#100 - Amber Unfiltered w/ Carlos Garcia

Send us Fan MailCarlos Garcia from Amber Electric joins Just Another Solar Podcast to break down how Australia’s wholesale electricity market really works — including negative pricing, smart energy usage, batteries, EVs, and why real-time data is becoming critical for both households and installers. We unpack the growing disconnect between traditional retail models and wholesale pricing, the challenges around transparency, and what the energy transition actually means on the ground for consumers and the trade as the grid gets more complex. This episode is proudly brought to you by GoodWe Australia, supporting Australian solar retailers and installers with reliable inverters and energy storage solutions built for real-world conditions and backed by a strong local presence.Just Another Solar Podcast is hosted by Luke Beattie, Karl Jensen, Nigel Morris and Jess MacPherson. It's a casual conversation that shouldn't be taken as business, financial or legal advice. Episode chapters1:00:00 Intro & Welcome Back1:03:00 Industry Catch-Up After the Break1:07:30 Customer Calls, Friends & Family1:12:00 Solar Industry Burnout & Workload1:14:00 Episode 100 Milestone1:16:45 Sponsors & Installer Training1:17:55 Introducing the Guest: Carlos Garcia1:21:30 Amber Electric Overview1:25:10 Wholesale Pricing Explained1:29:45 Negative Pricing & Smart Usage1:34:40 Real-World Energy Use Examples1:38:10 Batteries, EVs & Load Shifting1:42:00 Australian Solar Manufacturing1:46:30 Data Access & Installer Trust1:50:30 Battery Sales & Referral Concerns1:55:10 System Efficiency & Energy Loss1:00:00 Final Questions & Industry Warnings1:02:10 Closing Thoughts & Thanks