http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/ Latest Blog from My Solar Quotes Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:18:26 +0100 en-us http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/solar-power-calculator-reviews-nz Savvy solar enthusiasts and vaguely interested punters alike may have noticed an influx of solar calculators popping up on websites throughout New Zealand recently.  Eager to find out more, I did Thu, 15 Jun 2017 16:23:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/solar-power-calculator-reviews-nz http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/solar-panels-on-opportunity-the-mars-rover- Mars rover Opportunity, the little engine that could, has surpassed its original mission (which was 3 Earth months!) and is continuing its rovering to this day, a mere 12 years and 9 months past Fri, 05 May 2017 10:30:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/solar-panels-on-opportunity-the-mars-rover- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/benefits-of-grid-connect-solar-power-system-in-nz Reduce or eliminate your energy bill Depending on which solar Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:58:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/benefits-of-grid-connect-solar-power-system-in-nz http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-zealand-solar-legislation/power-price-increases-are-a-good-reason-to-go-solar Ever increasing power bills are pushing many New Zealanders to re-think how they want to use electricity, and who they want to pay for it. Like a Trojan horse at the gate, Solar Power is quickly Tue, 11 Apr 2017 10:48:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-zealand-solar-legislation/power-price-increases-are-a-good-reason-to-go-solar http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/power-of-the-sun-harnessed-to-fuel-vehicles-in-tauranga---press-release Press Realease New Zealand’s first on-road, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charger - the ‘Electric Station’ - is now open to the public thanks Wed, 22 Feb 2017 15:44:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/power-of-the-sun-harnessed-to-fuel-vehicles-in-tauranga---press-release http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/solar-roof-tiles-what-s-available-in-new-zealand-2017- Tesla’s solar roof tile concepts have been rather hyped in the solar industry in recent times. We can’t wait to see them in action, however, Tesla products always take some time to reach New Thu, 19 Jan 2017 09:33:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/solar-roof-tiles-what-s-available-in-new-zealand-2017- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/how-to-get-the-best-solar-roi-with-power-genius Power Genius, a smart appliance controller and monitoring system, is a brilliant kiwi innovation that helps to utilise roof top solar power that would otherwise be sent directly to the Thu, 08 Dec 2016 09:34:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/how-to-get-the-best-solar-roi-with-power-genius http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/tesla-powerwall-2---beneficial-for-new-zealanders- On the 28th of October (in Universal Studios, Hollywood) a presentation took place with everyone’s favourite awkward billionaire Elon Musk, at the helm. The big reveal was that the Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:13:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/tesla-powerwall-2---beneficial-for-new-zealanders- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/power-ledger-putting-power-back-into-solar-power-owners-hands Power Ledger is a software platform that allows owners of renewable energy systems to decide who they want Wed, 09 Nov 2016 09:24:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/power-ledger-putting-power-back-into-solar-power-owners-hands http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/sonnen-solar-battery-storage-eco-8-2 The latest in residential solar power storage is from Sonnen, who have brought a 2kW expandable wall mounted unit to New Zealand shores.  For the style conscious they have them available in black Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:24:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/sonnen-solar-battery-storage-eco-8-2 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/the-enphase-ac-battery---now-available-in-new-zealand The widely anticipated Enphase AC Battery is now available in New Zealand!  Over the next 12 months Enphase will be distributing 70,000 battery units in New Zealand and Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:20:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/the-enphase-ac-battery---now-available-in-new-zealand http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/the-number-of-solar-power-systems-in-new-zealand The amount of solar power systems installed in New Zealand is on the rise! In August 2013 there were 1,279 solar power systems registered with New Zealand's Electricity Authority, and as of Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:21:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/the-number-of-solar-power-systems-in-new-zealand http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/solax-box-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-solar-power-storage-system- The SolaX-Box is the latest solar battery storage solution available on the New Zealand market.  It kind of looks like a beer fridge, the unit will usually sit amongst your sports equipment in Fri, 09 Sep 2016 12:20:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/battery-storage-for-solar/solax-box-what-you-need-to-know-about-this-solar-power-storage-system- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/elon-musk-reveals-plans-to-produce-beautiful-solar-shingles Elon Musk’s new vision for homes is for roofs to be made entirely out of solar panels. Using a building intergrated approach that is both roofing material and solar panels Thu, 25 Aug 2016 13:44:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/elon-musk-reveals-plans-to-produce-beautiful-solar-shingles http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/solar-power-systems-in-real-time-right-now-in-new-zealand- Thanks to Enphase Energy, anyone can view the performance of solar power systems around the world (including New Zealand!) via Enphases real time portal. Enphase’s online viewing platform is Thu, 21 Jul 2016 14:15:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/solar-power-systems-in-real-time-right-now-in-new-zealand- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/energy-retailers-why-don-t-they-buy-solar-power-at-a-good-price- One question we are asked almost daily is "Why don't New Zealand energy retailers pay a better price from solar power owners?". Right now, the average buy back rate for solar power is between 8 and Wed, 29 Jun 2016 17:19:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/energy-retailers-why-don-t-they-buy-solar-power-at-a-good-price- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/solar-power-maintenance-monitoring Keeping up maintenance on solar power systems is conveniently easy as they have no moving parts.  If solar panels are titled on an angle, as most are, then they will self clean in the rain, Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:23:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/solar-power-maintenance-monitoring http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/international-solar/catching-the-sun-documentary-review Catching the Sun Thu, 12 May 2016 12:21:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/international-solar/catching-the-sun-documentary-review http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-trends/reduce-your-power-costs-at-night-with-filament-led-lights If you are one of the lucky ones that has a solar power system installed, then chances are you have found yourself using solar power during the day as much as possible. Daytime provides ultimate Thu, 05 May 2016 12:18:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-trends/reduce-your-power-costs-at-night-with-filament-led-lights http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/everlasting-batteries-thanks-to-nano-technology Scientists and researchers have been developing nano technologies at tremendous rates in the last few years, thanks largely in part to the unquenchable thirst of the smart phone industry and the Mon, 02 May 2016 14:28:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/everlasting-batteries-thanks-to-nano-technology http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/video-release-the-different-types-of-solar-power-systems-available-in-nz- The growing popularity of solar power has seen an increase in the different types of systems available on the New Zealand market. The team at My Solar Quotes thought it was high time to make a Wed, 13 Apr 2016 08:19:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/video-release-the-different-types-of-solar-power-systems-available-in-nz- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-zealand-solar-legislation/lines-company-unison-taxing-solar-power-customers Efficient solar technologies have been making serious headway over the last few years, and while some New Zealand lines companies are embracing the change, others are grasping at straws, Tue, 05 Apr 2016 10:39:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-zealand-solar-legislation/lines-company-unison-taxing-solar-power-customers http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/enphase-opens-r-d-solar-components-facility-in-christchurch Tuesday, 22nd March, will go down in history as the day that Enphase energy officially opened a research and development facility in Christchurch, New Zealand. The United States based solar Sat, 26 Mar 2016 10:32:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/enphase-opens-r-d-solar-components-facility-in-christchurch http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/panasonic-s-residential-storage-battery-system-lj-sk84a Solar power enthusiasts are anxiously waiting for affordable solar power storage solutions to enter the market.  With buyback rates pretty much non-existent for solar power being exported to the Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:35:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/panasonic-s-residential-storage-battery-system-lj-sk84a http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/increasing-your-house-value-with-solar-power- Studies have shown, in recent times, that Australians looking to purchase homes find added value in property’s equipped with solar panel systems. The majority of New Zealanders are still Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:58:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/increasing-your-house-value-with-solar-power- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/sodium-ion-batteries-game-changers Sodium-Ion Batteries are making a lot of noise in the renewable energy storage space.  Compared to Lithium, Sodium is cheap and abundant.  If we want to store mass amounts of energy from solar Mon, 25 Jan 2016 14:05:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/sodium-ion-batteries-game-changers http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/zero-export-devices-for-grid-connect-solar-power-systems When installing a grid connect solar power system you must have the approval of your local lines company.  On several occasions in New Zealand, people wanting to install a grid connect solar power Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:32:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/zero-export-devices-for-grid-connect-solar-power-systems http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/rising-nz-solar-power-installation-rates-during-2015 Another year is coming to a close for the Solar Power industry in New Zealand, and again we have witnessed the steady rise of solar power systems being installed in New Zealand. With no Mon, 14 Dec 2015 14:59:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/rising-nz-solar-power-installation-rates-during-2015 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/photon-laboratory-solar-panel-yield-measurement-results-2014 In a previous Sun, 15 Nov 2015 12:01:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-technology/photon-laboratory-solar-panel-yield-measurement-results-2014 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/battery-ready-solar-power-systems As of late, the media hype around solar power battery storage has been intense. Tesla, Enphase and Solax are all racing to release their own unique and affordable lithium-ion batteries, a godsend Wed, 11 Nov 2015 12:44:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/battery-ready-solar-power-systems http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/launch-of-enphases-home-energy-solutions-2015 I was fortunate enough this past week to jet over to the All Energy Expo in Melbourne; the event coincided with Enphases' anticipated unveiling of their Home Energy Solution. The Home Energy Mon, 19 Oct 2015 12:22:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/launch-of-enphases-home-energy-solutions-2015 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/solar-smartflower-the-solar-industry-s-newest-revolutionary-product Tulips. Daffodils. Roses. Daises: All flowers you can find in gardens around the world, but if any of you are looking for a unique breed of flower this season to impress your neighbors, then look Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:12:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/solar-smartflower-the-solar-industry-s-newest-revolutionary-product http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/what-are-dc-power-optimisers- Power optimisers, also known as DC optimisers, have been engineered to maximize the amount of energy an individual solar panel produces.  A power optimiser is a small box attached to each solar Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:25:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/what-are-dc-power-optimisers- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-zealand-solar-legislation/green-party-s-solar-bill Hearing the news of a proposed amendment to the Electricity Industry Act courtesy of Green's MP Gareth Hughes, a collective sigh of relief could almost be heard across New Zealand. For far too long Mon, 24 Aug 2015 10:53:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-zealand-solar-legislation/green-party-s-solar-bill http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/bifacial-solar-panels A colleague here in New Zealand recently introduced me to a new solar innovation: bifacial solar panels. I did a little research, and it turns out these bifacial panels are pretty neat. By Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:45:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/bifacial-solar-panels http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/solar-panel-efficiency Efficiency can be associated with all things electrical, however solar panels command their own definition of 'efficiency'. Below you can find helpful explanations as to what is commonly referred Wed, 08 Jul 2015 12:59:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/solar-panel-efficiency http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/kyocera-tcl-floating-mega-solar-power-plants-in-japan- This past week Japan's latest and largest solar plant began operations, drawing international attention. But it is not just the staggering size of the solar fields that have observers so excited; Mon, 22 Jun 2015 09:58:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/kyocera-tcl-floating-mega-solar-power-plants-in-japan- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/samsung-unveil-new-home-energy-storage-systems Since Tesla released the details of their lithium-ion Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:55:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/samsung-unveil-new-home-energy-storage-systems http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/tesla-s-new-powerwall-battery---q-a-s Update 10/05/2016: Vector announced that the first Tesla Energy Powerwall is being installed this coming Friday (13/05/2016) at Rongomai School in Otara. Rongomai School was one of 130 Sun, 03 May 2015 07:19:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/tesla-s-new-powerwall-battery---q-a-s http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/renewable-energy/world-s-first-commercial-scale-wave-energy-system Submerged in the roiling seas off the coast of Perth in Western Australia is the world’s first commercial-scale wave energy system. After ten years of research and construction The Carnegie Perth Fri, 24 Apr 2015 11:05:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/renewable-energy/world-s-first-commercial-scale-wave-energy-system http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/electric-vehicles/top-solar-powered-ev-charging-stations Solar powered EV charging stations fascinate me.  It’s the combination of two incredibly cool technologies in the one spot and the design opportunties of these carports are endless.  I wrote an Mon, 20 Apr 2015 12:33:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/electric-vehicles/top-solar-powered-ev-charging-stations http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/the-solar-storage-game-changer The motivation to add batteries to a solar power system is now higher than ever. Governments around the world are lowering their feed-in tariffs and in New Zealand the energy retailers are lowering Mon, 13 Apr 2015 13:51:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/the-solar-storage-game-changer http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/solar-powered-flight What better way to demonstrate the future of solar energy than flying a solar-powered plane across the world! The Solar Impluse project, with Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, Sun, 29 Mar 2015 11:13:00 +0100 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/solar-powered-flight http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/renewable-energy/-al-gore-reveals-what-s-next-for-climate-in-2015- Al Gore, the master of extreme graphs is at it again. Love him or hate him, he's doing well to make the facts around climate change more digestable than most of the guys in the white lab coats can Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:37:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/renewable-energy/-al-gore-reveals-what-s-next-for-climate-in-2015- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/energy-retailers-tactics-to-get-rid-of-solar-power I was not surprised at all to hear Meridian Energy’s chief executive Mark Binns announce last week that he thinks solar power is producing a social divide.  He said that people who can’t Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:18:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/energy-retailers-tactics-to-get-rid-of-solar-power http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/solar-eclipse- This March, Europe will be graced by an astronomical occurrence will potentially affect the future of solar power. On the morning of March 20, a solar eclipse will pass over Europe, which is Mon, 02 Mar 2015 09:27:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/how-it-works/solar-eclipse- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/lions-tigers-solar-generated-electricity- Zoos are a wonderland of amusement for kids and mind blowing fun and learning about the many great creatures that walk this earth.  What better place to teach children about the exciting future of Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:16:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/solar-power-new-zealand/lions-tigers-solar-generated-electricity- http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/tesla-is-making-home-solar-power-storage-possible Recently, formidable technology force, Tesla Motors, announced its plan to produce stationary lithium-ion batteries capable of powering homes and even storing energy from large-scale Wed, 18 Feb 2015 12:25:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/new-solar-technology/tesla-is-making-home-solar-power-storage-possible http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/international-solar/australian-solar-market-expects-to-do-even-better-in-2015 This year the Australian Solar Power market may well exceed that of 2014, according to the predictions of SunWiz, the Australian market analysts. 825 MW of solar power systems smaller than Mon, 02 Feb 2015 10:33:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/international-solar/australian-solar-market-expects-to-do-even-better-in-2015 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/electric-vehicles/muzzle-the-guzzle---gm-s-latest-ev-concept Muzzle the Guzzle Electric vehicles. They have been in existence for sometime now, and while opinions on them are still divided its no secret that Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:55:00 +0000 http://www.mysolarquotes.co.nz/blog/electric-vehicles/muzzle-the-guzzle---gm-s-latest-ev-concept