The Guwing Green Journal
Field notes on
clean energy.
Straight-talking, engineer-led writing on solar, batteries and energy efficiency. No jargon, no sales spin. Just the way we would explain it to a mate over the fence.
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Buying guide4 September 202614 min readTop 5 Solar Inverters in Australia (2026): What Separates the Good Ones
Installer polls and engineering reviews rank inverters on completely different criteria, which is why the answer changes with every search. Here are the five brands that hold up across both, plus the NSW network rules that quietly decide what you are allowed to install.
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Energy costs3 September 202613 min readNSW Feed-in Tariff 2026-27: Current Rates and How They Work
The IPART benchmark has fallen again, to 3.4 to 6.5 cents a kilowatt-hour. Here is what your network charges you to export, why evening exports are worth five times more than midday ones, and why self-consumption now decides whether solar pays.
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For business2 September 202611 min readCommercial Battery Storage: Does It Stack Up for Sydney Businesses?
A battery only makes sense if it matches how your business actually uses power, and that is an engineering question, not a sales one. Here is how commercial storage works, what drives the project cost, and the NSW incentives that opened up to commercial-scale batteries this month.
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For business1 September 202612 min readInstant Asset Write-Off 2026: What It Means for Your Business
The $20,000 instant asset write-off is now permanent law, so the annual scramble to buy before 30 June is over. Here is how it applies to commercial solar and batteries, what happens when a system costs more than $20,000, and why the STC discount changes the number that counts.
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Buying guide31 August 202613 min readSolar and Battery Warranty: What's Actually Covered?
A solar system does not come with one warranty. It comes with four or five, issued by different companies, running for different periods, under different rules. Here is what each one covers, what voids it, and why your rights do not stop when the paperwork expires.
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Buying guide30 August 202611 min readSolar Panels and Home Insurance: NSW Homeowner Guide
Your solar system is covered by standard home building insurance, but only if you tell your insurer and lift your sum insured. Here is what to declare, why your premium moves, and how the Home Building Compensation Fund is a completely different thing.
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Solar basics29 August 202611 min readOff-Grid vs Grid-Connected Solar: Which Set-Up Makes Sense in Sydney?
Cutting the cord sounds appealing, but for most Sydney properties with a reliable connection it means paying for a lot of battery and generator capacity you will rarely use. Here is the honest comparison, and the middle ground that gets you most of the benefit.
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EV charging28 August 202610 min readEV Charger Installation for Sydney Homes: Cost, Options and What to Check First
The charger is the cheap part. What actually drives the cost of a home EV charger in Sydney is your switchboard, your phase supply and the run between the two. Here is what a straightforward install costs, how to pick between 7kW, 11kW and 22kW, and the checks worth doing before you sign anything.
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Solar basics27 August 20269 min readHow Long Do Solar Panels Last? Lifespan, Degradation and What Affects It
Australian Government guidance puts the average panel lifespan at 20 to 30 years, but panels do not switch off on an anniversary. They fade. Here is what degradation actually is, why a 25-year performance warranty is not an expiry date, and which component usually fails first.
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