In the past month, the Queensland government announced that in 2023, all new (or upgraded) solar systems with total inverter capacity of 10kW and above will be required to have an “Emergency Backstop” device installed which will allow Ergon/Energex to turn off solar systems in an emergency, to prevent damage to the network. This will add extra cost to a solar installation and also mean that the systems may be turned off when/if Ergon sees the need.  Why? The purpose of the backstop (AKA a Generation Signalling Device) is to help protect the grid. It’s pretty much a protective mechanis ..read more

Trina’s Vertex S+ vs REC’s Twinpeak 4   Electrical Sensations’ first preference is to install REC’s Alpha Pure solar panels. The Alpha Pure is REC’s multi-award-winning, premium panel. In terms of efficiency, performance and longevity, the Alpha Pure is one of the industry’s best. However, they also come with a premium price tag that doesn’t fit everyone’s budget. That is why we also offer a more affordable option that will still perform well – introducing the REC TwinPeak 4 and Trina’s new Vertex S+! These are the two solar panels that we will be comparing in this blog. Both the T ..read more

Why install solar batteries? What’s the benefit? Essentially batteries store unused energy produced by your solar panels. That stored energy can be used overnight, in times of inclement weather or when power is charged at premium rates (Time-of-Use tariff customers). Batteries give you ‘certainty of supply’ and allow you to create your own energy supply rather than relying predominately on the grid (Ergon, Energex etc).   The three main benefits of installing a solar battery are: Being less dependent on grid and creating ‘certainty of supply’ The main purpose of solar batteries i ..read more

THE “SUN TAX” – What does it even mean? Over the past few weeks, there has been talk of a new “solar/sun tax” being introduced in Australia. There have been numerous Facebook posts, news articles and radio segments indicating that solar owners are soon going to be charged to sell back/export any excess electricity (instead of getting paid for it as you do now). This obviously created quite a stir within the solar industry as if it was true (spoiler: it’s not), it would impact the economic benefit of solar. How did it all start? Last year the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) allow ..read more

REC is known for producing high-quality solar panels, but which one is best for you?  The REC Alpha Pure and TwinPeak 4 are both good quality solar panels. We proudly recommend both to our customers, and in fact, have been installing REC panels for more than 5 years. We’re totally confident in both panels’ performance, reliability, and longevity.  How are they similar? Both panels feature a half-cut design, have an impressive 25 year (20+5) product warranty, and are backed by a large company with a well-staffed and competent team in their Australian office. What are the main points ..read more

 Table of Contents: How does the ‘solar rebate’ work in Queensland? How much is the ‘solar rebate’? Who is eligible for the ‘solar rebate’ in Queensland? Is the STC financial incentive ending soon? Can I get the ‘rebate’ for commercial and off-grid systems as well? Can I get the ‘rebate’ if I’m upgrading or replacing a system? + other scenarios How does the solar rebate work in Queensland? The Australian Government has a scheme in place to help reduce the cost of solar power systems. The STC financial incentive (or the ‘government rebate’ or ‘solar scheme’ as it’s commonly called) is ..read more

In a nutshell: To work out what size solar PV system you require, you need to analyse your household’s daily electricity consumption. Your monthly or quarterly electricity bill measures your household’s electricity consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Using your current average daily electricity consumption, as well as your expected FUTURE consumption, we size and design a system to suit you and your needs. Sizing a solar power system should not be a ‘One Size Fits All’ process. Our team of accredited solar designers can help work out what size system will suit you best. This article covers ..read more

Director of Electrical Sensations, Nigel Phillips has been accepted into the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) Installer Reference Group. The Clean Energy Council (CEC) is the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia. They work with local, state and federal governments to develop standards and promote the industry. All Australian solar installers must be approved by the Clean Energy Council. Within the Clean Energy Council, there is a group called the Installer Reference Group (IRG). The IRG is a national committee and only has 23 members – accredited solar installers, designers and ..read more

The inverter is certainly one of, if not the most, critical components of the solar system. When it comes to good quality, premium solar inverters, SMA and Fronius are both industry leaders. They have both been manufacturing inverters for more than 20 years and have a solid reputation in Australia for producing reliable, efficient and long-lasting products. So, which one should you choose? While we install and recommend both the SMA Sunny Boy and Fronius Primo to our customers, there are a couple of important points of difference. This article compares their key features, important statistics ..read more