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Solar Sidekicks Podcast
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Solar Sidekicks Podcast

Author: Pat Southwell

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Solar Sidekicks is the go-to podcast for all things solar, serving up essential insights with a friendly, down-to-earth vibe. Hosted by industry professional Pat Southwell and his co-host Lauren Ciconte, each episode explores technical topics, industry regulations, and the real-world challenges faced by solar installers across Australia.


Together they share practical knowledge from the field, tackle important issues affecting the industry, and stand up for what’s right by helping voices be heard on topics that can hit solar installers hard. They also highlight some of the great people working in the industry and help listeners stay across the constant changes in this fast-evolving sector.


Whether you’re a solar installer, apprentice, or simply interested in solar, Solar Sidekicks keeps you informed, connected, and up to date with what’s happening in the industry. 

69 Episodes
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It’s time to get excited about All Energy 2026! Pat and Lauren are gearing up for a massive week, with Solar Sidekicks scoring its own podcast stand and a trip to China with GoodWe straight afterwards. There’s plenty of industry news to cover, including Victoria’s proposed solar rebate changes, the debate around gas in new homes, another $70,000 WorkSafe fine, battery STC reductions and the latest on commercial solar incentives. We also chat about NSW’s $15,000 interest-free energy loans, s...
Pat and Lauren are back on the road, heading into Abbotsford to sit down with Nancy Sanjoto and Arlen East from EcoVantage — although Pat has a few early attempts at remembering exactly where they are and how to pronounce the company name, despite the rather large sign sitting next to him. Then it’s into the increasingly complicated world of rebates and certificate schemes. STCs, VEECs, ESCs, PRCs, PDRS, battery incentives, commercial solar and the expanded SRES all get a run as Nancy and Arl...
Pat and Lauren are back on schedule and back at Six Star Plus, this time joined by Meagan “Meggsy” Blackney — the Heat Pump Legend. Meggsy’s path into the industry is a good one. She went from eight years at Baby Bunting, to starting in accounts at Six Star Plus, to somehow finding herself right in the middle of the heat pump world — dealing with builders, plumbers, suppliers and plenty of tradie personalities along the way. We get into how heat pumps fit into the electrification push, why ...
This week we’ve headed north to Castlemaine to sit down with Matt Wilson from Central Spark Victoria — and apparently Lauren thought activewear and shorts were appropriate for a chilly Central Victorian morning. Matt’s been around solar since the days of tiny BP panels, $8,000 rebates, Sharp 167s and smashing out two installs a day. We go right back through his apprenticeship on a questionable $7.60 an hour, the early days of commercial solar at Enviro Group, managing projects he probably was...
Pat & Loz are on the road again — this week recording from the brand new Jet Solar HQ on Wellington Road, Rowville. And yes, the signwriting is real. Jason Dickinson has been quietly running one of the best solar businesses in Melbourne for seven years, and this episode is a good insight into how he's done it. From driving forklifts in Dandenong at 18, to a residential apprenticeship, subbing for a mate at 60 bucks an hour, and eventually going out on his own — Jason's got a pretty honest...
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