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In this episode, we unpack what’s really happening in Australia’s solar and battery market — from record-breaking renewable penetration and the rush on batteries ahead of rebate changes, to the growing complexity of VPPs, compliance, and customer expectations.

Joined by Merrily Hunter from Mac Trade Services, we dive into how VPP programs actually work across different states, why inconsistent regulations and shifting retailer targets are creating friction, and how data, automation, and customer support are becoming just as critical as hardware as the energy transition speeds up.

This episode is proudly brought to you by GoodWe Australia, a trusted partner to Australian solar retailers and installers, delivering reliable inverter and energy storage solutions designed for real-world conditions and backed by a strong local team.

Just Another Solar Podcast is hosted by Luke Beattie, Karl Jensen, Nigel Morris and Jess MacPherson. It's a casual conversation that shouldn't be taken as business, financial or legal advice.

0:03:50 Podcast Feedback Debate
0:07:10 Renewables Hit Majority
0:10:45 Battery Boom Before May
0:14:40 Market After Rebates
0:16:40 Bunnings Battery Debate
0:18:55 Industry Support Stories
0:21:20 Guest Introduction
0:24:30 What Mack Trade Does
0:28:10 VPP Programs Explained
0:32:50 Battery Owner Expectations
0:36:30 Invisible Savings Problem
0:39:30 Retailer Targets Delayed
0:44:10 Price Variation Events
0:49:55 Compliance Across States
0:54:20 AI & Customer Support
0:58:40 Accessibility & Hardship
1:02:05 Final Reflections
1:06:40 Wrap-Up & Thanks

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Carlos Garcia from Amber Electric joins Just Another Solar Podcast to break down how Australia’s wholesale electricity market really works — including negative pricing, smart energy usage, batteries, EVs, and why real-time data is becoming critical for both households and installers. We unpack the growing disconnect between traditional retail models and wholesale pricing, the challenges around transparency, and what the energy transition actually means on the ground for consumers and the trade as the grid gets more complex.

This episode is proudly brought to you by GoodWe Australia, supporting Australian solar retailers and installers with reliable inverters and energy storage solutions built for real-world conditions and backed by a strong local presence.

Just Another Solar Podcast is hosted by Luke Beattie, Karl Jensen, Nigel Morris and Jess MacPherson. It's a casual conversation that shouldn't be taken as business, financial or legal advice.

Episode chapters

1:00:00 Intro & Welcome Back

1:03:00 Industry Catch-Up After the Break

1:07:30 Customer Calls, Friends & Family

1:12:00 Solar Industry Burnout & Workload

1:14:00 Episode 100 Milestone

1:16:45 Sponsors & Installer Training

1:17:55 Introducing the Guest: Carlos Garcia

1:21:30 Amber Electric Overview

1:25:10 Wholesale Pricing Explained

1:29:45 Negative Pricing & Smart Usage

1:34:40 Real-World Energy Use Examples

1:38:10 Batteries, EVs & Load Shifting

1:42:00 Australian Solar Manufacturing

1:46:30 Data Access & Installer Trust

1:50:30 Battery Sales & Referral Concerns

1:55:10 System Efficiency & Energy Loss

1:00:00 Final Questions & Industry Warnings

1:02:10 Closing Thoughts & Thanks

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It’s the year of the battery… and everything’s on fire (mostly metaphorically).

Luke, Nigel, Jess and Karl rip into Australia’s battery boom — unpacking rebate changes, installer sign-off limits, AC vs DC battery beef, free-power price signals, and why half the country wants a home battery immediately.

Along the way they call out dodgy installs, argue about who actually owns the mess when systems break, debate whether vehicle-to-grid is finally ready (or still dreaming), question remote shutdowns, recycling, and admit — reluctantly — that every monitoring app still kind of sucks.

Plus: winners and losers for the year, Spotify Wrapped banter, EV charging confusion, free electricity windows, and some very bold predictions for 2026.

Just Another Solar Podcast is hosted by Luke Beattie, Karl Jensen, Nigel Morris and Jess MacPherson. It's a casual conversation that shouldn't be taken as business, financial or legal advice.

00:00:00 Welcome and End-of-Year Energy
00:01:14 Battery Boom Reality Check
00:02:02 Rebate Changes Explained
00:04:22 AC vs DC Battery Debate
00:05:09 Broken Systems and Blame
00:07:34 Responsibility and Ownership
00:09:19 Installer Limits and Sign-Off Rules
00:12:19 Distributor Discounts Discussion
00:15:02 The Year of the Battery
00:16:33 Electrify Everything Momentum
00:18:26 Battery Safety and Remote Shutdowns
00:19:26 Recycling and End-of-Life Challenges
00:21:09 Winners of the Year
00:22:37 Losers and Missed Opportunities
00:23:14 Vehicle-to-Grid Reality Check
00:27:08 Free Power and Tariff Signals
00:29:32 Spotify Wrapped Banter
00:32:05 Monitoring Apps and User Frustration
00:35:31 EV Charging Confusion
00:38:56 Predictions for 2026
00:42:39 Politics and Energy Narratives
00:44:26 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up