As of July 1, 2016 electricity charges are set to Increase by 3% In WA becoming more expensive for Western Australian homeowners and businesses.

The WA State Government announced a 3% increase to the Home Plan (A1) electricity tariff as part of their 2016-17 state budget. The increase applies to most residents and businesses supplied by Synergy, as well as those outside the South West who are customers of Horizon Power.

Aside from this price increase, the Budget forecasts further price hikes of 7% over the next three years, meaning power bills will become increasingly hard to manage for many average families. Now more than ever, homeowners are turning their sights to renewable energy to help manage the cost of rising power bills. Fortunately, a great range of technology is available. As a solar power retailer, Solargain has already helped over 40,000 homeowners across the country slash their electricity bills, here’s five ways to reduce your energy bill:

1. Install Solar Power

A 5kW solar power system can save an average household (with around four occupants) as much as $1990 every year. Though this number varies depending on the installation type and location, it goes to show the real benefits that switching to solar has on the hip pocket.

Today, solar panels are dramatically cheaper compared to what they were just eight years ago. For example, an average 5kW solar power system in 2008 cost up to $40,000, whilst today that figure has plummeted to just $6500.

Best of all, solar panels and inverters are now smarter than ever, making them more efficient and reducing the time it takes for your investment to be returned.

2. Install Solar Hot Water

Water heating accounts for a huge portion of the overall energy usage in your home. Installing a solar hot water system is an easy way to cut these costs down.

In fact, solar hot water neutralises up to 80% of your water heating costs. And even better you never have to worry about running out of hot water – because all solar hot water systems come with a gas or electric booster.

When coupled with solar panels, installing solar hot water gives you the satisfaction of minimising electricity costs across all areas of your home.

3. Consider Battery Storage

Solar batteries allow you to store excess electricity generated by your solar panels during the day for use at night. It’s predicted that these revolutionary products will one day feature in every home that has panels, and early adopters are already seeing the benefits.

Using your own stored energy in the evening means even less reliance on the grid for power… and that equals lower electricity bills.

4. Choose Smart Lighting & Appliances

Switching to renewable energy is one half of the journey to lower electricity bills – the other is slashing your consumption. This can be achieved by using energy-efficient lighting (such as LEDs and timers) along with appliances and white-goods that score highly in the Government’s energy rating system.

Making a conscious effort to conserve power also goes a long way. There are plenty of tips out there to help you do this… and to spur you along why not turn your pledge to save power into a family challenge?

5. Shift Your Usage

For those of you who’ve already installed solar power, try load shifting to ramp up your energy savings. Load shifting refers to re-adjusting your energy usage so that you consume more electricity during the day.

Solar panels and inverters don’t work at night which means that all the electricity you use when the sun goes down is actually being derived from the grid (unless you’ve got solar batteries).

Load shifting helps you to take advantage of the energy being produced by your panels during the day. Some examples of load shifting include running washing machines, dishwashers, heating, cooling and pool cleaners during the day as opposed to night.

You’ve Got The Power

Though it can seem like we’re at the mercy of the Government when it comes to the cost of electricity, you’ve got the power to pay less for your utility bills. By using solar energy and making changes to the way you consume power at home, you can make a huge difference to your overheads.

For more information about solar power or solar hot water – or for an obligation-free quote, get in touch with our team today!

Solar hot water systems are pretty great.

Not only can they slash your electricity costs by a significant margin, but they add value to your property and contribute to a greener planet – and that’s a good feeling.

But comparing solar hot water systems, and choosing from the countless brands and products available can be tricky.

Before Solargain became one of the largest suppliers of solar panels in Australia, we were exclusively a hot water company. Our roots stretch back to 1995 as a one-man plumbing business which, over the years, has grown rapidly thanks to quality products and workmanship.

Today we’re one of the biggest solar hot water companies in the country, and we proudly stock our own range of Solargain-branded systems (as well as products from other leading brands). If you’re comparing solar hot water systems, you should definitely include us on your shopping list. Here’s why:

Designed By Plumbers For Australian Conditions:

Unlike many competitors, our range of Solargain-branded hot water systems have been designed by plumbers specifically for Australian conditions. We offer a full range of solar hot water products, including roof and ground-mount systems with both electric and gas boosting. Other brands we carry such as Dux, Quantum and Rheem also have a significant Australian presence which is important when it comes to after-sales care (more on that below).

Specs/Warranty

The Solargain range of hot water systems are competitively matched with systems from other brands. Like any investment if you’re shopping for solar hot water systems it’s important to compare apples with apples. Make sure you’re comparing specifications between solar hot water systems of the same style, size and output.

Another consideration is where the supplier is based. For example, since Solargain is a 100% Australian owned and operated company you can be assured that after-sales support will be available if you need it. This is especially true for our Solargain-branded range, as well as the other brands we carry which all have Australian-based offices. 
Making service and/or warranty claims with other brands that are based overseas can result in lengthy delays waiting for parts and/or labour. 

 

Installation And Plumber Quality

We’re confident in the quality and reliability of all the solar hot water brands we stock.

Adding to this, it’s important to note that we train most of our plumbers from apprenticeship through to fully-qualified tradesperson – and we conduct regular audits on workmanship. When comparing solar hot water products also ensure they’ll be installed by a qualified plumber who adheres to regulation.

Don’t settle for anything less when choosing your solar hot water installer.

Ready to see some quality hot water gear?

Check out our full range of solar hot water products, or get in touch with our team if you have any questions.

Solargain

It’s an age-old question that impacts many buying decisions – should I fork out for premium quality or settle for the cheaper option?

When it comes to solar panels although they all look similar, they are not created equally – therefore we recommend doing your research. Pay special attention not only to the price, but more importantly to the quality of the solar panels. Also, research the manufacturer and provider because a 25 year warranty is only as strong as the company backing it.

Here are 6 things to consider when choosing your solar panels.

The Three Tiers of Quality

There are three tiers of manufacturer quality and at Solargain we only recommend solar panels from the first two tiers (one and two). These are less prone to manufacturing defects such as hot spots, discolouration, snail trails/micro cracks, delamination, connector burn-outs, isolator failures, junction box failures and quick degradation. Solar is a long term investment so it’s important to choose solar panels that won’t let you down.

TIER 1

TOP 2% OF SOLAR MANUFACTURERS

1. Vertically integrated (own their supply chains)
2. Invests heavily in research and development
3. Advanced robotic processes
4. Manufacturing solar panels for longer than 5 years

TIER 2

SMALL TO MEDIUM SCALE MANUFACTURERS

1. No or little investment in research and development
2. Use only partial robotics, also reliant on manual work from human production lines
3. Usually producing panels for 2-5 years

TIER 3

ASSEMBLERS ONLY – 90% OF NEW SOLAR PV

1. No investment in research and development
2. Assembly of panels only – do not manufacture silicon cells
3. Uses human production lines for manual soldering of solar cells instead of advanced robotics
4. Assembling panels for 1-2 years

Term of Investment

No intentions of moving - If you are in the home you're installing the panels on for the long term (five years or more) or just demand the best – you should consider premium panels. Premium panels are more efficient, they are made from superior quality materials and will degrade less than any other panels over time. Highly advanced and backed by science and research, these products are designed to perform better in extreme heat and lower light. An added bonus, premium panels often come with more comprehensive warranties too. These features don't pay for themselves straight away, but over the long term, their advantages are clear.

Three - five years - If you are planning on being in your home for more than three years, we recommend choosing tier one solar panels. This will ensure your panels will continue to produce solar power well into the future. This will save you more money in the long run. Tier one solar panels usually have a linear warranty too. This guarantees a maximum performance reduction of a fixed percentage over the 25 year warranty period.

One - three years - Planning to move out in a few years? In this case it would be worth considering a tier two solar panel option. This is a more cost effective option with a shorter payback period, allowing you to reap the benefits of solar whilst you are at the property, without breaking the bank.

The Manufacturer and Warranty

Regardless of how long you are planning to be in your home and what tier suits your requirements, at Solargain we always recommend choosing a solar panel from a manufacturer with a strong presence in Australia. This local support will ensure a smooth and easy warranty process if anything does go wrong. Look for a 25 year linear performance warranty. Manufacturers who produce inferior products may not honour their warranty, so remember that your warranty is only as good as the manufacturer behind it.

Check the level of automation (robotic processes) the manufacturing uses - the less human hands the panel is in contact with, the less prone it is to defects. You should also find out how long the manufacturer been producing panels for – the longer, the better.

The Provider (company you buy your panels from)

Make sure the provider you choose has a high standard of products and service that can be backed up. A sure fire way to check this is to see if they have any certification or accreditations e.g. CEC accreditation. Another consideration: Make sure your supplier has installed plenty of panels from the manufacturer you’re considering – e.g. QCELLS. Providers that have installed panels from manufacturers over several years will have a deeper understanding about the quality of the product though dealing with them first hand. If the manufacturer was inferior, the provider would have moved on to another manufacturer. At Solargain, we only provide solar panels that meet our strict supplier selection process. This is simply to protect our customers and ourselves from the costly situation of frequent faults and manufacturers not honouring their warranties. We plan to be here for the long run and are committed to providing superior sales, service and support Australia-wide. Therefore, we only choose high quality Clean Energy Council approved Australian-supported panels from brands such as Fronius, Enphase, SMA, ReneSola, and QCELLS.

After Sales Support

Make sure your provider has a dedicated service and support centre. This will provide peace of mind and assistance with warranty claims, faults, service and repairs. Good providers will also have plenty of downloadable information you need for the solar panels you purchased, including warranty information and specifications.

Cost Vs Value

Sometimes it’s hard to resist being lured by ‘rock bottom’ prices. But it’s always worth stepping back and evaluating cost vs value. The cost of something is simply its price in dollars. Meanwhile, the value is what it is worth to you. Value doesn’t always mean ‘the lowest price’ – it’s about getting the most from your product including superior quality and extended performance as well as avoiding costly repairs, poor performance and a manufacturer who won’t honour their warranty. At Solargain we think of solar power as an investment – and like all investments, it’s important to do your research. For more information about choosing better quality solar power products visit our guide: Questions To Ask Before You Buy..

Solargain

Over the last 20 years Solargain has grown from a humble one-man-band to become one of the largest solar power providers in the country.

Australia has been incredibly good to us – not only providing a sunny climate, but over 50,000 happy customers along the way.

Considering Australia’s high number of average ‘sunshine hours’ during the day, it’s hardly a surprise. Our home-town of Perth for example is the sunniest city in the country – averaging an incredible 11 hours of sunlight during the summer months of January and December (which is great for solar panels!)

Over the years we’ve seen plenty of solar power companies come and go. And whilst some big players in the industry are now backed, or have been bought, by international companies, we’re proud to say that we’re still 100% Australian owned and operated.

Why does that matter?

For us, it’s about keeping our interests focused on Australia as much as possible – from hiring local staff, to supporting local organisations and initiatives. In fact, just recently we announced our latest sponsorship of the Fremantle Dockers. Aside from big AFL clubs, we’re proud to partner with plenty of other great teams and organisations such as:

• Bowls Australia
• Solargain Perth Suns
• Carbon Neutral
• Australian Hotels Association
• AUSVEG

Our staff includes over 100 Aussies in most states and territories, including our team of installers. Our installers take pride in their work, they also uphold a high standard of quality and consistency across all of our installations. This is because we have a ISO9001 accredited install process.

Speaking of pride, we happily stock solar power products from Australian-supported brands only. That means the brands behind all of our products have a significant presence in Australia – they’re committed to our country and will be there for support when needed.

Moving forward, our ambition is to continue offering our Australian customers truly cutting-edge solar power products and services. We love our sunny country and hope to use renewable energy to preserve its future for generations to come.

Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Solargain

With ANZAC fast approaching on April 25, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the significance of the occasion.

As a company that’s proud to be Australian owned and operated, Solargain acknowledges the sacrifice thousands of men and women have made (and continue to make) to protect our country and make it great.

Today ANZAC Day has come to embody the many different meanings of war. The purpose of the day is to remember all Australians and New Zealanders ‘who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations’ – it’s no longer confined to the First World War, although that’s where it originates.

The day of ANZAC (that is, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) observes the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. The 25th was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916.

Of particular significance (and rarity) is the fact that Australia and New Zealand share the holiday, using the same name and same date of remembrance. There are plenty of other fascinating components that make up ANZAC Day. Here are a few:

• Today many Australians got to a dawn service to remember the ANZACs –though they used to be attended solely by veterans. Now, dawn services are frequented by thousands across the country in the wee hours of the morning.
• ANZAC biscuits are a delicious treat today, but during the famous Gallipoli battle, the long-lasting biscuits made from oats, sugar, flour, coconut, butter and golden syrup were used as a vital substitute for bread.
• Rosemary often makes an appearance on ANZAC Day as it’s found growing wild on the Gallipoli peninsula.
• The Last Post was usually played during war to inform soldiers that fighting had ended for the day. Now it’s a staple of memorial services, symbolising that the duty of the dead has finished.
• The phrase "lest we forget" accompanies most ANZAC Day commemorations and is used to remind us of the importance to remember those who’ve served, fought and died for our country.

For more information about ANZAC Day check out this link or go to your official city website to find out about dawn services happening around you.

Lest We Forget.

Solargain

Organised by Solargain for existing customers, suppliers, industry partners and general public, guests were invited to the exhibition suite at International on The Water in Ascot, WA. All in all it was a spectacular event, and we’d like to thank everyone who got involved – from our hardworking team, to all our special guests who contributed to the two very exciting sessions.

The event showcased some of the most anticipated solar power products to hit the Australian market.

These included home batteries from big names such as Enphase, Fronius and LGChem as well as the latest in solar panel technology from QCELLS. Guests were also treated to other energy-saving technologies such as Solargain hot water systems and the new wave of LED lighting solutions from Integrated Power.

Of all the renewable energy products on display, there was an undeniable buzz around the solar batteries. Our team fielded plenty of questions about this new technology, the most common ones were:

• Is my current solar power system compatible?
• How do they work?
• When will they be available?
• How much do they cost?

If you weren’t able to make the launch event, we’ve dedicated a webpage to address these questions which you can view here.

Other highlights from the event included door prizes (because who doesn’t love a door prize?). A few lucky guests received Enphase Envoy S Metered energy monitors, whilst everyone who attended got a complimentary show-bag from Solargain.

Arguably though, the best part of the event was the shared enthusiasm from customers, solar energy enthusiasts and the Solargain team over the launch of what is truly a game-changer in renewable energy.

For more information about our latest range of solar battery products, contact our team.

Solargain

This year Earth Hour was on Saturday March 19 and a record number of countries and territories switched off some of their brightest landmarks in support.

As grim reports continue to flood in surrounding the Earth’s rising temperature and the damage it’s causing, a show of support for climate action is not only important, but essential to our future. Just recently scientists claimed a ‘climate emergency’ off the back of record heat around the globe in February – indeed, the time for the world’s countries to make good on promises made at the Paris Conference is now.

But back to Earth Hour.

A WWF initiative, Earth Hour isn’t just for big cities. The event encourages all individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights between 8:30 and 9:30pm in their local time. The notion of switching off is symbolic of our united mission to preserve the planet and be more efficient with resources. You may be surprised to know that Earth Hour actually started right here in our own backyard in 2007 when Sydney famously turned off its lights.

In 2016 more than 178 countries and territories participated in the event with the lights of over 400 famous landmarks being switched off or dimmed for 60 minutes. Some of the more famous ones included the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the city lights of Shanghai, the Eiffel Tower, London’s Big Ben and New York’s Time Square.

In a statement shortly after the event, Siddarth Das, the Executive Director of Earth Hour Global said ‘The past 24 hours have shown us yet again the impact we can achieve when we unite for a cause… Every light switch turned off represents a call to switch on our collective power and be the first line of defense for our planet as we form the frontlines of climate change.’

It’s a sentiment we couldn’t agree with more.

For tips about what you can do to help conserve the planet check out our blog Simple Things You Can Do To Help Save The Planet... and for more information about Earth Hour, head to the official website.

Solargain

We’ve lined up the opportunity, kept our eye on the target, kicked… and scored official silver sponsorship status with the Fremantle Football Club.

The crowd goes wild!

We couldn’t be more excited to announce this brilliant news. Just like many of our customers around Australia, we’re big fans of the AFL and so the opportunity to support one of its leading teams is quite an honour.

But there’s something particularly special to us about the Fremantle Dockers.

The team from Perth’s south not only shares our birthplace city, but was officially admitted into the AFL competition in 1995 – the same year Solargain was born.

During the same 21 years, both the Fremantle Dockers and Solargain have risen from their underdog status to the top of the league, ever-ambitious to push for greatness.

As part of our sponsorship agreement, we’re going to do what we do best. We’ll be energising key Fremantle Dockers facilities with solar power, including:

• A 100kWp solar power system for the new state-of-the-art training facility in Cockburn Central West (opening date planned for March 2017)
• A 40kWp solar power system for the current administration building at  Fremantle Oval

Like all our solar power installations, both will use industry-leading products. For the Fremantle Dockers project, we’ll source panels, inverters and railing from our key suppliers QCELLS,

Fronius and Clenergy.

In a recent media release Steve Rosich, Fremantle Dockers CEO, acknowledged the arrival of Solargain as a sponsor as well as three others.

He said, ‘We are delighted to welcome the support of four new sponsors, WFI, Beyond Bank, IGA and Solargain, all with whom we share strong values and a genuine commitment to positively impacting the community.’

We couldn’t agree more and we can’t wait to see what awesome things we’ll achieve with our new partners.

Solargain

Whatever name you use, the same meaning applies to these revolutionary batteries that are set to feature in millions of Australian homes over the next few years.

Put simply, solar batteries help you get the most out of your solar panels. They allow you to store electricity for later use during the evening or during blackouts and in some cases, provide the potential to go off-grid.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves! Here’s a breakdown of all you need to know about home solar batteries:

What Are They?

The generation of home solar batteries we’re talking about use the latest lithium-ion technology. Sounds complicated, but you already use this kind of battery every day in your smart-phone, laptop, power tools or electric car – if you have one! These rechargeable batteries provide strong energy intensity, yet are lighter and lower maintenance compared to lead acid alternatives.

Haven’t Solar Batteries Been Around For A While

Home battery storage has never been so affordable and accessible. Up until now, solar batteries have been unobtainable for most homeowners – and with good reason. They’re heavy, expensive, and often require ongoing and costly maintenance.

Exciting new players to the home energy storage market, such as Tesla Energy, are changing the game. Tesla’s Powerwall is a light, efficient, ‘set and forget’ solution that will make homes more sustainable. Other companies with their eyes set to the Australian solar battery market include Enphase Energy and LG Chem.

How Do They Work?

Solar batteries are pretty uncomplicated and once installed you’ll likely forget they are there (except when your power bill arrives.)

The following is based an example that applies to most common battery systems:

• Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity during the day, charging the batteries as well as providing power for the home.
• Your inverter converts direct current electricity from solar panels and batteries into alternating current used by your home.
• Electricity from the inverter is sent to your home's electrical panel.
• Some backup installations may require a secondary electrical panel containing the critical appliances and outlets you wish to back up. An electrical switch automatically activates the backup panel during a power company outage (on applicable systems).

What’s The Benefit?

The new generation of home battery storage systems can offer an impressive range of benefits, including:

• Dramatic increase in power bill savings
• Significant reduction in emissions – which is better for the planet
• Added property value
• Potential to use power during a blackout (on selected installations)

Are they expensive?

The price of solar batteries has dropped dramatically compared to systems on offer just a few years ago. We currently stock a range of solar batteries with different capabilities and technology levels, so prices vary. To obtain a specific quote, have a chat with our team.

How long will they last?

This also depends on which solar battery system you choose to install. Even our entry-level batteries are well rated and are covered by a limited performance warranty of X years. More sophisticated batteries are expected to hold charge for even longer.

Will it be compatible with my current solar power system?

Almost all solar power systems currently installed are compatible with the new generation of batteries. Not all solar power systems will integrate with every battery, so the best way to find out which will work for you is to speak to a solar energy professional.

How Do I Find Out More?

It’s likely that you’ve still got some questions about solar battery systems. The best way to get them answered is to contact our team for an obligation-free chat. We’ll help you understand more about these exciting new products as well as which one will best suit your needs and budget.

So if you’re keen to know more, make sure you get in touch!

We don’t know about you, but 2008 doesn’t seem like that long ago to us.

Yet in the context of solar power, that short span of time from when solar panels first started making their way into Australia, to now, represents a huge shift in affordability and tech.

It’s hard to think that ten years ago there wasn’t really a solar PV panel in sight (especially when you look around Australia’s suburbs today).

Back in 2008 when they first started to become available to homeowners, you’d pay around $3,000 for a 1 kW system (1 kW inverter) – and that was after an $8,000 government rebate and another $1,000 worth of STCs (RECs back then). If you had an extra $500, you could get a bigger inverter (usually 2 kW) so that you could add more panels later – which was considered amazing back then!

If you wanted to add extra panels to your install, they’d cost about $1,500 each and they were only about 150 kW (compared to 250 kW+ today).

A 5 kW system in 2008 was extremely rare because it would cost… wait for it… around $40,000!

Aside from far better affordability, solar panels have come leaps and bounds in technology too.

Panels now perform better in lower light, are much more robust, less sensitive to heat and feature many other technical improvements.

Likewise for solar inverters. Today’s crop often come standard with dual tracking, wireless connectivity and online monitoring of production – all wild, futuristic concepts just eight years ago.

In 2016, you wouldn’t even consider installing a 1 kW system - it’s just too small.

The average size system our customers are choosing today is 3 kW, with many opting for the even bigger (and drastically more affordable) 5 kW option.

What’s next?

Solar power technology continues to change and evolve in really exciting ways. The next ‘revolution’ in solar tech is without a doubt, home battery storage. In 2024 (eek!) – which is only another eight years away, we predict that basically every home that has panels on its roof will have a battery collecting excess energy installed as well.

The best part about home battery storage is that the technology is already available now.

Here’s to the future!

Solargain