Well, we decided to replace our old Solar panels (installed back in 2009) because we are getting the roof restored so it made sense to remove the old Solar panels for a complete roof re-spray. We are also going to bung in a Solar battery to make the house less dependent on the grid.

Had 3 quotes.

1 from RACV
1 from Origin Energy
1 from a small business installer.

Very interesting.

The small business installer came in the lowest.
Origin Energy second.
RACV most expensive.

The real eye opener was Origin Energy.

They push you onto their Virtual Power Plant scheme which gives them total control over the Solar battery. 

Also locked in to their electricity supply for 5 years.

The battery would be a 10kW capacity. No blackout backup.

Snooping around the internet, I discovered that this scheme can actually see them suck the battery whenever they feel like it and they also can decide when it charges. 

In one person's review I found in Whirlpool, they even had the cheek to charge his battery from the grid!!!

What?!!

That totally goes against the purpose of having a Solar battery.

The sweetener is that they subsidise the battery to a greater extent themselves and pay a higher than default FIT as well as supporting the Vic energy battery rebate and the STC Federal Rebate (Point of Sale Discount)

Anyhoo ... decided to reject that offer.


The small business installer designed a slightly bigger array but the inverter/battery is a Redback model. The battery would be 7kW capacity. With blackout backup.

Not eligible for the Vic energy battery rebate.
Does apply the STC Federal Rebate (Point of Sale Discount)

Mixed reviews on the redback equipment so that one was rejected too.

RACV was the most expensive offer but the equipment is superior in my opinion. Fronius inverter - which was the manufacturer of our existing inverter which has never missed a beat over the last 14 years we have had it.

The only question mark I have is that this offer uses a BYD HVM battery with 11kW storage capacity. With blackout backup.

I have gone with this RACV offer so time will tell if I have made the right decision. 

Supports the STC Federal Rebate (Point of Sale Discount)

Also applied for the Vic energy battery rebate which was very easy to apply for.

Bobby. wrote on Apr 27^th, 2023 at 1:02pm:


You can do whatever you want with a solar battery except if you sign up to a Virtual Power Plant. (Such as Origin Energy VPP)

If you do, the retail electricity company has TOTAL control over your battery. 

They decide when it charges and when it discharges to the grid.


On point 4 ... why would you want to charge your battery from the grid? Ever?

The sun should charge the battery for free.

Captain Nemo wrote on Apr 27^th, 2023 at 4:57pm:


point 4

Your battery may not have charged during the day as it could have been
very dark with storms so you may want to charge it as cheaply as possible
from the grid at night rates.

Captain Nemo wrote on Apr 27^th, 2023 at 6:55pm:


Thanks.  And I do agree about the fronius,  I have it at my place and it's never missed a beat

Jovial Monk wrote on Apr 28^th, 2023 at 2:34pm:


How about horizontally?