31st Aug 2020 | Andrew
What does the DEBS mean for me?
If you’ve been paying attention to any energy news networks lately, you might have seen a lot of discussion in WA about something called the DEBS, and how it will be replacing something else called the REBS. For the uninitiated, this can seem like just a hot mess of proper nouns and acronyms, so let us take a moment to explain what all this means and how you may be impacted or may be able to benefit from it. What is the REBS The Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (or REBS) is the current scheme in place for West Australians utilising solar in their homes but not benefitting from an exclusive Feed
11th Aug 2020 | Andrew
Solar Gadgets
Renewable energy and specifically solar energy has been a hot topic of innovation for the last decade and more. Endlessly creative souls come up with new devices, new applications and new uses for solar energy, on top of improving the efficiency and manufacture of more traditional panels and inverters. Read on below to see some of the more recent exciting inventions that have come about. 7. Farming Robots The agricultural sector is one that has always had one of the keenest interests in both automation and renewable technologies. The solar robot is an application of both. All around the world
28th Jul 2020 | Andrew
Just How Powerful is the Sun?
One of the most pervading questions in our culture today is how far renewable energies can really take us. After all, we’ve relied upon fossil fuels, oils and gas for so long, can renewable energies really meet our big wide world’s ever-growing demand for energy? Yes, it can. That is just an undeniable fact. Every year, the efficiency of panels and solar energy systems improves, and they are being integrated into networks on a larger and larger scale - look no further than Tesla’s giant solar farm in Hawaii for proof on that front - and they’re only set to keep on improving from here. But is
13th Jul 2020 | Andrew
Australia’s First Solar Installation
We were lucky enough to get to replace a historic solar energy system, this year. The very first solar energy system that was installed in Victoria, as well as being only the second system Australia-wide, and the second residential system to be grid-connected. It was installed in 1996 and lasted the owners an astonishing 23 years, but eventually, all good things come to an end, and when it came time to replace the system, it was the Solargain team that they turned to, putting their trust in our 20 years experience in the solar energy industry. The original system operated on only a 2 kW array
23rd Jun 2020 | Andrew
History of Solar part 2: Sun Deities around the World
Last time on the history of solar, we talked about the wholly practical side of things. How humanity has made use of the sun’s power over the millennia. But there’s more to it than that; after all, legends, gods and myth have been a part of humanity’s history since the very beginning. Ever since we first started recording our history, the sun has been venerated as a deific force everywhere in the world.
10th Jun 2020 | Andrew
IKEA is going solar
Here at Solargain, we have always been so very passionate about making it easier for Australians to cut their bills and be more environmentally friendly through affordable and high-quality solar energy systems. That’s why we were excited that IKEA partnered with us to make solar energy more accessible than ever for Australians by developing SOLSTRÅLE. What is SOLSTRÅLE? SOLSTRÅLE is a home solar power system designed to specifically for your home and energy usage needs at an affordable price. There are also finance options available so that you can start saving money on your bills sooner
9th Jun 2020 | Andrew
Coming Soon - Fronius’ Innovative New Inverter
The people at Fronius were kind enough to gift us with one of their new Fronius GEN24 Plus Symo hybrid inverter beta models to trial, one of the first in Australia! This inverter represents an exciting step forward, not only for Fronius but the solar energy industry as a whole. It's already won itself two awards, gaining the PV home storage inspection award as well as the 2019 Plus X award for design, ease of use, functionality, and ecology.. Fronius has a reputation for creating some of the greatest solar inverters in the world, and they have proven that reputation as well deserved time and
27th May 2020 | Andrew
The Future of Electric Vehicle Charging
SolarEdge’s integrated EV Charging HD-Wave inverter is an extremely exciting piece of new technology, and we, here, at Solargain, were lucky enough to get one of the first beta models to reach Australia to trial!
14th May 2020 | Andrew
The History of Solar Energy
Solar is the word on so many people’s lips now. Renewables are the way of the future, and, with solar energy becoming more affordable, adaptable and powerful every day, that future is closer than ever! However, mankind’s history has been intertwined with the power of the sun since ancient times, and solar energy as we know it today has been around in some form or another far, far longer than you might have thought. Check out the infographic below for the overview, but read on for the full story. Ancient Times Most recently, and most excitingly, we have discovered that the old kingdom of Egypt
4th May 2020 | Andrew
7 ways to save money at home without going out
We are living in bizarre times. One that none of us thought we would ever live through. With many people left working at home, saving money has never been more important. So here are a couple of tips to help keep your wallet happy while you’re cooped up in the house. 7. Keep the groceries simple Now isn’t the time to buy truffles, fanciful spices, and other luxury items. There are plenty of ways to spice up your dishes on the cheap. So, stick to simple stuff for your groceries, the essentials, even if it means cutting back on chocolates and some of your favourites a little. 6. Get back to
4th May 2020 | Andrew
How to pick out quality solar from the pack
With solar only getting better and better, there’s never been a better time to go solar. But with so many providers out there, saying they’re the very best, it can be hard to know which way to go. That’s why we’re not going to tell you we’re the best, instead, we’re going to tell you what makes us different, you can decide for yourself if that makes us the solar provider you want to go solar with. Whichever solar company you explore, you should ensure they have points similar to these, to back up their claims of quality. The experience gained from installing solar for 25+ years Solar companies
16th Apr 2020 | Andrew
5 questions to ask a solar company [Guide]
5 Questions to Ask a Solar Company [Guide] There’s no question about it solar is an investment. However, this investment can be justified when it lowers your electricity bills and reduces your home’s carbon footprint. Before you choose to go solar, it pays (literally) to research the right installer and products to safeguard your investment from costing you more than it should. To help you get the best value for money from your solar company (and system) we’ve listed 5 preliminary questions to get you started. 1. Does the product manufacturer/supplier have a presence in Australia? The