, the 100 megawatt hours (MWh) system would cost around 66 million dollars. On the other hand, the founder of Tesla itself had previously announced the prices will be significantly less than previously mentioned prices. He estimated the price of the system would cost around 33 million dollars.

What are the risks?

Tesla, Neoen and the South Australian Government have their reputation at risk because if this whole mission fails, hopes of many citizens will be let down. To add to this situation, Elon Musk has staked his credibility on building a huge working battery farm within a time limit of 100 days. This adds more pressure and risk to them. Even though, previously Tesla didn’t fail to accomplish a mission on a much smaller scale.

Whereas the South Asian governments need to commit to fixing recent multiple power problems that have occurred in the nation. If this Tesla and None’s  battery farm won’t operate until the start of summer season in the South Australia, residents of that place will be prone to more blackouts which also leads up to Jay Wetherill’s Labor Government heading to the polls next March.

Article From The Courier Mail 1 June 2017

Regional Queenslanders will pay up to $110 a year more for electricity next year, but have avoided even larger planned increases. The Queensland Competition Authority wanted to push up the average household bill from $1490 to $1595 under its final decision on regulated prices, announced yesterday. The annual bill for a typical small business would have climbed by $200 to $2649. The rises were a surprise after QCA’s draft decision in February foreshadowed rises of less than $40 a year. Treasurer Curtis Pitt announced that the Government would fund a $770 million solar bonus scheme over the next three years to remove that cost from the networks. It means the average house-hold will pay $54 extra, instead of $105, and a small business $110 more, rather than $200. Mr Pitt said the Government was subsidising the bills through its Budget surplus. Opposition treasury spokesman Scott Emerson said: “What we are seeing here … is a money merry-go-round on electricity prices.” Origin yesterday said it would freeze prices for customers in its hardship program.

Source Marszalek, J & Templeton A, 2017. Power cost surges by up to $110. The Courier Mail, 1 June 2017. 12.

This episode of ABC Program Catalyst covers recent breakthroughs in solar power generation and storage.

Broken Hill wants to lead Australia’s solar energy revolution. Take a tour of one of the largest solar projects in the southern hemisphere.

Australia is  the sunniest continent on earth and Tesla, LG and Panasonic are some of the big named solar battery suppliers taking an interest in our country. They’re hoping to tap into a growing market. Bloomberg’s James Paton reports on “Asia Edge.”

ABC News (Australia)

Originally Published on Apr 13, 2012

Instead of paying for power Carnarvon residents are making money from selling electricity back to their power utility Horizon Power. The uptake of solar has forced Horizon to rethink how they supply power to remote communities.

Melbourne researchers have successfully created Australia’s largest and most flexible solar cells, with the aid of a new printer located at CSIRO. The breakthrough may have far reaching applications, including for public lighting, outdoor signage and mobile power generation.

Sep 3, 2012. The Victorian Government again cuts the incentive paid to householders who generate solar power for the grid. ABC News Australia.