Solar Sidekicks Podcast

🎙️ S3, Ep2 — Battery Expectations & Industry Real Talk

Ben Jones from Amber Electric jumps on the mic for a brutally honest chat about batteries, customer chaos, and what actually works when it comes to VPPs and virtual trading.

We get into:

– ⚡ Why battery installs are getting smarter — but still far from perfect

– 🛠️ What happens when expectations aren’t managed (and who cops it)

– 🔄 How Amber deals with Frankenstein installs and unrealistic promises

– 📉 Why some customers are making bank — and others are shouting into the void

– 🤝 Ethical sales, sticky customers & installer responsibility

– 🧠 Social media moments, industry culture, and why quality still matters

– 🥊 The “Solar Installer Fight Night” idea (yep, it gets silly)

We also talk rebate changes, solar myths, crap training, and the ageing standards committee that’s slowing things down. Pat fires up, Lauren keeps it classy, and Ben keeps it real.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you pod.

📣 Installer Nights are now live — Melbourne and Wodonga first up. Book here:

👉 https://southwellsolartraining.com.au/installer-nights

S3E1 — The EV Trade-Off

Season 3 is here — and we’re kicking off with a wide-ranging chat with Michael Shaughnessy, who’s worked across the industry: from the roof, to the Clean Energy Council, to the EV Council. He’s been everywhere, and he doesn’t hold back.

We talk:

– 🚐 Why 2026 might be the year of the trade EV

– ⚡ What tradies need to know about utes, hybrids, chargers and towing limits

– 🧰 How electricians are best placed to lead the EV shift

– 📉 The business case for EVs (and why it’s not just about being green)

– 🔥 EV fire myths, servo PTSD and the end of crap solar

– 🛻 What happens when your shiny new ute can’t tow your trailer of panels

– 💡 Tips for selling full-suite energy systems (without the short-term thinking)

– 🏗️ Commercial EV charging, transformer upgrades and why electricians should tread carefully

– 🚛 Where electric trucks are at — and who’s buying them

Plus:

Michael shares the story of taking annual leave to install off-grid solar systems for bushfire-affected families after Black Summer — and why giving back still matters.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you pod.

📣 Installer Night dates and locations also dropped in this episode — tune in for details.

🎙️ S2, Ep26 — 2025 Recap: Unfiltered

It’s the final episode of Season 2 — and we’re going out with a bang. There’s laughs, recaps, corrections, and a huge announcement about something that’s been missing from the industry for way too long: a national event series with zero sales pitches and maximum value for sparkies, installers and anyone who wants to do things properly.

Also in this ep:

– 📉 A quick correction on those battery rebate numbers from Ep 25

– 🛠️ A look at the Solar Apprenticeship Workflow, now live

– 🔥 Our most popular episodes, biggest guests and the weirdest things that happened in 2025

– 📊 Spotify Wrapped: thank you Estonia and whoever’s still using an iPhone 4

– 🎧 Behind-the-scenes moments (like what Pat does in the edit bay and how Lauren handles rogue phones on the desk)

If you’ve listened all year — or even just once — thanks heaps for being part of it.

🎧 Hit play to hear the big news and get one last hit of Sidekicks for 2025.

🎙️ S2, Ep25 — Battery Rebate Shakeup

It’s the second-last episode of the year, and things are well and truly cooked. We break down the big changes to the federal battery rebate (dropping from May 1), talk panic buying, dodgy installs, and why builders are about to cop it.

We also cover:

– 📉 Who’s set to lose out under the new rebate rules

– ⚠️ A broken inspection regime, and what’s not being checked

– 🎄 SEN, GoodWe and a Christmas party at the MCG

– 🔋 Lauren’s monster 40kWh home battery setup

– 🚗 Pat’s EV charging fail (and fast-charge redemption)

– 📦 Stock pressure, skill shortages & why price rises might be coming

– ☀️ Live calls with Nick Mullins and Matt Wilson, who don’t hold back on what’s really happening out there

Plus: why the installer shortage gives sparkies the upper hand, and why January might be the wildest solar month yet.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you pod.

📣 One more episode to go — and a big announcement coming. Stay tuned.

🎙️ S2, Ep24: James Hazell  - Fronius

This week, we’re recording at 7am in a mystery Melbourne Airbnb… with Fronius state manager James Hazell — who’s technically on holiday (sort of). We dig into the nerdy, the niche, and the new Fronius battery rollout. But first: competitive puzzle racing, Christmas trees, and the correct screwdriver for a Snap Inverter.

James talks about:

– His journey from nerdy teen PC builder to national sales rep

– What he’s seeing in Queensland & NT (plus tips for regional support)

– The new Fronius Reserva battery: rollout, sizing hiccups & installer feedback

– How being technical and people-focused helps in solar sales

– His monster 40kW residential system in Brisbane

– Why the Fronius culture (and merch) hits different

We also touch on the SIG recall, EVs, bollards, Powerwalls, and the great north/south roof debate.

Massive thanks to James for hosting us and sharing his story — even while trying to win a national puzzle championship. 🧩

The solar world lit up this week after SIG Energy issued a major product recall on its 8, 10, and 12kW single-phase inverters — and just 24 hours later, we hit record. From installer frustrations to industry-wide concern, Pat and Lauren sit down for an unfiltered, balanced chat about what’s really going on.

With guest calls from James Taylor (Taylor Energy), Nigel Morris (Smart Energy Council), Yorick Mark (MC Electrical), and Warren Monsma (Sunbuilt Solar), we cover everything from comms breakdowns and warranty logistics to technical installation challenges and the emotional toll on the ground.

This isn’t about finger-pointing — it’s about staying informed, keeping calm, and pulling together as an industry. Whether you’re a SIG diehard, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode is for you.

🎙️ S2, Ep22 — Live from All-Energy with Nigel Morris: Batteries, Booths & Banter

We caught up with Nigel Morris live at All-Energy on the GoodWe stand, and wow — this one’s packed. Batteries are booming, booths are blinging, and Nigel’s new role as Chief Strategy Officer at the Smart Energy Council is keeping him flat out (and off the Catch Power tools).

We talk VPPs, recycled silver, CER audits (or lack of them), and whether the battery surge will last. Plus:

– Recaps from the Solar Cutters Awards 🏆

– Emotional farewell to solar legend Kathleen Ryan 💐

– Why Lauren’s feeling chuffed (spoiler: award-winning stuff)

– How Pat missed an elevator thanks to a fan 😅

– And what’s next for solar renters, C&I installs, and the industry's future.

There’s heaps to love in this one — laughs, insights, and a little light grief for the CEC.

🎙️ S2E21 – George Auchterlonie: REST Energy

Recorded at the SolarQuotes Awards, on the eve of All Energy officially kicking off, this episode dives into the story of George Auchterlonie — firefighter, solar installer,  founder of Rest Energy in Hobart & of course The Tassie Solar Man.

Pat and Lauren sit down with George to talk about life before solar, going from the tools to running a business, his approach to off-grid installs, and why he still jumps on the tools for the tricky jobs. There’s also plenty of chat about what’s happening at All Energy, battery product teething issues, subby models, CEC frustrations, and the realities of running a small solar biz in Tassie.

It’s a laid-back, open chat with one of the most genuine operators in the game.

No guest? No worries. In this jam-packed episode, Pat and Lauren catch up on all the wild weather, long days, solo installs, and industry shake-ups that have defined the past few weeks.

The big topic: Aldi Solar. Yep — Aldi has entered the solar game with its own branded inverter and battery systems, plus a tie-in with Bunnings. Pat and Lauren break down what this means for quality, pricing, and the future of the trade. Is it just another race to the bottom, or a sign of where solar is headed?

Also in this episode:
– The GoodWe inverter recall and how they’ve handled it
– WorkSafe Month and real-world safetyPat Southwell: takeaways from the rooftop (& a toastie)
– A big shoutout to GoodWe’s new brand ambassador, cricketer Alex Carey — and why this actually feels different from the usual celebrity solar promos
– Lauren’s nearly-finished Cert II, Pat’s new EV5 GT (luxury & roof racks together), and navigating charger dramas
– Plus: a few rogue calls to industry legends Blair Pester and Brad McDonald, with some surprisingly wholesome results

📍 Recorded at the Solar Sidekicks Studio
🎧 A proper catch-up between mates — smart, salty, and seriously solar.

Batteries, VPPs & the Future of Home Electrification

This week on Solar Sidekicks, we're deep-diving into the world of virtual power plants (VPPs), dynamic energy systems, and home electrification with Tom Gay, Sales Manager at Origin Energy.

Recorded in the heart of Melbourne at Origin HQ, Pat and Lauren sit down with Tom to unpack how battery storage, VPPs, and evolving consumer habits are reshaping the energy landscape — from the early days of disco-light signal rooms (yep, really) to AI-powered energy orchestration.

We talk:

    •    VPP myths vs. reality

    •    Battery plan transparency and customer control

    •    Origin’s expanding suite of battery-friendly retail plans

    •    Community batteries, EV charging, and hot water load shifting

    •    What’s next in the energy transition — and Origin’s role in it

A smart, fun, and future-focused convo — and one of our most informative episodes to date.