Alex Simmons
@wattmatters.bsky.social
Retired, self-confessed home energy nerd. Ex-corporate, ex-govt, ex self-employed cycling coach and aerodynamics nerd.
Love will literally tear us apart.
September 15, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Love will literally tear us apart.
He defeated Mark Latham in the 2004 election.
September 11, 2025 at 10:10 AM
He defeated Mark Latham in the 2004 election.
Grid scale batteries provide vital frequency control and ancillary grid stabilisation and support services (used to be done by gas peakers). Energy arbitrage as well of course. Home batteries are mostly about solar soaking / peak shaving / reducing energy bills. VPPs abound here but mostly suck.
September 10, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Grid scale batteries provide vital frequency control and ancillary grid stabilisation and support services (used to be done by gas peakers). Energy arbitrage as well of course. Home batteries are mostly about solar soaking / peak shaving / reducing energy bills. VPPs abound here but mostly suck.
Australia is doing both big grid scale storage (batteries and deep storage pumped hydro) as well as accelerating distributed storage at point of PV generation/consumption. The energy culture warriors can whine all they want but the reality is this is what homes and big business are actually doing.
September 10, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Australia is doing both big grid scale storage (batteries and deep storage pumped hydro) as well as accelerating distributed storage at point of PV generation/consumption. The energy culture warriors can whine all they want but the reality is this is what homes and big business are actually doing.
Yes. We have two EVs. Plus home storage. 145 kWh. We are in a grid outage prone area though (mainly due to downed power lines) not generation. Our system can have a fully bidirectional DC "charger" integrated if we wanted. Our outages visualised:
September 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Yes. We have two EVs. Plus home storage. 145 kWh. We are in a grid outage prone area though (mainly due to downed power lines) not generation. Our system can have a fully bidirectional DC "charger" integrated if we wanted. Our outages visualised:
A local journo I know here (AUS) has been gathering responses from EV manufacturers about warranty implications for V2X. Almost universally they are shrugging their shoulders and not committing to any support. It's all "use at your own risk". The V2X box makers are the same.
September 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
A local journo I know here (AUS) has been gathering responses from EV manufacturers about warranty implications for V2X. Almost universally they are shrugging their shoulders and not committing to any support. It's all "use at your own risk". The V2X box makers are the same.
Australia's federal govt recently introduced a scheme to encourage home/business battery installations. 825 MWh of battery storage was added in the first two months. It'll be 5 GWh by end of year one of the scheme. V2X is a dud. It'll have a niche but stationary storage is just more practical.
September 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Australia's federal govt recently introduced a scheme to encourage home/business battery installations. 825 MWh of battery storage was added in the first two months. It'll be 5 GWh by end of year one of the scheme. V2X is a dud. It'll have a niche but stationary storage is just more practical.
I did. And my comment stands. Heat pumps are great tech (we have them heating our home) but they are not the panacea. As to emissions, your own analysis shows it's not a big difference. No chance of a COP of 3.6 when it's very cold, 2-3 at best. Higher COPs only occur when you don't need the heat.
August 30, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I did. And my comment stands. Heat pumps are great tech (we have them heating our home) but they are not the panacea. As to emissions, your own analysis shows it's not a big difference. No chance of a COP of 3.6 when it's very cold, 2-3 at best. Higher COPs only occur when you don't need the heat.
2.8 c/MJ seems the going rate, although bundled can be less:
wattever.com.au/compare-best...
If you are paying 4c then it's time to do some shopping.
wattever.com.au/compare-best...
If you are paying 4c then it's time to do some shopping.
Cheapest gas rates in Victoria by retailer - WATTever
Want the cheapest gas rates for your home in Victoria? Compare the lowest rates for all VIC gas networks. Get informed and get saving.
wattever.com.au
August 30, 2025 at 7:35 AM
2.8 c/MJ seems the going rate, although bundled can be less:
wattever.com.au/compare-best...
If you are paying 4c then it's time to do some shopping.
wattever.com.au/compare-best...
If you are paying 4c then it's time to do some shopping.
Unfortunately though in VIC gas is still cheaper for heating than peak period grid supplied electricity + heat pump.
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 34.2 c/kWh @ COP of 3.6
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 28.4 c/kWh @ COP of 3.0
Not many peak electricity tariffs are less than 34 c/kWh, let alone 28 c/kWh.
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 34.2 c/kWh @ COP of 3.6
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 28.4 c/kWh @ COP of 3.0
Not many peak electricity tariffs are less than 34 c/kWh, let alone 28 c/kWh.
August 30, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Unfortunately though in VIC gas is still cheaper for heating than peak period grid supplied electricity + heat pump.
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 34.2 c/kWh @ COP of 3.6
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 28.4 c/kWh @ COP of 3.0
Not many peak electricity tariffs are less than 34 c/kWh, let alone 28 c/kWh.
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 34.2 c/kWh @ COP of 3.6
2.5c/MJ @ COP 0.95 = 28.4 c/kWh @ COP of 3.0
Not many peak electricity tariffs are less than 34 c/kWh, let alone 28 c/kWh.
That's pretty line ball given the variability with COP (most are somewhat less than 3.6 when it's cold).
I haven't heard it since solar / battery have nothing to do with heat pump efficiency.
I haven't heard it since solar / battery have nothing to do with heat pump efficiency.
August 30, 2025 at 12:13 AM
That's pretty line ball given the variability with COP (most are somewhat less than 3.6 when it's cold).
I haven't heard it since solar / battery have nothing to do with heat pump efficiency.
I haven't heard it since solar / battery have nothing to do with heat pump efficiency.
TV ads help their popularity:
vimeo.com/387880227#t=...
vimeo.com/387880227#t=...
Coolabah Cask
Where do you hide your Coolabah Cask?
vimeo.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:25 AM
TV ads help their popularity:
vimeo.com/387880227#t=...
vimeo.com/387880227#t=...
Orlando's Coolabah range of wines in flagons, then casks. It was cheap and popular.
australianfoodtimeline.com.au/improved-win...
australianfoodtimeline.com.au/improved-win...
Australian food history timeline - Improved wine cask with tap
1967-Penfolds Wines patented an improved wine cask incorporating a plastic, air-tight tap exposed by tearing away a panel on the box.
australianfoodtimeline.com.au
August 21, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Orlando's Coolabah range of wines in flagons, then casks. It was cheap and popular.
australianfoodtimeline.com.au/improved-win...
australianfoodtimeline.com.au/improved-win...
Obviously a different market but we bought a 2023 MG ZS EV for my wife. A$26k (US$17k). 5 km on the dial. All the mod cons and safety kit + driver assistance she loves. That and my MG4 are in the garage soaking up sunshine as we speak.
You guys miss out on the Chinese EVs. They are streets ahead.
You guys miss out on the Chinese EVs. They are streets ahead.
July 30, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Obviously a different market but we bought a 2023 MG ZS EV for my wife. A$26k (US$17k). 5 km on the dial. All the mod cons and safety kit + driver assistance she loves. That and my MG4 are in the garage soaking up sunshine as we speak.
You guys miss out on the Chinese EVs. They are streets ahead.
You guys miss out on the Chinese EVs. They are streets ahead.
You say that like it's a bad thing to improve air quality.
July 29, 2025 at 11:42 PM
You say that like it's a bad thing to improve air quality.
The real fallacy is creating the strawman argument of saying EVs are claimed to be the answer for everyone.
July 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The real fallacy is creating the strawman argument of saying EVs are claimed to be the answer for everyone.
Average duration of our 31 DC fast charge sessions:
19 min 19 secs (with SD of 10m 48s).
Only time we "wait" is DC fast charging on trips, which is when we are having lunch, or a coffee/comfort stop.
Charge source breakdown so far:
19 min 19 secs (with SD of 10m 48s).
Only time we "wait" is DC fast charging on trips, which is when we are having lunch, or a coffee/comfort stop.
Charge source breakdown so far:
July 29, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Average duration of our 31 DC fast charge sessions:
19 min 19 secs (with SD of 10m 48s).
Only time we "wait" is DC fast charging on trips, which is when we are having lunch, or a coffee/comfort stop.
Charge source breakdown so far:
19 min 19 secs (with SD of 10m 48s).
Only time we "wait" is DC fast charging on trips, which is when we are having lunch, or a coffee/comfort stop.
Charge source breakdown so far:
Homes with off-street parking have all the infrastructure needed to charge already. Just plug in.
We are rural/regional and have two EVs. We charge at home, either from our excess solar PV or when grid energy is uber cheap. Insanely cheap to run.
We are rural/regional and have two EVs. We charge at home, either from our excess solar PV or when grid energy is uber cheap. Insanely cheap to run.
July 29, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Homes with off-street parking have all the infrastructure needed to charge already. Just plug in.
We are rural/regional and have two EVs. We charge at home, either from our excess solar PV or when grid energy is uber cheap. Insanely cheap to run.
We are rural/regional and have two EVs. We charge at home, either from our excess solar PV or when grid energy is uber cheap. Insanely cheap to run.
ICEVs have a place. But considering them to be the answer for everyone is unrealistic. Our EVs cost less and far cheaper to run and maintain. Battery/motor failures are far rarer than ICEV engine/drivetrain failures. ICEV fire rates are an order of magnitude higher than for EVs.
July 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM
ICEVs have a place. But considering them to be the answer for everyone is unrealistic. Our EVs cost less and far cheaper to run and maintain. Battery/motor failures are far rarer than ICEV engine/drivetrain failures. ICEV fire rates are an order of magnitude higher than for EVs.
It's the usual case of those who've never owned/driven an EV telling those who do what it's like.
July 29, 2025 at 10:56 PM
It's the usual case of those who've never owned/driven an EV telling those who do what it's like.
Sure (don't appreciate the name calling tho) but telling private home owners it's their fault is not going to fix it. We built a small dwelling to care for my mother through her final years and when she passed far too early we wanted to do the right thing by the community but were driven away.
June 7, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Sure (don't appreciate the name calling tho) but telling private home owners it's their fault is not going to fix it. We built a small dwelling to care for my mother through her final years and when she passed far too early we wanted to do the right thing by the community but were driven away.