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It’s been a big week in solar… and we somehow didn’t make it worse (well… not intentionally).

In this episode we unpack the latest on the Cheap Home Batteries program, including what’s changing, why it matters, and how it impacts installers, retailers, and customers chasing those “too good to be true” mega-battery deals.

Then we’re joined by Shane Jurgenstein (Sales Manager) and Gaven Xu (Pre-Sales Engineer) from GoodWe for a proper chat about what’s actually happening in the battery market right now — from the shift to all-in-one systems, backup and bypass switching, charge/discharge performance, and the realities of expanding systems over time.

Plus: Prime Minister house visits, cricket brand ambassadors (Alex Carey), the GoodWe Rewards program for installers, and a few classic JASP technical difficulties along the way.

As always: a bit of banter, a bit of chaos, and plenty of substance for anyone trying to keep up with Australia’s fastest-moving electrification market.

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.

Subscribe on Spotify/YouTube so you don’t miss the final wrap-up episode for the year.

00:00:00 Welcome and Year-End Fatigue
00:01:02 Cheap Home Batteries Controversy
00:01:29 Scheme Changes Explained
00:03:04 Government Funding Boost
00:03:52 Rebate Tier Breakdown
00:05:10 Sales Tactics and Oversizing
00:06:15 Industry Impacts and Grid Benefits
00:07:15 Market Scale and Global Context
00:08:41 Christmas Season Reality Check
00:09:19 New Australian Solar Factory
00:10:45 Local Manufacturing Competition
00:12:06 Spotify Wrapped Milestones
00:13:55 Tesla Powerwall Charging Update
00:15:10 Remote Control and Consumer Rights
00:16:20 Introducing GoodWe Guests
00:17:25 Career Journeys in Solar
00:18:20 Company Growth and Culture
00:21:05 Home Energy System Setup
00:22:10 Electrification and EV Integration
00:23:00 All-In-One Battery Systems
00:24:30 Whole-Home Backup Explained
00:26:15 Battery Safety Architecture
00:28:10 Factory Tours and QA
00:30:20 Supply Chains and Stock Levels
00:31:30 Modular Batteries and Expansion
00:33:10 Battery Longevity and Upgrades
00:34:30 Fire Safety and Protection Layers
00:37:30 Sports Sponsorship Strategy
00:39:50 Cricket, Branding, and Culture
00:42:20 Future Product Roadmap
00:43:20 Commercial Storage Opportunities
00:44:30 Peak Shaving and Grid Services
00:46:00 Battery Attachment Rates Surge
00:47:45 Inverter Oversupply Challenges
00:49:55 Hybrid vs Non-Hybrid Reality
00:52:25 Market Transformation Stories
00:54:00 Final Thoughts from Guests
00:55:25 Installer Rewards Program
00:56:40 Social Media Ban Banter
00:57:20 Industry Appreciation
00:58:25 Closing Thanks and Sign-Off

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This episode takes a detailed look at the Sigenergy recall, covering the timeline of issues, communication breakdowns, installer frustrations, fire incident investigations, and the broader implications for product testing, compliance, and industry transparency. Guest Anthony Bennett joins the discussion to help unpack what happened, what went wrong, and what the solar sector can learn moving forward.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Southwell Solar Training—delivering practical, standards-based CPD that installers actually find useful. Their online courses cover real-world issues like defects, labelling, battery installation, and system upgrades, helping solar professionals stay compliant while building confidence on the job.

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 Opening Banter
01:23 Podcast Intro
02:31 Nigel’s New Solar System
06:24 Everything Electric Recap
07:36 Smart Energy Council Updates
09:25 Coalition Net-Zero Shift
11:07 Nuclear vs Renewables Debate
14:41 Introducing Anthony Bennett
16:43 Timeline of SIG Issues
19:44 Early Reports & Communication Gaps
22:11 Voluntary Recall Explained
23:51 Installer Impact & Responsibilities
25:15 SIG Communication Challenges
26:59 Fire Incident Discussion
30:45 SolarQuotes Article Timeline
34:04 Other Plug Recalls
36:30 Approval & Testing Questions
38:06 SIG Moderation Debate
41:24 Transparency Concerns
43:13 Recall Scale & Risk Context
44:16 Installer Frustration
45:26 Facts on Recall & Replacements
48:23 Business Impact & Scheduling
49:57 Two-Per-Day Rule Clarified
50:35 Replacement Stock & Logistics
52:14 Recall Communication Debate
53:47 Product vs Install Fault
56:42 Broader Electrification Load Issues
58:22 Cable, Switchboard & Load Concerns
01:00:21 Lessons for Industry
01:02:26 Online Reactions & Tension
01:02:49 Final Round & Wrap-Up

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Jeff Sykes from Solar Choice joins the podcast to unpack the latest in Australia’s solar and electrification landscape, covering battery market trends, AI’s growing role in the industry, installer quality and vetting, EV charging developments, and what to expect at upcoming energy events.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Southwell Solar Training—delivering practical, standards-based CPD that installers actually find useful. Their online courses cover real-world issues like defects, labelling, battery installation, and system upgrades, helping solar professionals stay compliant while building confidence on the job.

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 All Energy Recap
02:00 Battery Boom & Gateway Gossip
07:40 China’s V2G World
10:00 CEC Clarification
11:20 Free Energy Hours Plan
14:30 Solar + Battery Economics
16:30 Guest Intro: Jeff Sykes
18:15 Jeff’s Origin Story
24:30 AI in Solar Choice
32:30 Solar Choice Installer Vetting
35:00 EV Charging Podcast
37:20 Everything Electric Show Preview
43:40 Solar Quote Platforms
45:00 Lead Quality & SEO
53:10 Jeff’s Life in Byron
54:10 Tesla Rebates & Final Round
56:10 Nigel’s China Shoutout
57:25 Wrap-Up with Jeff
58:10 Sponsor Message