Jay
Solar Evangelist
Passionate about making solar simple and accessible for every Australian household. Jay breaks down complex energy topics into practical advice so homeowners can make confident decisions about solar, batteries, and energy independence.
Articles by Jay(22 articles)
Queensland Just Switched on 1.7 GWh of Grid Batteries. Here's What It Means for You.
Tarong and Swanbank mega batteries are now live in Queensland, adding 550MW and 1.1 GWh of storage to the grid. What grid-scale batteries mean for home solar and battery owners.
22 February 2026
Battery Rebate Changes from May 2026: The New Tiered STC Structure, Explained
From 1 May 2026, battery STCs switch to a tiered structure based on capacity. Here's what it actually means for your wallet, with worked examples for every common battery size.
22 February 2026
New WA Solar & Battery Connection Rules from May 2026: What You Need to Know
Western Australia is overhauling how solar and batteries connect to the SWIS grid from 1 May 2026. Two export pathways, new technical standards, and what it means for WA homeowners.
22 February 2026
Feed-in Tariffs Are Dead. Here's What Smart Solar Owners Do Instead
Feed-in tariffs have collapsed from 60c to 2-7c/kWh. Here's why exporting solar for pennies makes no sense, and the strategies smart owners use to maximise self-consumption instead.
1 February 2026
The Solar Rebate Is Shrinking: What the STC Phase-Out Means for You
The federal STC rebate drops every year and ends in 2031. Here's the phase-out schedule, what it means in real dollars, and whether you should rush to install before it shrinks further.
1 February 2026
Heat Pump vs Solar Diverter: The Best Way to Heat Water with Solar
Hot water is 20-30% of your electricity bill. Should you get a heat pump ($3,000-$5,000) or a solar diverter ($800-$1,500)? Head-to-head comparison with costs, pros, cons, and when each wins.
1 February 2026
How to Size Your Solar System for EV Charging
How much extra solar you need for an EV, smart charger options, Level 1 vs Level 2 charging, and why the solar + EV + battery triple combo is the ultimate Australian energy setup.
1 February 2026
Microinverters vs String Inverters: Which Is Right for Your Roof?
Enphase microinverters vs Fronius string inverters — when each makes sense, the shading myth, hybrid inverters as a third option, and how to make the right choice for your roof.
1 February 2026
Battery Arbitrage in Australia: Charge at Negative Prices, Use at Peak, Pocket the Difference
Wholesale electricity goes negative at lunchtime and spikes 200x by dinner. Here's how battery owners on standard and spot-price plans are exploiting that daily swing — and why the window won't last.
1 February 2026
The Evening Peak Trap: Why Cheap Daytime Solar Isn't Fixing Your Power Bill
Solar made daytime electricity nearly free. But gas plants still set the price every evening, and that's where your bill blows out. Here's how Australia's electricity auction actually works.
1 February 2026
14 GW of Grid Batteries Are Coming. Here's What That Means for Your Home Battery.
Australia is building 14 GW of grid-scale batteries. Will they kill home battery ROI? We break down the data, the arbitrage window, and why buying now still makes sense.
1 February 2026
Negative Electricity Prices in Australia, Explained (And How Your Battery Can Cash In)
Negative wholesale prices don't mean free power. Here's what's actually happening when spot prices go below zero and how the right setup lets you profit from it.
1 February 2026
Why Your Power Bill Is Still High Even Though Solar Made Electricity Dirt Cheap
Daytime wholesale electricity prices have never been lower. Sometimes they go negative. So why did your last bill still make you wince? Here's what's actually going on.
1 February 2026
When to Add a Battery to Your Existing Solar (And How Not to Stuff It Up)
Already have solar? Here's when adding a battery makes sense, how AC vs DC coupling works, the ecosystem trap to avoid, and what retrofitting actually costs.
1 February 2026
Solar + EV Charging: Should You Charge During the Day or Off-Peak at Night?
Most EV owners plug in at night out of habit. But if you have solar, that habit might be costing you hundreds a year.
1 February 2026
Charging Your EV with Solar: The Complete Australian Guide
How much solar you need, smart charging strategies, best EV chargers, and the real cost savings of powering your electric car with sunshine.
1 February 2026
How to Choose the Right Solar Panels for Your Home
Not all solar panels are created equal. Learn about efficiency ratings, warranties, Tier 1 manufacturers, and what to look for when comparing quotes.
1 February 2026
Solar Sharer Starts July 2026. Here's Why Solar Owners Should Ignore It.
The government's new scheme gives 3 hours of free electricity. Sounds great. But if you already have solar panels, you might want to skip it entirely.
1 February 2026
VPP vs Feed-in Tariff: Why Your Battery Earns 5x More Than Exporting
Standard feed-in tariffs pay 3-8c per kWh. VPP programs pay 15-25c — and sometimes over $1/kWh. Here's how they compare, the real numbers, and how to choose.
1 February 2026
QLD 44c Solar Bonus Scheme Ends July 2028. Here's What to Do.
Around 160,000 Queensland homes still earn 44c/kWh from solar exports. That rate disappears on July 1, 2028. Here's how to prepare — and whether a battery makes sense before or after.
1 February 2026
Solar Panel Bird Proofing: The $500 Job That Saves You Thousands
Pigeons love the warmth under your panels. Your panels don't love what pigeons leave behind. Here's the fix most installers forget to mention — and what it should cost.
1 February 2026
Adding a Battery to Existing Solar? Don't Make the Two-Kitchen Mistake
Why running two separate inverters is like having two kitchens in one house. How DC coupling into one hybrid inverter saves energy and simplifies your life.
1 February 2026