Aiko solar panels to add fierce competition in Australia

Q2, 2024, Aiko Solar will arrive in Australia, adding fierce competition in the ultra-high efficiency stakes. Primarily a world-leading manufacturer in cell shipments (Rank: 2nd, 2023, source: InfoLink), the technology and value incorporated within Aiko solar panels initial release, the Neostar 2S, will surely appeal to many purchasers and vendors in the mid-range premium system sector.

Aiko and key Australian distributors have finalised distribution agreements with four high-profile strategic partners: Solar Juice, Sol Distribution, AC Solar Warehouse, and Tradezone. Mckercher Corporation subsidiaries PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse have committed to becoming one of Australia’s installers for Aiko Solar panels as part of a turnkey solution.

Left to right: Grant Behrendorff – AC Solar Warehouse, Elio Cordaro – Sol Distribution,  Alex Hang – Aiko, Rami Fedda – Solar Juice,  Tradezone.

Before the distribution signing, Aiko Australia’s Key Account Manager, Ross Crawford, delivered an in-depth product overview at the product launch. However, he singled out McKercher Corporation Director Derek McKercher to share the moment unveiling the Aiko solar panel range. “About six weeks ago, when I updated my LinkedIn profile to show I was now working for Aiko, I very quickly received an excited phone call from a good friend and solar business owner, Derek McKercher, from Perth Solar Warehouse. Derek was over the moon that I had joined Aiko, and he began to talk to me about how he had been watching Aiko for some time now. It was great to see the Aiko technology reach Australian shores. In the weeks since, Derek has been putting together some great content anticipating Aiko launching in Australia. I want to invite Derek to unveil our product offering…”

Derek McKercher unveiling the Aiko Neostar ABC n-type residential solar panel at the Aiko launch event, Cockle Bay, Sydney during Ross Crawford's key note presentation.

Image: Ross Crawford (left) Derek McKercher (right) unveiling the new Aiko Neostar ABC N-Type solar panel range for the Australian market.

Customers can rest assured that we’re committed to delivering the most advanced solar and sustainable energy technology. As an Intersolar and Reddot design awardee for 2023, Aiko Solar has subjected its design to innovative scrutiny and prevailed among its peers from two of the most decorated awards on the global circuit.

Among an elite calibre, REC Alpha Pure previously acquired the 2022 Instersolar award for innovation based on its lead-free HJT (heterojunction technology). In 2021, LONGi Solar added Galium dopping to its wafers, mitigating the effects of performance degradation usually associated with conventional P-Type solar panels in the Hi-MO 5. With high recognition for module innovation and design, Aiko Solar looks set to be a revered name on the Australian landscape.

Unlike alternative leading module efficiency innovators, pricing guidance is a likely 20% premium over alternative mainstream market options–a less conventional premium for an efficiency title holder that is almost sure to attract instant local market traction.

Aiko Solar panels are now available for pre-order at PSW Energy as part of a turnkey solar package.

Product review: The Aiko Solar panels set to revolutionise the Australian market ›

Note: originally posted on February 19, 2024, this post has been updated to incorporate the Aiko launch event at Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney on March 5, 2024.

Sunwiz Awards 2024: PSW is a Top 5 Solar Company in WA

Derek McKercher with arms folded and smiling with Sunwiz Awards 2024 logos in the top left corner

Before a March 7th, 2024 ceremony, Sunwiz, an industry market intelligence provider, pre-announced PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse as a Top 5 solar installer collaborating submitted Solar Panel Verification data. SPV data is used to notify the Clean Energy Regulator of solar panels connected to the grid as Part of the Small Technology Certificate (subsidy) scheme. Complementing such an achievement was a Best Installer award through verified customer experiences.

Top 5 Combined Western Australia: PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse polled 4th overall and ranked as one of the state’s most popular choice providers of solar energy systems. Leading volume was never a core focus for PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse, although an outstanding reputation and improved online purchasing experience have had a flow-on effect on customers.

Best Rated Australia, Top 20: At the core of PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse is customer experience. 2024 saw a 12th overall polling compared to other Australian companies in the Best Rated — Most Popular of the Sunwiz Awards, measuring at least 150 reviews from two or more trusted review platforms with a greater than 4.8 customer rating average. PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse measured 4.85 over Google [4.81] and SolarQuotes.com.au [4.88] for the 2023 calendar year.

Further reading and reference:

Sunwiz: PSW is A Top Volume Solar Retailer & Best Rated for 2023 ›

Perth Solar Warehouse: Sunwiz Awards 2024: Top 5 WA and a Best Rated Solar Company Australia ›

PSW Energy: PSW Energy is a Sunwiz award-winning business in 2024 ›

Tesla Performance Excellence Award, Q4, 2023

Kate Rutherford pictured holding a glass of champagne for the Tesla Energy Performance Excellence Award

PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse acquired the Tesla Performance Excellence Award through a 362% year-on-year (YoY) growth for Powerwall sales in Q4, 2023, cementing their position as Perth’s leading Tesla Energy product supplier in 2024—a result reflecting preferred consumer patterns for digitalised purchasing options aligned with local market knowledge.

PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse provide profound knowledge-sharing opportunities for customers to perform in-depth product research for suitability without typical in-home consultation services, relieving additional expenses previously normalised with laborious sales consultancies. The process influencing the ability to streamline services consists of 90% of installations suitable for remote product compatibility auditing and proven customer outcomes [4.8/5] from Tesla internal surveys.

A testament to team collaboration, the awarded subsidiaries of McKercher Corporation provide a user-friendly purchasing experience complemented by using in-house service technicians for superior quality control along the customer journey. Such recognition is only possible with all staff contributing to a shared customer-centric focus. McKercher Corporation would like to recognise all staff who improve the adoption of Tesla Energy products so that more customers can experience enhanced Powerwall benefits.

The Tesla Performance Excellence Award compliments PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse’s reinstated Tesla Premium Certified Installer 24 recognition for a third consecutive year. Tesla Premium Certified Installers are among Tesla’s top 5% of local installers (Australia) through superior reputation and improved customer outcomes. The Tesla Performance Excellence Award further compliments this esteemed recognition.

Further sources: PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse

High Distinction: Tesla Premium Certified Installer 2024

Tesla Certified Premium Installer 2024 - PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse wall paper

January 2024: PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse is recognised as a Tesla Premium Certified Installer for the third consecutive year. With an enduring commitment to high-quality and deep product suite knowledge, Tesla Premium Certified Installers represent only 5% of Tesla Energy product installers. Such distinction aims to assist customers in fine-tuning their installer selection towards superior Tesla product outcomes.

Tesla Premium Certified Installers are selected based on a committed fulfilment of criteria essential to the long-term growth of sustainable energy. It’s important to note that once attained, Tesla Premium recognition is never guaranteed. It’s an evolution of aligned core beliefs towards superior self-sustainable power supplies for all. That’s why an inherent importance exists around accurate implementation–a local business most likely to support your energy security long-term.

Derek McKercher [McKercher Corporation, Director] welcomed the strengthened local relationship between the two organisations as pivotal in enduring manufacturer-to-local business relationships.

“A direct relationship over an enduring period has allowed PSW to assist Tesla’s mission towards broader adoption of sustainable energy products for more. Additionally, customers prefer fewer [distributor] layers of complexity, especially where warranty concerns arise.”

Derek McKercher

Proving to be one of the world’s most advanced companies towards independent electrification, Tesla has earned a reputation for attention to detail to earn success. Therefore, why not seek within its top 5% of installation partners where long-term energy security exists? There is no warranty if a product installation doesn’t meet manufacturer specifications. Tesla Certified Premium Installers are Tesla’s most trusted brand partners. McKercher Corporation welcomes this continued trusted recognition of it’s subsidiaries PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse.

Subsidiaries Attain Solar Quotes Legendary Ranking

Solar Quotes Legendary PSW Energy Perth Solar Warehouse

The world of sustainable energy is evolving at virtually break-neck speed, and it’s easy to become swept up in the hype. However, sustainable energy isn’t new. It’s rapidly evolved over 15 years in Australia, building tangible customer satisfaction data from established businesses committed to long-term positive outcomes.

Attaining SolarQuotes.com.au’s most coveted status – Legendary installer ranking, PSW Energy & Perth Solar Warehouse is among Australia’s Top 10 solar companies on the SolarQuotes.com.au platform for customer satisfaction: rating x volume x time. With more than 200 reviews within the last three years and an average review score of at least 4.85 / 5.0, only ten companies Australia-wide have achieved similar status.

Therefore, it should be relatively easy to discern the ideal alignment for your investment. Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems when operators aim to influence a narrative with a less customer-centric approach. An ex-CSIRO Engineer (Finn Peacock) identified such occurrences and began an ambitious task of making the water a little less mirky.

Related post:  Acknowledged by Time magazine, it’s now known that 2023 is the year of Taylor Swift due to a rising global influence and standards of female empowerment depending on one’s views—honourable mention, Sam Altman (Chat GPT), Time magazine CEO of the year. A lot less international, but influencing positive outcomes for the globe and energy consumers within Western Australia, 2023 is the year PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse appeared on the radar of many high-calibre analysts. Continue reading ›

As data is often subjective, few leaderboards are available to consumers researching installers within their local area. However, on a customer satisfaction level, one mechanism exists for consumers to better discern installer credibility in highly competitive locations such as Australian capital cities. Regarding installer qualification, consider the SolarQuotes.com.au Best Solar Installer Rating system to assist in making an energy investment decision.

Perth’s Inaugural PSW & Tesla Energy Tech Talk

Powerwall 2 in the shadows (black & white) for the inaugural Tesla Energy Tech Talk in Perth Western Australia

The journey toward electrification and energy self-sufficiency in the past has proven to be quite complex. However, it doesn’t need to be. On November 16, 2023, PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse, alongside Tesla Energy, hosted a Tesla Energy Tech Talk in Perth, Western Australia.

Overwhelming demand saw RSVP capacity exhausted within 48 hours. The response comes as Western Australian energy consumers seek to improve their self-sufficiency while gaining a greater understanding of the most advanced technology available for home storage integration. After a round of detailed insight by three guest speakers within their respective fields (including Derek McKercher, McKercher Corporation Director and CTO for PSW Energy & Perth Solar Warehouse), attendees could participate in an open panel discussion with some of the future-focused minds. Proving engaging, customers discussed openly bespoke circumstances, where question marks may have lingered.

Event preview: PSW x Tesla Energy Tech Talk 2023 ›

As McKercher Corporation subsidiaries, PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse share a common goal of assisting in the simplified and expedited adoption of sustainable energy, with a high degree of positivity from users. Perhaps more important as an organisation, is staff recognition who also commit to a shared belief, and this is a time when a magnitude of staff appreciation is necessary. McKercher Corporation staff for PSW Energy, Perth Solar Warehouse, who attended the Tech Talk at Tesla Osborne Park (Western Australia), contributed significantly to ensure attendees curious about attaining a greater self-sufficient electrification journey, had every opportunity to be comfortable. Your support identifies a shared belief amongst all towards a future with better outcomes. Thank you.

Huawei FusionSolar to Vacate the Australian Solar Market

Huawei-FusionSolar

From 2024, all second-generation Huawei solar technologies entering the Australian market will become iStore. The move comes as political reaction leaves a sour taste for the telecommunications giant whose solar inverter business is less than 1% of the company revenue globally, deeming the Australian market more of a complication towards achieving long-term goals.

Headquartered in Chatswood, NSW (North of Sydney), Huawei will remain in Australia at a reduced capacity, providing support for existing technologies in the field and the upcoming iStore solar suite of Huawei Gen2 solar hardware in an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) capacity. It’s widely known that Solargain PV, is a significant investor in the iStore product range, which should provide a level of Australian-owned consumer confidence in the technology.

Testing has commenced, and what is confirmed is that iStore-labelled storage units can operate with previous-generation Huawei-labelled inverters. However, Huawei FusionSolar historical data will not come over to the new iStore ‘Universe’ platform, which is required to accept the iStore battery onto the existing Huawei inverter. A scenario that could change with future developments. This comes as great news for existing Huawei inverter owners with a supported second-generation battery available for uptake.

McKercher Corporation subsidiaries, PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse have an enduring history with Huawei solar products thanks to a stable reputation since the breakthrough launch in 2018. A decision to vacate the Australian market entirely would further distance Australia from global technology advancements and innovation. The iStore brand has arrested such a scenario and ensures Australians can still benefit from an outstanding sustainable energy product suite. We wish iStore and the ‘Universe’ platform all the best in a new chapter, continuing the outstanding reputation Huawei has introduced with its energy technology. PSW Energy and Perth Solar Warehouse will continue prioritising the most beneficial products for their customers.

This post has been amended from its original format. The previous post stated that the iStore battery and Huawei inverter would not be cross-compatible.

PSW Energy Awarded as Founding Australian SMA Power-Up Partner

SMA manufacturing headquarters Kassel Germany with SMA logo in prominence, blue sky and green lawn an a clear, sunny day.

The world’s most iconic solar inverter brand makes another bold move towards exclusivity. SMA Solar Technology launched the SMA Power-Up program in Australia in January 2019 to affiliate the brand with technically astute retailers/installers. Nominated from industry peers, PSW Energy is a part of the first 25 businesses across Australia, with four established in Perth, Western Australia.

The benefits occur at every level in this instance. Rewarded are installers with additional product benefits to offer end-users. In contrast, end-users become rewarded by attaining an installer with an intimate knowledge of the inverter, its capabilities, and the ability to look after a customer long-term.

Never before has an inverter brand set out to exclude installers from additional sales opportunities. However, with an excessive amount of installation companies unable to survive past the five year mark while leveraging off the back of an inverter’s good reputation, change in this aspect is outstanding progress for the energy transition industry.

Founding SMA Power-Up partners, Western Australia:

  1. PSW Energy (residential)
  2. Advanced Energy Resources (commercial)
  3. Australis Solar (residential)
  4. DNX Energy (residential)

The success of the SMA Power-Up program has seen many installers across Australia vying for a position on the much-converted list. Not only solar installers, but the trend is becoming replicated amongst alternative manufacturers to ensure higher quality control and improved life expectancy of the products.

Image: McKercher Corporation Director Derek McKercher (Left) and SMA Australia Managing Director Michael Rutt (right) at the inaugural SMA Power-UP Partner launch event, Sydney.

After the initial launch, SMA expects to ramp up the SMA Power-Up program eligibility to a further 75 businesses nationwide. Ensuring a restricted group of 100 means-tested installers out of a possible 5000 solar companies throughout Australia is another step towards greater consumer confidence when buying sustainable energy products.

Continue exploring the benefits of the SMA Power-Up Program via PSW Energy, an inaugural and trusted SMA partner https://pswenergy.com.au/sma-solar-inverters/