Our Aim
We aim to educate and empower people on their journey towards sustainability and increased energy independence using solar power and energy storage. Through our experience working in the solar industry, we educate the public on solar and battery systems by offering independent reviews to help guide decision-making. Our mission involves equipping people with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions when purchasing solar, EV chargers and battery storage.
Our Photonik software aids professionals in accurately designing systems, while individuals and businesses can use the Photonik solar calculator to assess the financial and energy implications of transitioning to renewables.
History of Clean Energy Reviews
Clean Energy Reviews, established in 2014, came about to help both consumers and solar installers identify the best quality and most reliable solar panels, inverters and battery systems. While solar panels have been around for decades, solar power only started to become mainstream in 2010. By 2014, numerous new brands and products from multiple manufacturers and importers were flooding the market. Over the years, many brands have proven to be very reliable. Unfortunately, some brands produced poor-quality products that suffer premature failure, and this is what we help you avoid.
As professionals working in the industry since 2010, we started researching and testing solar products and obtaining feedback from other solar installers and industry professionals to determine which brands offered the most reliable and best quality products and which manufacturers provided the best warranty and service. Since 2014, we have gathered and used this experience, feedback and information to write detailed reviews and informative articles about solar panels, inverters and battery systems.
Over the last ten years, our audience has grown dramatically, with millions of visits to our website from solar customers and installers worldwide. We pride ourselves on providing impartial, independent reviews and information to help individuals make informed decisions. Our reviews are primarily based on quality, reliability, value for money, features, efficiency, service and warranty conditions.
After three years of behind-the-scenes software development, in 2022, we launched the Photonik solar cost calculator and professional solar design tools to our global audience. In November 2023, we transitioned from our original website to a new, modern site to improve the user experience and navigation.
Solar Reviews & Information From Industry Professionals
Meet the Team
Jason Svarc
Founder, Solar and Battery Specialist
Jason is a qualified engineer and CEC-accredited off-grid, battery and solar system specialist who has been designing and building solar power systems for over a decade. During this time, he also taught the off-grid solar PV design course at Swinburne University (Wantirna Tafe). Jason has many roles and interests in the solar world, including designing, commissioning and managing battery energy storage and stand-alone solar power systems. Living in an off-grid solar-powered home and having an extensive engineering background, plus ten years of experience in renewable energy system design, Jason has gained vast knowledge and technical expertise.
Jason owns and operates Transfer Solar, which specialises in designing off-grid and hybrid solar systems. CEC accreditation license No. A8975204
Marty Newkirk
Founder & Product Manager
Marty is passionate about renewable energy and sustainability and is keen to make solar the number one energy source in Australia. Marty has a long history of working in solar power, particularly in business management and operations. In addition to working at Clean Energy Reviews, Marty is a part-time Product Manager at Car Next Door (now Uber Carshare), working hard to free the planet of the ‘one person, one car’ mentality.
Bruce Hyslop
Software development
Bruce is an IT professional and technology innovator who has long been a renewable energy enthusiast passionate about solar energy. Over the last two decades, his engineering and IT background led to his success in several small businesses. His unique skill set was ideally suited to developing the advanced tools and systems behind the Clean Energy Reviews solar performance estimator and design software.
Momar Hughes
Software and Web development
Mo has an engineering background and has been involved in various projects, from startups to working in multinational firms, as well as with Engineers Without Borders. An interest in climate change and renewable energy lead to a PhD in designing hybrid electric aircraft. After many years of scientific programming, Mo migrated towards web development as a more creative form of coding. His unique skillset and experience were well suited to developing the Clean Energy Reviews solar calculator and performance estimator.
Our Specialists and network of solar professionals
In the fast-paced solar industry, it is vital to engage with solar professionals, installers, distributors, technicians and service representatives to keep up to date with the latest technology, industry trends and possible reliability or quality problems. We work in solar and constantly contact solar installers and industry professionals, gathering feedback through technical discussions and surveys. In addition to industry interactions, we have pooled knowledge from a number of experienced solar installers to determine the best quality and most reliable products available on the Australian market.
Our solar and battery product testing and experience
The clean energy reviews solar specialist, Jason Svarc, is continually testing, reviewing and monitoring the latest solar and battery products to determine how they perform in real-world conditions and various environments. He is in contact with many other solar professionals and undertaking continuous CEC-accredited training about new solar products and best practices for solar and battery design and installation. There is no better way to understand how new solar products perform than by testing and monitoring equipment and discussing performance data with other solar installers.
Photonik Solar Design Software
The Clean Energy Reviews team formed Photonik to develop design tools for solar installers and professionals. The software includes the Photonik solar savings calculator and professional design tool, which makes designing and managing solar proposals quick and easy for installers and retailers. A free simplified version of the tool is also available to help consumers navigate purchasing solar or battery storage by providing cost and savings estimates tailored to the electricity consumption profile. Photonik aims to create easy-to-use software for solar professionals to design solar proposals and help guide consumers when purchasing solar.
Contact us **
Clean Energy Reviews is based in Australia.
** Use our solar discussion forum for any solar or battery-related questions or queries.
NOTE: We are not a supplier of solar equipment. Please do NOT request any quotes.
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