Solar Insiders - a Renew Economy Podcast

PODCAST · technology

Solar Insiders - a Renew Economy Podcast

Join Renew Economy founder Giles Parkinson and editor Sophie Vorrath as they discuss the ins & outs of the solar industry and what it means for consumers.

  1. 187

    The small company taking giant steps to close the energy gap

    Lauren Mellor and Chantelle Johns from Original Power on their mission to take the power back for First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.

  2. 186

    Can we make climate action great again?

    Thom Woodroofe on his new book, Power, Prosperity & Planet, and why making solar as common to households as smoke alarms is one of the keys to climate policy success.

  3. 185

    Community batteries – can networks deliver what it says on the tin?

    Rob Amphlett Lewis on Ausgrid's Energy Storage as a Service offer, the falling cost of network batteries and the consumer driven evolution of modern poles and wires companies.

  4. 184

    How storage and knowledge can make energy "pretty much free"

    Matthew van der Linden from Flow Power shares his conviction that people have the power – and the tech – to take control of their energy costs. Plus news of the week.

  5. 183

    How saving energy can save businesses a fortune

    Jonathan Pooch from DETA Consulting on the untapped riches of energy productivity. Plus news of the week.

  6. 182

    How bushfires sparked a neighbourhood battery blueprint

    Ben McGowan, managing director of community-owned retailer Indigo Power, on the key role mid-scale batteries can play in regional energy resilience. Plus news of the week.

  7. 181

    What's the right way to consult with communities?

    Camilla Hamilton from Cogency explains the importance of research, listening, and good coffee when consulting with communities on renewables. Plus news of the week.

  8. 180

    How fixing network tariffs could break home battery economics

    IEEFA's Jay Gordon on how proposed changes to electricity pricing could strip away the benefits of Cheaper Home Batteries. Plus, news of the week.

  9. 179

    Zen and the art of battery optimisation

    OptiGrid founder and CEO Sahand Karimi on the ever evolving art of battery optimisation and the huge untapped value of the sub-5 MW "community" storage market. Plus news of the week.

  10. 178

    Praise be, it's a pilot!

    SEC's Darren Johannesen discusses two major bits of progress on the decade-long road to address Australia's solar waste problem. Plus news of the week.

  11. 177

    Energy smarts for home batteries and EVs

    Kaluza CEO Melissa Gander on the change in technologies, and energy thinking, that will deliver more value to consumers. Plus: News of the week, including solar recycling plan and home battery uptake.

  12. 176

    Big trouble in the small-scale battery rebate

    Smart Energy Council's David McElrea on why federal Labor must make some urgent changes to its super successful Cheaper Home Batteries scheme – and what those changes might be. Plus news of the week.

  13. 175

    Riding the home battery wave

    GoodWe's Dean Williamson gives an insider's view of the home battery boom, talks new products, and sends brand growth through to the keeper. Plus news of the week.

  14. 174

    Silicon, silver and sliding doors

    Neeraj Das from ElecSome on the huge economic and resource opportunity solar recycling presents for Australia – and how close we are to stuffing it up. Plus news of the week.

  15. 173

    Would you like electrification with that?

    Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel on how Australia must take a smorgasbord approach to home energy to make the most of Labor's free solar plan. Plus, news of the week.

  16. 172

    The community that built its own renewable grid

    Kait Williamson from Flow Power on how one Victorian town built its own green power solution from the ground up.

  17. 171

    What consumers really want from virtual power plants

    Plico Energy CTO George Martin says business is booming under the new home battery rebates, but the name of the VPP game remains the same. Plus news of the week.

  18. 170

    The "zero-cost" VPP with big plans for empty rooftops

    National Renewable Network CEO Alan Hunter on his company's mission to get home solar and storage to the masses. Plus news of the week.

  19. 169

    Start me up

    EnergyLab CEO Megan Fisher on the vital role start-up funding, mentoring and acceleration is playing in the evolution of consumer energy. Plus the news of the week.

  20. 168

    Poles, wires and fences

    Nexa Advisory's Stephanie Bashir on consumer energy, competition and holding networks to account. Plus: News of the week from the ACES conference in Sydney.

  21. 167

    Looking beyond cheaper home batteries

    Con Hristodoulidis from the Clean Energy Council on how the federal home battery rebate is doing, two weeks in, and what comes next in the consumer energy revolution. Plus news of the week.

  22. 166

    Can networks be nimble?

    Ausgrid's Rob Amphlett Lewis on the challenges and opportunities facing Australia's largest distribution network. Plus the launch of Australia's home battery rebate and other news of the week.

  23. 165

    The community that built its own renewable grid

    Kait Williamson from Flow Power on how one Victorian town built its own green power solution from the ground up. Plus the news of the week.

  24. 164

    Home battery storage with the lot

    RedEarth CEO Marc Sheldon on the evolution of home batteries, the company's new "Microgrid in a Box" offering, and why he's not a fan of VPPs. Plus news of the week.

  25. 163

    The energy pilot that pays customers to dial down their solar

    Engie's Ryan Wavish on how the retailer is flipping the sun tax to make solar curtailment work for everyone.

  26. 162

    Australia's waste panel problem – and how to turn it into a goldmine

    Smart Energy Council's Darren Johannesen explains how Australia's solar "waste" stream is actually a massive reclaimed resources opportunity – but the federal government needs to act fast. Plus, news of the week.

  27. 161

    How to make the most out of home batteries

    Amber Electric's Myles Eftos on how home batteries can be money making machines. Plus, a post-election debrief and Australia's new favourite battery.

  28. 160

    Shouting from the rooftops

    OpenSolar's Sophie Wright on the mission to streamline solar businesses so that more money and time can be spent where it's most needed - putting panels on rooftops. Plus, the news of the week.

  29. 159

    A Teal take on what voters want – and how to give it to them

    NSW Independent Allegra Spender on her plan for permanent energy bill relief and what's missing from federal Labor's battery rebate. Plus, dispatches from the Smart Energy Conference.

  30. 158

    Get ready for battery rebates

    Wayne Smith from the Smart Energy Council on what to expect from the federal home battery rebate (and when to expect it) and Australia's "sliding doors" energy election.

  31. 157

    A roller coaster year in review – and the keys to a smoother 2025

    In our final episode for the year, SunWiz's Warwick Johnston on the highs and the lows of 2024 for rooftop PV, home batteries and all those who make the industry tick. Plus the news of the week.

  32. 156

    It's a consumer energy revolution! Can retailers go with the flow?

    Matthew van der Linden on Flow Power's big move into residential retail. Plus the latest on the rooftop PV market, SunDrive's innovation progress, and other news.

  33. 155

    Four million and counting – the race to make the PV puzzle pieces fit

    UNSW's Baran Yildiz on how Australia's millions of rooftop solar systems and other consumer energy assets are being integrated into the grid. Plus, a Tesla Powerwall to go with your Bunnings sausage? And other news of the week.

  34. 154

    Made in the clean power-generating shade

    Will Beaumont on how his company's patented modular technology is making it cheaper, easier and much sexier to install solar car park canopies – and add EV charging while you're at it.

  35. 153

    Look ma, no gas!

    Clint Hare on Australia's most sustainable housing development, which has been building all-electric, super energy efficient homes on Victoria's Bass Coast for the past decade – with huge success.

  36. 152

    Can rooftop PV be a lifetime asset?

    Patrick Matweew from Enphase Energy on his journey from a coal town in Germany to a solar career in Queensland – and the big difference quality microinverters can make. Plus the week in solar news.

  37. 151

    Rise of an Australian PV Maverick

    5B's chief strategy officer Nicole Kuepper-Russell on the company's journey from concept scribbled on a napkin, to a factory in Adelaide that is walking the talk on solar innovation made in Australia.

  38. 150

    Battery boom-time in the land of the diesel-free donga

    Nic Stone talks to Solar Insiders about the myriad innovative off-grid projects that are using PowerPlus Energy's Australian made – and made for Australia – batteries, including tons of renewable powered dongas.

  39. 149

    Reuse, reclaim or recycle?

    Smart Energy Council's Darren Johannesen on some fascinating revelations about end-of-life solar panels and where their value lies.

  40. 148

    Controlling household PV and batteries

    Amid the big push to orchestrate consumer energy resources, we talk to Andrew Blaver about the successes and dud notes of Western Australia's Project Symphony.

  41. 147

    New dawn for household batteries

    Huon Hoogesteger from Smart Commercial Solar talks about almost everything but solar, as batteries and other bespoke energy solutions step into the light. Plus, Renewables in Agriculture.

  42. 146

    How millions of batteries can deliver billions in savings

    Clean Energy Council's Con Hristodoulidis on the huge, universal value of home battery storage – and why education will be crucial to unlocking it. Plus: Rooftop solar has a big month, with a small twist.

  43. 145

    Redback revival, battery rebates and solar tax

    Redback CEO Adrian Knack on surviving and thriving in the home battery business. Plus: A boost for batteries and a tax on solar.

  44. 144

    How to get off gas and electrify

    Peter Steele from Goodbye Gas on how his company is helping households to go all-electric. Plus: Mixed messages from the top.

  45. 143

    Australia loses it on solar

    Australia falls out of global top 10 solar countries. Plus: GridBeyond's Michael Phelan on the rise of VPPs; and battery rebates.

  46. 142

    Can Australia make its own solar?

    Arena boss Darren Miller on the Solar Sunshot, and why Australia needs a stake in the supply chain. Plus: Households lead renewables charge, and the growth of solar balconies.

  47. 141

    Heat pump demand red hot, batteries just warming up

    Solar Victoria CEO Stan Krpan talks rebate milestones, red hot heat pump demand and home battery uptake. Plus rooftop solar crackdowns and a battery business in trouble.

  48. 140

    Solar tariffs slashed again

    Nexa’s Stephanie Bashir on how to reshape grid around consumer energy as solar tariffs cut and PV sets new records.

  49. 139

    Can panels, farmers and sheep get along?

    As conservative media and politicians pit farmers against renewables, we talk to a sheep grazier who is building Tasmania's first large-scale solar project.

  50. 138

    The fight for fairer rooftop PV – and cheaper home batteries

    Heidi Douglas talks through Solar Citizens’ list of policy asks for the upcoming energy ministers’ meeting. Could we get discounted batteries for Christmas?

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Join Renew Economy founder Giles Parkinson and editor Sophie Vorrath as they discuss the ins & outs of the solar industry and what it means for consumers.

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Solar Insiders - a Renew Economy Podcast

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