Glass anti-reflection coatings have been the low-hanging fruit for improving PV module efficiencies, but reaching for it requires the right mix of low-cost approaches and smart science. Researchers at the […]
Category: Installation advice
Solar Choice blog articles about what to consider when installing your solar power system.
Solar Choice now offering 2nd commercial solar PV finance package
Commercial solar power is one of the fastest-growing sectors for the solar industry in Australia, with more and more businesses turning to solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to insulate themselves against rising electricity […]
Solar PV Price Index–February 2014
Average prices for systems of all common sizes included (1.5kW-10kW) in almost all cities have increased this month, with 1.5kW systems rising the most. Systems in Canberra appeared to undergo a decrease […]
Paper and PV: Wood pulp-based material boosts organic PV efficiency
Solar cells today are made from a wide cocktail of materials, from earth-abundant materials (Silicon and Carbon) to exotic rare earth metals (Indium, Gallium, etc), and from polymers to organic […]
Rooftop solar already less expensive than grid power–even in Europe
A report from the biggest solar research centre in Europe suggests that rooftop solar PV is clearly cheaper than electricity sourced from the grid – even in northern European countries […]
Solar Choice pricing data to be included in CEC’s 2014 business & industry solar PV guide
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has approached Solar Choice for fresh pricing data to be included in the newest edition of the organisation’s Guide to Installing Solar PV for Business & […]
Solar thermophotovoltaic breakthrough from MIT: Harnessing both light and heat for electricity
A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is developing a new approach to making solar cells. The technology, ‘solar thermovoltaics’ or SVT, would utilise not only the light […]
Solar PV Price Index–Jan 2014
At the start of 2014, solar PV system prices are up in Canberra and steady in other capital cities, except among 1.5kW solar systems. Although included for all other cities as per […]
Lessons learned from the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme: An academic view
While last year’s debacle with WA’s feed-in tariff is already resolved, was still a reminder of the history that this policy mechanism has had elsewhere in Australia. The WA feed-in tariff, after […]
QBotix: Robot-controlled tracking systems for ground-mounted solar systems
QBotix is a company offering a revolutionary approach to ground-mounted solar systems through its solar tracking technology. The QBotix Robotic Tracking System (RTS) employs intelligent, self-charging, track-mounted robots (“SolBots”) which adjust […]
Solar PV Price Index–Dec 2013
Nationwide, average system prices across all solar system sizes (1.5kW-5kW) increased slightly between November and December, although this trend was not as noticeable with 3kW–5kW systems as with 1.5kW and 2kW system. […]
Latronic Sunpower: Australian-made grid-connect and stand-alone inverters
Latronic Sunpower is a Queensland, Australia-based inverter manufacturer that operates globally. The company has been in business for over 27 years. The company makes inverters for residential, commercial and industrial […]
Eco Whisper Turbine: Australian-made, small-scale wind power
Solar Choice, as Australia’s solar photovoltaic (PV) installation brokering service, does not ordinarily work with wind turbine installers or manufacturers, but both technologies are similar in spirit and offer many […]
Magellan Power’s ‘smoothing’ devices for grid-connect solar
When northwestern WA‘s electricity utility Horizon mandated that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems must regulate their power output, one of the first companies with the capacity to offer a viable technological […]
Solar PV Price Index–Nov 2013
Solar PV system prices held steady in Adelaide for November, while ACT prices saw an increase. Average system installation prices for Brisbane and Melbourne fell, while Perth and Sydney remain […]
How about a home energy efficiency audit (to complement your solar)? Introduction to Big Switch at Home
The rising cost of electricity across Australia has driven many households to seek refuge in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Solar PV systems, now cheaper than they’ve ever been, allow homes […]
Magellan Power’s DCSS: Australian-made, small-scale energy storage for solar power systems
Power equipment developer & manufacturer Magellan Power (creators of the Solar Smoother) have introduced a small-scale energy storage system (the DCSS) for residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. With a 22-year […]
Solar panel cleaning made easier: Ritec ClearShield
One of the much-touted advantages of solar panels as an energy generation technology is their low maintenance requirements. Once installed, a solar panel array will continue to produce power for […]
Commercial solar power in Fyshwick, ACT
Fyshwick, ACT is an industrial area whose high concentration of flat, solar-ready roof space makes it a great spot for businesses interested in commercial-scale solar power. This article provides an overview […]
Renusol’s CS60: An innovative approach to solar panel mounting for flat surfaces
Renusol GmbH is a leading innovator in the field of solar module mounting. The company and its US subsidiary Renusol America design and manufacture solutions for both ground-mounted and rooftop […]
RESA’s VoltLogic to be used for limiting solar export in NT demo project
Renewable Energy Systems Australia (RESA) has announced that its STATCOM/inverter, VoltLogic, will be deployed at Palmerston Golf Club in Darwin, Northern Territory in a partnership with the club, a prominent local solar installation […]
Australia’s largest tracker-equipped rooftop solar array goes online in Victoria
Steel products manufacturer Hilton Manufacturing has commissioned a one-of-a-kind project on the roof of its factory in Dandenong South, outside Melbourne, Victoria. The commercial-scale solar array is unique in Australia […]
Solar PV Price Index–Oct 2013
Solar PV system prices dropped notably in Adelaide between September and October, likely as a result of installers addressing new realities in light of the closure of SA’s transitional feed-in […]
Energy storage options are growing (Part 1): What are the benefits?
Energy storage systems are a hot topic, and conditions are ripe for the solar PV/energy storage industry set to take off globally for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Part 1 of this […]
Solar farm projects near airports: Is glare an issue?
The Canberra Times recently published a piece about the concerns about potential glare from the solar panels of the proposed 4 megawatt (MW) Mount Majura Solar Farm, given its proximity to Canberra […]
Solar PV Price Index–September 2013
Thanks to a change in Solar Choice database functionality, figures from a larger number of installers than usual was used in calculating solar PV system installation prices for September 2013. […]
Solar inverter decibel levels: Do solar farms make noise?
With the number of utility-scale solar installations and solar farms growing across Australia, it seems inevitable that concerns will be raised as this relatively new technology gains prominence in the country’s […]
Adelaide solar panels: Compare prices & installers
Solar panels have grown hugely in popularity in the past few years, with over 1 million Australian homes having installed solar systems. Adelaide remains one of the best places in […]
Compare solar power system deals in Devonport, Tasmania
Residents of Devonport, Tasmania who are looking to install a solar panel system will find themselves faced with a number of questions as well as a range of options to […]
Solar PV Price Index–August 2013
The August 2013 Solar PV Price Index marks 1 year since Solar Choice began publishing solar system installation prices in August 2012. While it is clear that figures have come […]
Solar PV Price Index–July 2013
The Solar PV Price Index for July 2013 shows average solar installation prices dropping in the ACT across all system sizes. Prices have also fallen across the board for Melbourne, […]
