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Pat & Jo Southwell join us to unpack the state of inspections, the myths around labelling, and why real CPD matters. From running a family business to driving industry training and advocacy, they share what it takes to keep solar standards sharp as the industry shifts.

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, labeling, 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.

0:00 – Intro & catching up with the crew
2:00 – Nigel’s big life changes and new role at Smart Energy Council
5:00 – Tindo Solar wins Sunshot Fund support
7:00 – Battery sizing mistakes & system design challenges
13:00 – Cashflow crunch from the battery boom
17:00 – Welcoming Pat & Jo Southwell
19:00 – How inspection changes hit their business
20:30 – From inspections to turning systems on
21:30 – How Pat & Jo got into solar
23:30 – What’s holding Victoria back on batteries
25:50 – Pat’s own mega solar + battery setup
29:00 – The Solar Sidekicks podcast journey
31:00 – Advocacy, emergency backstop & industry challenges
37:30 – Launching Southwell Solar Training
39:00 – The labeling minefield explained
44:00 – Most popular courses & subscription model
47:00 – Why CPD must be more than “beer and pizza nights”
52:00 – Future training plans: apprentices, sales, and marketing
56:00 – Closing thoughts & sponsor message

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The Woracle is back! Warwick Johnston from Sunwiz joins us to unpack the battery frenzy kicked off by the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. We chat install rates, shifting system sizes, South Australia’s storage dominance—and yes, there’s still room for spa jokes, good merch, and questionable fashion choices.

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 – Intro & Hosts catch up
08:47 – Smart Energy SA Conference recap
13:57 – Bunnings enters the solar market
19:00 – Guest introduction: Warwick Johnston
20:10 – Cheaper Home Batteries Program: First month data
23:52 – Battery installation trends & system sizes
26:10 – Top battery brands & market changes
28:19 – Hybrid inverters & supply chain challenges
30:10 – Retrofit batteries & customer demand
31:00 – Sizing batteries for real-world use
32:00 – Hot tub banter & energy use
32:38 – Battery pricing trends
35:37 – SIG Energy market share
39:15 – Battery costs & customer decisions
41:03 – State-by-state battery adoption
43:00 – South Australia leads in battery installs
44:30 – WA battery market challenges
50:30 – Clean Energy Council & industry policy
56:50 – Data, forecasts & advice for retailers
62:10 – Final thoughts & shoutouts
66:30 – Outro & next episode tease

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Just Another Solar Podcast is finally on video! For our first ever filmed episode, we’re joined by Lowana Smith from Schletter Australia to talk racking (yes, it can be exciting), battery rebate headaches, inverter compliance chaos, and the power of good engineering. Plus, we cover industry politics, warranty traps, and why labels get more love than safety. A cracking episode with laughs, insights, and a few proud parenting wins along the way.

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.