In this follow-up episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, Wade Allen reconnects with Aaron Jenkins from Ecovantage, two weeks on from the launch of the Federal Battery Rebate program (Cheaper Home Batteries Rebate). With the scheme officially underway, they dig into the early numbers, real-world experiences, and what’s changed since the program rolled out.

Aaron shares insights from the front lines:
- How many STCs have actually been processed.
- Emerging trends in average battery system size.
- Why commercial and off-grid installs haven’t made their mark on the stats yet.

The conversation tackles the practical realities of claiming the rebate: high audit and failure rates, the challenges of rapidly changing rules and product eligibility, supply chain pressure, and why checking your paperwork (and your battery model numbers) has never been more important.

They also discuss how state-based rebates are interacting with the federal scheme, evolving requirements around VPP capability and off-grid eligibility, and what early bottlenecks or red flags are cropping up for installers and traders. Wade and Aaron wrap up with advice for installers and how to avoid risky shortcuts as the whole industry grapples with surging demand.

Whether you’re a retailer, installer, or just tracking the future of batteries in Australia, this episode delivers insights and up-to-the-minute updates on the battery rebate rollercoaster.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In this episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast (recorded 18th June 2025), we have a special edition ahead of the Cheaper Home Battery Program launching July 1st. To join us in breaking down this Federal Battery Rebate, Aaron Jenkins from Accredited Certificate Provider, Ecovantage.

With the battery rebate program just weeks away from launch, the trio dives deep into how the scheme will work, common misconceptions, and opportunities for installers. Aaron shares insider perspective on how the rebate will be processed, what kind of documentation and compliance will be needed, and why there’s still a lot of uncertainty in the rollout.

The conversation covers key risks for installers like cashflow crunches from delayed payments, compliance headaches, and stock shortages. They also explore the opportunities the rebate will create, especially for early movers, and share practical advice on upskilling, stock forecasting, and setting realistic customer expectations. The episode wraps up with proactive steps installers should be taking now to ride the coming “battery coaster” as smoothly as possible.

Perfect for installers, retailers, and anyone in the Australian solar and storage sector wanting clarity on the federal battery rebate program.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In this episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, we welcome John Grimes, CEO of the Smart Energy Council. He joins our Technical Team to discuss his fascinating journey from his early life in the highlands of Papua New Guinea through to his pivotal role in advocating for Australia's solar and renewable energy sectors. We delve deep into the future of renewable energy in Australia, with insights that are critical for everyone in the industry.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In this episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, we have some special guests and special announcements. Nigel Morris (Solar Analytics) and Luke Beattie (SG Wholesale & iStore) from Just Another Solar Podcast join us to announce that Catch Power has acquired Solar Analytics. We chat about what this exciting announcement means and some of the latest hot topics from the across the Australian Solar and Energy Industry.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In this episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, we are joined by Lindsay Hart, Commercial Director at Selectronic, a solar industry legend with decades of experience in off-grid energy. We discuss the history of off-grid solar in Australia, the resilience of Australian manufacturing and the latest news from Selectronic.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In our latest episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, we had the pleasure of hosting the phenomenal Dean Mannix, a sales performance coach with an impressive track record of advising executives from top-tier companies including Goldman Sachs, Oracle, Coca Cola, and Toyota. Dean shared his invaluable expertise on elevating sales effectiveness, the battery market, achieving personal and business goals, and the significance of sales coaching in the solar industry.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In this episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, we are joined by Peter Watkinson from of AERL and XESS Energy, to discuss his journey in Australian manufacturing. We dive into history with AERL and the invention of the first MPPT Solar Charge Controller. Peter shares his insights gained from the journey and the innovative solutions coming to off-grid solar and battery. This episode was filmed prior to All Energy so many of you have already seen the exciting announcements about the XESS solution - https://xess.energy/

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/

In this episode of the Solar Coaster Podcast, hosts Andrew Thomson and Wade Allen are joined by Dane Muldoon from Tritium to chat about everything happening in the Australian EV charging market. Dane has extensive experience in the solar industry prior to joining the EV charging industry, so he shares his unique perspective on the state of the market, emerging technologies and much more. Tune in to learn more about the exciting developments in the Australian EV charging market.

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Welcome to the Solar Coaster! A podcast for navigating through the ups and downs of the Australian Solar and Energy Industry. Hosted by the Supply Partners Technical team and joined by industry professionals each episode to help you turn chaos into stability. We'll be talking about solar, batteries, EVs, Electrification and much more, so sit back and enjoy the ride.


LINKS:

• Watch the Video Version of the Podcast here: Supply Partners YouTube
• This podcast is hosted by Supply Partners - Your Australian Distributor for Solar, Energy Storage and more: https://supplypartners.com.au/
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supplypartners/
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/supply-partners/