Solar Sidekicks Podcast

🎙️ Solar Sidekicks Podcast – Live from Smart Energy Conference!
This week’s episode is a little different — we’re live from the floor of the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney! Pat and Lauren set up shop at the Glass Media Booth and caught up with a stack of industry legends, including:
    •    Sam Craft from SA Power Networks
    •    Lowana Smith from Schletter
    •    Dean Williamson from GoodWe
    •    Luke from TradeZone
Later, we headed over to the Solar Cutters Networking event, where we grabbed a few more chats with:
    •    Garth and Johnny from MyEnergi
    •    Luke Beattie from iStore 
    •    Bryn Foletta from Solargain
    •    Lauren and Costa from Solar Cutters
Rather than getting technical, this episode is more of a catch-up — hearing what everyone’s been working on, their take on the conference, and the huge buzz around the new federal battery rebate. It's clear the rebate announcement was the talk of the event, and we dive into what it could mean for the future of solar and storage across Australia.
A massive thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat — it was unreal to catch up in person!
Tune in for a relaxed, real, and slightly rowdy look at Smart Energy 2025. 

AusNet Faces the Music

In this episode, Pat and Lauren head into the city to record from AusNet’s Southbank office, where they put Mary Masters in the hot seat.

Mary’s a familiar face to many in the industry — often seen on webinars and regularly fielding calls — and this time she’s in front of the mic, taking on the big questions around Victoria’s emergency backstop rollout.

No fluff here. Pat and Lauren bring the tough questions installers and retailers have been asking:
- Why was this rollout so rough?
- Why were installers left out of the conversation?
- What’s the go with the portal issues?
- Are DNSPs really listening?

To her credit, Mary doesn't dodge a thing. She speaks openly about what went wrong, where AusNet’s still catching up, and what they’re doing to improve things. She also shares some behind-the-scenes insight on timelines, policy pressures, and what the future of flexible exports could look like.

Whether you’re frustrated, confused, or cautiously optimistic about the direction of solar in Victoria — this episode gives voice to what a lot of people are feeling.

 Plus:

• Legacy systems and the compliance grey zone
• AusNet’s take on non-compliant installs
• Why proper commissioning matters more than ever
• What role DNSPs really play in a system shutdown

It’s honest, it's occasionally blunt — and it’s the kind of conversation the industry needs more of.

Backstop Breakdown: United Energy, Powercor, CitiPower Respond

This week on Solar Sidekicks, Pat and Lauren are joined by Charmaine Volpe and Andrew Bailey from United Energy, Powercor and CityPower for a deep-dive into Victoria’s Emergency Backstop Mechanism. What went wrong, what’s improving, and why it matters.

Charmaine and Andrew open up about the rollout headaches, the harsh realities of implementation, and what they’ve learned from thousands of installer calls. We dig into compliance, installer frustrations, and how DNSPs are tackling the solar surge head-on—plus, Lauren shares a few stories from the frontlines.

It’s an honest, insightful, and surprisingly optimistic look at one of the biggest shakeups in solar. If you’re an installer, a manufacturer, or just trying to keep your solar game strong, this one’s essential.

From Chaos to Queen – Kirsty Newman’s Wild Ride in Solar

This week, Pat checks in from the Solar & Storage Live conference in Brisbane while Lauren holds the fort in Melbourne— and we’re joined by Kirsty Newman from Sunshine State Solar.

Kirsty shares an outrageous journey from being thrown into the deep end of solar in her early 20s, to building a thriving business through pure grit, sharp systems, and a zero-BS attitude. We talk chaos, compliance, ADHD, apprenticeships, and what it really takes to lead a solar team.

One of the wildest and most inspiring episodes we’ve recorded — don’t miss it.

In this tech-packed episode of Solar Sidekicks, Pat checks in from a very soggy Brisbane, where he’s been attending the Solar & Storage Live Queensland Conference, while Lauren holds the fort in sunny Melbourne.

They’re joined by Yorick Mark from MC Electrical, a tech-savvy consultant with a serious passion for batteries, EV charging, and product reliability.
Yorick shares his journey into the solar space—from dreams of becoming a pilot to becoming one of the go-to voices at MC Electrical. 
We dive into:
⚡ The behind-the-scenes process for choosing new products
🔋 Why MC Electrical decided not to take on the hype-heavy Sigenergy battery
🚙 EV life, including range anxiety, V2G hopes, and the true cost of reliability
🏡 Building smarter, more efficient homes—and why solar is just one piece of the puzzle

This one’s for the solar nerds, battery buffs, and anyone wondering where the clean energy future is really heading.
Listen in to get the real talk on tech, trust, and what’s coming next in solar.

This week on Solar Sidekicks, we sit down with Karl Jensen from Istore for a in depth discussion into the future of solar, heat pumps, and home electrification. Karl shares his extensive industry experience, from the early days at Energy Matters to his work in solar wholesale and the rise of heat pump technology.

We explore why Australians are still lagging in full home electrification, the economics behind replacing gas with efficient electric systems, and Karl’s passion for decarbonising homes. Plus, we discuss the recent Queensland cyclone and its impact on energy resilience, the ongoing frustrations with grid connection approvals, and what needs to change in industry regulations.

If you’re interested in solar, batteries, EVs, or how to make your home truly energy independent, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Episode 4, Season 2: Behind the Scenes with GoodWe – Innovation, Industry Challenges & Inspiring the Next Generation with John Wright. 

This week, Lauren & Pat sit down with John Wright from GoodWe AU/NZ to talk all things solar innovation, industry challenges, and community-driven sustainability projects. John shares his journey from marketing in oil & gas to becoming a key player in the solar industry, the impressive work GoodWe is doing to support installers, and the real story behind the inverter recall that had the industry talking.

We also explore EcoSmart Kids, a program bringing renewable energy education into Australian schools, and hear about an incredible initiative helping a local wildlife foster care home stay powered with solar. Plus, a few unexpected stories—like the time John worked alongside Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, and Eric Bana.

Later in the episode, Lauren & Pat dive into the latest drama surrounding DNSPs, Victoria’s emergency backstop issues, and the impact of the looming tropical cyclone on Queensland’s solar industry. The push for better industry consultation continues—are we finally being heard?

Episode 3, Season 2 – Building a Solar Business with Brad Teasdale (Teaslec Energy Solutions)
In this episode, Pat & Lauren sit down with Brad Teasdale, founder of Teaslec, to talk about his journey into the solar industry—from starting as an apprentice sparky to building a thriving business. Brad shares how his dad, a plumber, inspired him to take the tradie path and how he’s shaped Teaslec into a flexible, motivated, and well-trained team.

We dive into his philosophy on training staff, keeping employees engaged, and the big debate: subbies vs. in-house teams (or a mix of both). Plus, Brad opens up about his approach to mental health, sharing his personal experiences and strategies for staying on top of the pressures of running a business.

A must-listen for tradies, business owners, and anyone navigating the solar game!

Episode 2, Season 2 – Ria O’Hehir: Navigating Solar Compliance & STCs
In this episode, co-hosts Pat and Lauren speak with Ria O’Hehir from Greenbank, one of Australia’s leading STC aggregators. Ria shares her journey in the solar industry, from working in her mum’s company to becoming a key player in the world of compliance and government incentives.

They explore the ever-evolving STC market, the challenges of solar compliance, and the potential for future government programs. Ria also discusses her experience as a board member of Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) and her perspective on the industry’s future.

A must-listen for anyone in the solar industry looking to stay ahead in the world of compliance and incentives.

Season 2 kicks off with a big change—Pat Southwell is now joined by new co-host Lauren Ciconte! In our first episode of 2025, we dive into the Victorian Emergency Backstop debacle, a policy that’s been causing major headaches for solar installers and retailers since its rollout on October 1st.

We’re joined by industry experts Nigel Morris, Bobbi McKibbin, and Matt Wilson to break down the key issues, including poor implementation, lack of industry consultation, and the absence of accountability from DNSPs.

What does this mean for the solar industry moving forward? Tune in to hear our guests’ insights and experiences with this controversial policy.