The Best Solar Panel in the World! Truly! Straight from REC
SnapSolar is Australia’s #1 expert solar specialists servicing homes and businesses in Queensland. It’s our mission to help our customers transition to a renewable future by providing best-in-class, quality solar systems that leverage the sun to generate free energy, helping reduce the carbon footprint and lowering energy bills.
Gus Pavani from REC, a premium solar provider, discusses REC’s history, their establishment in 1996 in Norway, and their headquarters and manufacturing in Singapore. He explains how the company has built a solid reputation over 28 years in the solar industry.
Gus highlights REC’s long-standing presence in the market and its reputation for quality and innovation. He shares that REC has won numerous awards for its products and customer service, with recognition in Australia for two consecutive years as the best solar panel provider.
Gus explains that REC manufactures nearly all components in-house, which gives them more control over quality and ensures a higher level of reliability and performance for their products. He emphasizes the company’s strong reputation in the industry for producing long-lasting solar panels.
Gus reveals that only 1 in 13,000 REC panels is returned under warranty, highlighting the reliability of their products. This low return rate underscores the durability and longevity of REC solar panels.
The discussion dives into the fine print of solar panel warranties, stressing how some brands may offer misleading or limited warranties. REC stands out by offering a comprehensive warranty that includes labor costs and coverage for failures across global markets.
Gus demonstrates the durability of REC panels through a hands-on test, showing that REC panels continue to work even when cracked, unlike standard panels, which often break into pieces and fail.
Gus discusses the rapidly evolving Australian solar market, particularly the integration of solar and battery storage, as well as the rise of electric vehicles. He emphasizes the need for high-performance solar systems that can handle long-term energy demands without degrading quickly.
Gus explains some of the advanced technologies behind REC panels, such as the solder-free technology and heterojunction (HJT) technology, which reduce the risk of microcracking and lower degradation, ensuring that panels last longer and perform better under various conditions.
Gus elaborates on REC’s efforts to reduce lead in their panels and eliminate the risk of modern slavery in their supply chain. He also highlights REC’s ongoing work in sustainability, including its recent EcoVadis certification.
REC’s Strong Reputation and Longevity
REC has been a prominent player in the solar industry for over 28 years, giving it a solid foundation and expertise that is rare in a market filled with new entrants. Their consistent commitment to quality and innovation has made them a trusted name in solar.
Vertical Integration for Quality Control
REC’s decision to vertically integrate their manufacturing process allows them greater control over quality, resulting in more reliable and durable solar products. This also gives consumers confidence that their solar systems will perform optimally for years to come.
Impressive Warranty and Reliability
With only 1 in 13,000 panels needing warranty service, REC stands out for its product durability. The company’s comprehensive warranty, including global labor support, further strengthens its value proposition for consumers seeking long-term reliability.
Advanced Technology for Performance
REC’s investment in advanced solar technologies, such as solder-free technology and heterojunction (HJT) cells, sets them apart from competitors. These innovations minimize potential points of failure, reduce panel degradation, and ensure better performance over the lifespan of the panel.
The Shift Toward Energy Independence
As the demand for solar energy storage and electric vehicle integration increases in Australia, REC’s solar panels are designed to meet the evolving needs of consumers who want energy independence. The company’s focus on low degradation rates and high efficiency ensures that their panels are future-proof for emerging energy technologies.
Sustainability and Ethical Practices
REC is deeply committed to sustainability, not only in the performance of their products but also in the ethical sourcing of materials. Their focus on reducing environmental impact and ensuring fair labor practices positions them as a leader in both solar innovation and corporate responsibility.
Smart Investment for the Long Term
While REC panels may have a higher upfront cost compared to some other options, their long-term performance, low degradation rates, and superior warranty make them a smart investment. Consumers will see greater returns on their investment over the lifespan of the panels, making it a better value proposition in the long run.
Jackson is joined by Leo from BYD on SolarChat Episode 5 to talk about the company’s history, product range, and future projections for BYD batteries.
Chris, a Business Development Manager from SunPower, shares his 10-year journey with the company, emphasizing the rapid advancements in solar and battery technology.
Chris talks about SunPower’s foundation in 1985 by Dr. Richard Swanson and its revolutionary Maxion technology, which placed all cell connections on the back, improving efficiency and reliability.
Chris explains how SunPower’s Maxion technology powers solar cars, aircraft, and satellites, and highlights the company’s consistent technological edge with its high-efficiency modules.
SunPower’s focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices, including net-zero waste manufacturing and cradle-to-cradle certifications, is discussed, stressing the company’s commitment to ethical and sustainable solar solutions.
A live demonstration of the difference in durability between a standard solar cell and SunPower’s Maxion cell, showing how SunPower cells maintain functionality even when cracked.
Chris previews upcoming innovations, including new battery offerings and the next-gen Maxion 7 panels, promising increased module efficiencies and even better performance.
Discussion on the challenges of cheap, low-quality solar products entering the market, creating issues for consumers and damaging the industry’s reputation.
A light-hearted moment where Chris jokingly shares his wish to be a comedian for a day, inspired by superpowers.
SunPower’s Longevity
SunPower’s long-standing presence in the market is a key differentiator, with a history dating back to 1985. This stability, combined with ongoing innovation, sets SunPower apart from many competitors who have come and gone.
Maxion Technology’s Edge
The Maxion technology, which places busbars on the back of solar cells, enhances both efficiency and durability. This innovative design allows SunPower cells to generate more energy while being more resilient under harsh conditions, offering a longer lifespan.
Sustainability Leadership
SunPower’s commitment to ethical manufacturing is highlighted through its cradle-to-cradle certification and net-zero waste practices. These efforts position SunPower as a leader in the industry, aligning with companies and consumers who prioritize environmental and social responsibility.
Superior Durability
SunPower panels are tested for durability, with the ability to continue functioning even if damaged. This makes them a reliable long-term investment for consumers who want panels that perform well for decades.
Technology’s Rapid Evolution
With a focus on innovation, SunPower is pushing the boundaries of solar technology. The upcoming Maxion 7 panels are expected to reach efficiencies above 24%, reinforcing SunPower’s position as an industry leader in solar energy.
Solar Industry Challenges
The industry faces challenges, particularly from low-cost, low-quality products that harm the reputation of solar energy. SunPower’s focus on quality and sustainability aims to address these issues, helping consumers make informed, long-lasting investments.
Jackson Wyer is joined by Leon Minic from Proximity Motorsport on episode 4. Leon touches on how he went around adding solar to his leased premises and how this benefited his company. Leon talks about why he decided to install solar for his new build and for his business
Jackson Wyer is joined by Jordan Pearson on episode 3. Jackson & Jordan discuss Jordan’s move over to Australia and his work background, Jordan’s first couple weeks on the job, solar misconceptions, what solar involves and what you should have handy before installers come to view your propert
Jackson Wyer is joined by Jordan Pearson this week to talk about the latest range of Solar Battery Storage they have in stock at the SnapShack. Learn about Tesla, BYD, Q CELL and Sungrow battery storage!
Jackson: Hey, what’s up guys, welcome back to Snapchat. Today, we’re over at the Snap Shack, and we’re gonna go through our latest range of available batteries for your home on the market today.
Jackson: Joined with our new recruit, Jordan, who’s an expert in the field of BYD. So with recent trends in the market, we’ve seen an upswing in the installations of battery systems with solar systems.
Jackson: The reason for this is obviously changes in the market, high electricity prices and unsurety in the market. More and more people are trending towards having a battery fitted to their home. Today we’re gonna dive into the products that we offer and some of the AC and DC solutions available for your home.
Jackson: So guys, some key things that you wanna know before dipping your toe into inquiring about batteries is AC coupling and DC coupling. To keep things really simple Guys, all AC coupling means is that your inverter is built into your battery system.
Jackson: Now everyone’s familiar with Elon Musk and the iconic brand of Tesla. Tesla’s, uh, power War II solution is what we consider an AC coupled battery system. So basically what that means, guys, is that the inverter unit is built in to the battery system.
Jackson: But why does any of that matter? Will affect the solar system’s size that you put on your home and potentially the design that you go with.
Jackson: Speaking in regards to the Ergon network and in North Queensland Net Network, we have a restriction of 10 KVA per phase. So what does that mean for your battery system? The 10 KVA per phase ruling affects your battery system design because we are only allowed a 10 kilowatt inverter capacity per phase.
Jackson: A Tesla Power Wall two has a rating of a five-kilowatt inverter capacity. So realistically that means we can only couple an extra five-kilowatt solar onto the system. This ruling makes expansion of the unit difficult. It means that we’re only able to run a five kilowatt inverter and going off our 33% over dimension. A 6.6-kilowatt solar system is technically the largest solar system that we can install with the Tesla Power Wall 2. That’s why it’s really important to be dealing with a company that understands the restrictions and regulations around your solar design and the implementation of what battery design you choose to go with.
Jackson: Cause we can direct you whether AC coupling or DC coupling is the best solution for your home. But guys, for all of you Elon Musk fans out there, don’t let this deter you from the great product that’s out there. The Tesla Power Wall 2, it’s a rock-solid product, It has some really smarts about it, you’ve got some good integrated apps and monitoring software available for this unit, and let’s face it, It has to be one of the sexiest batteries available on the market.
Jordan: I disagree. This is the sexiest battery there is on the market. This is BYD’s dc stackable solution. Not only is it robust, it’s stackable, so we can simply add more batteries. So this is important because not only do we have to be limited with the amount of batteries you’ve first purchased, we can add batteries on later on down the line. BYD, If DC coupled, it means you can be more flexible with your designs and will be a great system for any home solar.
Jackson: Another great solution for your home is a Q Home Core. The Q Home Core is a sleek battery solution for homeowners that have pre-existing solar or wish to go battery with new solar systems.
Jordan: So also another great stackable solution, sun grows DC coupled battery system also stackable. So not much difference between these two, apart from this one comes at a slightly better price point, both amazing battery solutions for any home.
Jackson: Alright guys, that wraps up the Snap Solar battery range for 2023.
Jordan: If you wanna find out about the sexy BYD battery.
Jackson: or if you wanna find out more about Tesla hit us up in the link below. More than happy to answer any of your battery inquiries or battery questions. Thanks for watching!
Jackson Wyer touches on everything you need to know before going solar in 2023. Learn about building consumption, meter reading, tariffs, and service fees.
Jackson: Hey what’s up guys, Jackson Wyer from SnapSolar. Today we’re going to be covering everything that you need to know before going solar in 2023!
Jackson: Before getting caught up in all the excitement of technology and the wonderland of solar, there’s a couple of things that you need to know before going and inquiring about solar. On a typical ergon electricity bill, consumption is located on the first page about halfway down, under “Compare Your Usage”
Jackson: Consumption is important and you want to think of consumption much like fuel economy and fuel of your car. Your home’s consumption is much like liters per hundred with electricity accounts it’s measured in kilowatts or kilowatts per day.
Jackson: Now that you understand your home’s consumption and your daily consumption of your property, we can start to look at the property and look at the time of use consumption. Time of use consumption is important because that breaks it down for us with when is the home needing electricity and when will that electricity be being used.
Jackson: Typically solar only works during the day and a typical connect solar inverter without a battery will only offset power during the day, so it’s important to note what loads are running through the day so that you can adequately size the system to suit. Typically gid connect solar systems only offset power that’s being used during the day. Examples of this are pools, hot water systems or when the customers home and using aircon use and things like that.
Jackson: A typical base load for a residential in North Queensland is anywhere from 250 watts to about 500 watts base load. Now that you understand how to read your electricity bill and you’ve seen where to find the daily usage of your property; I.E in this case, 14 kilowatts. We can then look at that and go when is that power being used?
Jackson: A great way as a homeowner that you can track your power usage is to go out to your meter board and read your meter. If we read our meter in a 12-hour period, I.E 8 am to 8 pm, we can then break down our daytime usage versus our nighttime usage. To keep things simple, for a 14-kilowatt home, a daytime usage may be 7 kilowatts and a nighttime usage of 7 kilowatts, therefore a typical storage needed for a property of this size would be 7 kilowatts of storage. A customer can then approach a solar company with this data and get an appropriately sized system, for the company it would be clear for the homeowners and owner’s nighttime usage and the homeowners day time usage. This comes into effect if a client would like to invest in battery storage or whether a grid connect solar system is suffice for the property.
Jackson: Now you’ve gone through and you’re able to read your electricity bill and you’ve broken down your home usage. Another key thing to note on electricity is tariffs, there are multiple tariffs used, the most commonly used on residential is tariff 11 general supply.
Jackson: Another tariff that’s commonly used is tariff 31 and 32, these are known as time-of-use tariffs or off-peak tariffs. Generally used for heating hot water systems, pumping and things alike, traditionally when solar is installed the solar company will remove tariff 33 and 31, we’ll move these across to general supply tariff 11. Upon doing this we time and programmed these loads for things like hot water systems, we time these loads to run during the day when your solar is running. So that your solar system is now heating the hot water and you’re no longer paying for that load, this is the most effective way to handle time of use consumption loads and it’s the most affordable way to heat your hot water system.
Jackson: Another key figure to note on your account is your meet a service fees and account-keeping fees. Typically on an ergon account, these make up about a dollar to a dollar twenty per day of service fees and service charges. These are outside of your usage and attached to your account payable either monthly or quarterly depending on your account. Service fees will always be attached to an account even after the solar is installed.
Jackson: So therefore guys things like consumption, time-of-use consumption, base loads and service fees are all things that you can offset by installing a solar system.
Jackson: Thanks for tuning in guys and watching the first of our mini-series of everything that you need to know before buying solar in 2023. Next week we interview the boys from Q Cell and they’re going to load us up with all the new product range for 2023 and all the technology that they’ll be releasing throughout the next year.
Jackson: Stay tuned! we’re going to dive into product reviews, tech talks, interview the masterminds of our industry and get excited about all the new things coming to the market for 2023! Alright guys, stay tuned, see you next week.