Ben McInerney
Review Board Member
BACKGROUND
Ben is a renewable energy enthusiast and developed a passion for solar while helping his brother Leigh install solar panels on the Central Coast. With an environmental science-based background, transitioning into renewable energy was seamless. Ben has helped thousands of Australians understand roof-top solar and enabled them to make the best choice before their purchase.Latest by Ben McInerney
Where you live and the direction of your solar panels determine how much power your solar system will produce. If you live in the southern hemisphere, install your solar panels facing true north for maximum electricity production. If you live in the northern hemisphere, your solar panels must face true south. The correct solar panel …
Continue reading “Solar Panel Orientation: Southern Hemisphere”
Inhabitants of the Northern Territory benefit from government rebates/incentives called Small-Scale Technology Certificates. These incentives help homeowners lower the upfront costs involved in installing solar power, making solar energy available to all eligible households. In NT, the average solar rebate is $2,201 for the popular 5kW solar PV system and a $4,441 rebate for a …
The New South Wales government is targeting zero net emissions by 2050. Part of their plan is to increase the use of solar power. They’ve introduced rebate programs to help householders install solar systems in their homes. The NSW provides an interest-free loan of up to $14,000 for eligible homes to purchase and install solar …
This fab program hands out **free solar setups** to help families chop down their sky-high monthly power bills. Eligible pensioners and low-income households in NSW can participate in the “free solar panels NSW” program for a free 3-kilowatt solar system installed on their homes. Also, people who can’t install solar pv system, for example, those who live …
Continue reading “Free Solar Scheme in NSW: Pensioners & Low Income Households”
Ever wondered about the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)? And why has this agreement been made and whether this agreement really solves anything or not? Power Purchase Agreements are lengthy contracts for renewable energy. They are becoming increasingly popular among large corporations, SMEs, and municipal governments. Why is that? Because they are a dependable method of …
Solar panels emit zero Co2 while they they sit on a rooftop generating electricity for the home, but they do have a carbon footprint. But how? Solar panels generating are carbon footprint in the manufacturing and transport process which studies show is 50g per kWh manufactured. This includes the mining of raw materials such as …
Continue reading “What Is the Carbon Footprint of Solar Panels?”
Australia leads the world in the use of solar. At the same time, there is too much pressure on the electricity grid during peak hours. Solar power providers have the plan to boost the electricity grid during peak hours through the use of virtual power plants. Depending on where you live and how you organize …
Continue reading “Virtual Power Plant Setup Cost: Panels & Battery”
Is it possible to supply renewable solar energy to the grid? Virtual Power Plants show that it is possible. It benefits the grid and the owners of the solar batteries that supply solar power. Virtual Power Plants or VPP refers to a connection or network of solar batteries exporting part of their stored electricity to …
No solar panel system can work without an inverter. Inverters have the essential job of converting the direct current (DC) that the panels generate from sunlight into alternating current (AC) that your house uses. There are three types of inverters: power inverters, microinverters, and string inverters. Suppose you opt to use microinverters instead of the …
