We previously wrote an article about the feasibility of an Australian home going off-grid with a 3kW solar system – quite a small system size for such an ambitious endeavour. […]
Tag: off-grid solar power
Backup power with home solar battery storage: What are your options?
NOTE: This article has been updated with a June 2019 article, click here to see! Home battery storage is becoming increasingly popular in Australia, and one of the most in-demand […]
I’m (finally) going to live in a solar-powered home
After nearly a decade working in Australia’s solar industry, I’m finally getting in on the action on a personal level. From next week I’m moving to Newcastle and will be […]
7 good reasons to install battery storage now
There are now dozens of home battery storage product options to choose from on the Australian market. Prices are coming down quickly, and as electricity prices rise (as they are […]
Tesla’s Powerwall 2 in Australia: Advice for shoppers
Tesla leapfrogged its competitors last year with the announcement of its new generation of battery storage product: Powerwall 2. Tesla’s Powerwall 2 is a more powerful and sophisticated version of […]
Thinking about going off-grid? Keep these points in mind
With the dawn of the age of (nearly) affordable battery storage, more and more Australian homes are considering the possibility of disconnecting from the electricity grid; or the first time, off-grid […]
Ergon publishes 10-point ‘reality check’ list for would-be off-gridders
Queensland utility Ergon energy has decided to address the issue of grid electricity defection by publishing a 10-step guide for consumers considering the idea. Ergon, which doubles as the main […]
Can you go off-grid with solar and energy storage?
These days, almost everyone considering solar and battery storage is wondering if it’s possible to disconnect from the grid altogether; ‘going off-grid’ seems to be all the rage. Just how feasible […]
On grid or off-grid? Some advice for a Solar Choice customer
We were recently in touch with a customer who was deliberating between whether to have his new-build home connected to the grid, or to go off-grid with a solar-plus-storage system. […]
In what situations does battery storage already make financial sense?
There is a phenomenal amount of buzz about home battery storage in Australia – it’s a hot topic because of the potential value proposition and the allure of energy independence. […]
What’s a partial off-grid solar-plus-storage system?
Going partially off the grid is a smart alternative for homes who want to become completely energy self-sufficient. A partial off-grid solar system is one that runs a few essential […]
Home solar in Australia: To grid or not to grid? (Q&A with Enphase cofounder Raghu Belur – Part 2)
Solar Choice: Many Australian households talk about ‘going off-grid’. Could the Enphase system help them achieve this goal? What are your thoughts on this desire to cut ties with utilities […]
New device from Latronics makes solar storage retrofits quick and easy
Australian inverter and power electronics maker Latronic Sunpower has introduced a device that will make it easy for homes and businesses to retroactively install battery storage onto most existing grid-connected solar PV […]
World’s largest off-grid residential solar-plus-storage system installed in Hawaii
The world’s largest private residential solar-plus-storage, off-grid power system was installed last week in Hawaii. The system includes a 170kW solar array and 1MWh of Aqueous Hybrid Ion batteries from […]
Florida woman evicted for off-grid living, while QLD utilities move to encourage it
A Florida woman was served orders to vacate her own home for not being to connected to water or electricity mains, according to OffTheGridNews. The woman, Ms Robin Speronis, made […]
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 […]
Residential solar PV/energy storage market poised for rapid growth: Lux Research
Hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) cum energy storage systems are set to see rapid growth, according to a report by Lux Research, corroborating similar predictions put out by IMS earlier this year. […]
$400m to be invested in off-grid renewables by 2018: ARENA
Australia’s clean energy investment body–the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced a $400 million fund for off-grid and ‘fringe-of-grid’ communities. The purpose of the fund–in addition to driving investment in […]
SunStation – the fuel station of the future?
New Jersey based Princeton Satellite Systems have unveiled their solar-powered electric vehicle charger, the SunStation. […]
Kyocera’s Energy Management System: An integrated battery storage solution
Kyocera has introduced an integrated Energy Management System (EMS) and battery storage solution onto the Japanese market for the summer of 2012. The Kyocera EMS combines Kyocera solar panels with […]
Solar power storage solutions: Beyond batteries
The development of affordable storage solutions for solar power or other renewable energy sources such as wind will change the nature of electricity generation and distribution as we know it. Most people […]
Off-grid solar power system in Sydney’s Western Suburbs
Nev and Linda Sweeney have been living on their 500-square-meter suburban plot in Sydney’s St Clair Suburb since the early 1980s, and have been trying to live sustainably using the […]
Using direct current to power devices in off-grid solar PV systems
Off-grid solar systems tend to require significantly more caution, care, and maintenance than grid-connected systems, where you can plug in and use any appliance you want without having to think about […]
