ALDI Supermarkets Good Different

SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock agrees with the sentiment, but isn’t convinced Aldi and Tempo’s offer delivers on it. The savings promoted on Aldi Solar’s website are based on the company’s old offer with a smaller battery. We also extend our respect to First Nations ALDI team members, contractors, suppliers and customers.

Aldi Solar launched a trial offer in February that included a 5.1kWh battery, which we saw as too small for most Australian households. In the latest development in the “Aldification” of solar, the company has an updated pitch for Australian homeowners that offers larger storage capacity. “Packed with hardworking staples, the range has everything from tough cargo shorts, hi-vis work shirts, stretchy pants, trusty work hats and breathable basics that are both comfortable and known for their durability and unbeatable value,” they said. Who installs your solar set-up is one of the most important decisions you can make, but with the supermarket’s offering, Aldi makes it for you. Instead, Altius’ panels come with a 25-year ‘performance’ warranty that states “if the output power of any panel is lower than 80% of the rated power of the panel, Tempo will repair or replace the panel.”

Finn’s Bestseller

This advice does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement relating to any insurance product before making a decision to buy it. We’d recommend talking to multiple installers in addition to Aldi Solar to get a sense of the best products and specs to suit your needs. Usually, installation of a 10kWh home battery and inverter alone averages between $7000 and $11,000, while a 20kWh one will set you back between $14,000 and $19,000 (after the federal rebates). ALDI’s packages include free blackout protection, but charge an additional $385 if fire-resistant panelling is required (a requirement for weatherboard or timber homes) and $275 if your home is two-storey. Aldi’s official announcement makes no mention of the brand of solar, battery and inverter.

This week, tradies have been offered a sweet deal in the German retailer’s middle aisle. The Altius inverter and battery both come with a 10-year product warranty, which is similar to other brands on the market. Aldi Solar’s hardware page and spec sheets show Altius solar panels, lithium phosphate batteries and hybrid inverters.

Tradies looking to upgrade their tool collection can also get their hands on a 16V cordless drill kit, detail sander, orbital sander, and other power tools for $29.99, and assorted hand tools for $9.99. Instead we’re funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing. Importantly, though, from our research and Peacock’s, Tempo appears to be a very new player in the solar market. “The 5.5kW hybrid inverter will also struggle to back up a whole home. A small inverter like that should only back up essential circuits. It is not clear if segregation of essential and non-essential circuits is included.” Here’s Peacock’s analysis of Aldi Solar’s offers, and the key things you need to consider. Real names are preferred – you should be happy to put your name to your comments.2.

Plan your shop, preview Special Buys, save your faves, and browse the catalogue – all in the ALDI App

Meanwhile, Bunnings’ range of TRADIE-branded workwear includes $35 hi-vis work shirts, $19 hi-vis short sleeve polos, and $69 cargo pants. Aldi’s Special Buys range is significantly cheaper than other workwear brands, with Bisley Workwear selling hi-vis shirts for almost five times the price at $97.95. An Aldi spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle that they’re “excited to bring Australian tradies and DIYers our Spring and Summer workwear range” for the very first time. In our role as a consumer advocate, CHOICE may publish opinions of the general insurance market, with the intention of improving general insurance for Australian consumers. In addition, ACA Insight Pty Ltd (AFSL ) (ACA Insight), owned by CHOICE, provides any general advice on general insurance products.

With only two size options, there is little scope to customise the system size to the actual needs of the homeowner, and promised blackout protection will in practice be extremely limited. Also limited is where the offer is available – from November it will be open to select metro postcodes in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT. To dissect Aldi’s new solar deals, we spoke to Finn Peacock, founder of SolarQuotes, Australia’s most-visited solar website.

ALDI Special Buys

With a battery subsidy but no subsidy on inverters, any dirt-cheap offer for a large battery is highly likely to suffer from this issue. Both deals however stick with the original offer’s underwhelmingly small 6.6kW of solar (15 x 440w panels) and 5.5kW hybrid inverter. Kmart also offers a range of workwear, with long-sleeved hi-vis workshirts going for $30 and pants for $35.

When the initial offer launched in February we dug around and found Tempo uses Altius rooftop solar panels, inverters and batteries. Altius in turn is a little-known brand in Australia that uses rebadged Chinese products. Starting at $6999, Aldi’s offer is attractively priced but short on key details, with the supermarket giant hazy on the actual brand of solar, inverter and battery it includes.

Tempo chooses your installer, not you

“Solar and batteries should be designed for the home they’re going on,” he says. “For example, the first thing I’d do is see how much solar fits on the roof, how many different roof directions there are, and what shading is present. That informs the solar panel design and inverter selection.” Of course, as anyone who’s been swamped with cheap solar ads online will know, there’s plenty of rock-bottom deals currently out there in the market. It’s the quality of the components, installation and after-sale service that is so vital and that’s a lot harder to gauge (for the reasons below). The Aldi deal additionally promises blackout protection, but the size of the inverter means this will be limited to a handful of appliances. Since the launch of the federal battery rebate there have been a spate of big battery offers coupled with undersized inverters.

While 6.6kW of solar panels is still common, residents are typically going bigger these days, with the latest Australia Energy Council’s solar report showing that most new rooftop panel systems installed in 2025 range between 8 and 11kW. If you’re game to give Aldi Solar a crack, or were part of their initial Melbourne trial, you can let other Australians know how it all went via our reviews page for Aldi Solar installs, Altius solar panels, Altius inverters and Altius batteries. According to its website, Tempo is “a premier supplier to the consumer electronics and home appliance global marketplace”. Aldi customers might not have heard of Tempo, but the company actually supplies the supermarket’s ‘private label’ home brands including Stirling, Ambiano and Bauhm. “The battery sizes offered are 10kWh and 20kWh. 20kWh is the size likely to suit most typical Aussie homes, but 6.6kW of panels will struggle to fill it all year round.”

Since 2020, CHOICE has partnered with SolarQuotes, which offers high-quality quotes for products from vetted installers. The contract is not offered with Aldi directly, but with a separate company trading as Aldi Solar, with all products and services supplied by Tempo. The fine print stipulates terms and conditions that govern the provision of services are between the customer and Tempo, as well as its approved installers. “The contracts and terms and conditions that govern the provision of those products and services are between you and Tempo (in respect of the sale of hardware) and between you and an installer approved by Tempo (in relation to the installation).” From kitchen gadgets and camping supplies to gardening tools and electronics, Aldi’s Special Buys are known for including a wide range of products you might not even know that you need.

He also has concerns over Aldi Solar’s included home battery and inverter specs. Instead, he recommends speaking with reputable installers who will inspect your home and tailor a solar system to your individual energy usage, budget and building’s unique architectural specs. All components are backed by a 10-year product warranty, with a 25-year performance guarantee on the panels. The fact that the larger “20kWh” battery offer does not come with a larger inverter means that the inverter is undersized in our view, and the battery will at times struggle to charge up to capacity.

Find out how much a solar system might cost you and what you’ll save

If you are in the solar industry – try to get to the truth, not the sale.5. SolarQuotes in-house factchecker Ronald Brakels has plenty of reservations about the warranty conditions.

  • According to its website, Tempo is “a premier supplier to the consumer electronics and home appliance global marketplace”.
  • The Altius inverter and battery both come with a 10-year product warranty, which is similar to other brands on the market.
  • “Packed with hardworking staples, the range has everything from tough cargo shorts, hi-vis work shirts, stretchy pants, trusty work hats and breathable basics that are both comfortable and known for their durability and unbeatable value,” they said.
  • In addition, ACA Insight Pty Ltd (AFSL ) (ACA Insight), owned by CHOICE, provides any general advice on general insurance products.
  • This week, tradies have been offered a sweet deal in the German retailer’s middle aisle.

They provide high-quality quotes from vetted suppliers and back it with their ‘good installer guarantee’. While CHOICE makes money if you buy through them, 100% of it goes straight back into our nonprofit mission. Aldi is now selling solar panel and battery packages, but don’t expect to find them in their middle aisle next vegas casino apk to the circular saws and novelty garden gnomes. On the plus side, the deal is now actually available in sunny Sydney, but unfortunately Aldi hasn’t actually updated its figures to reflect the new battery sizes on offer, with advertised payback periods still based on the old 5.1kWh battery. They also sell stretch cargo pants for $113.95, cargo shorts for $70.95, and hi-vis singlets for $26.95.

  • Tradies can pick up a selection of work shirts, singlets, shorts, socks, and pants.
  • Read the Product Disclosure Statement relating to any insurance product before making a decision to buy it.
  • He also has concerns over Aldi Solar’s included home battery and inverter specs.
  • An Aldi spokesperson tells CHOICE it’s “planning to expand availability in stages from 2026”, including South Australia and Western Australia.
  • Here’s our verdict on whether it’s a good idea to get a supermarket to power your home.

Despite our careful planning, we apologise if selected items may sell out on the first day due to unexpected high demand. In the event of unexpected high demand, ALDI Stores reserves the right to limit purchases to reasonable quantities. Tradies can pick up a selection of work shirts, singlets, shorts, socks, and pants. These solar packages might have Aldi’s name and marketing all over it, but that’s where the supermarket’s association stops. With just two easy packages to choose from, Aldi Solar’s offering might seem refreshingly simple and straightforward, but Finn points out it might not suit your home or maximise its solar potential. Since 2020, CHOICE has partnered with SolarQuotes, Australia’s most-visited solar website, to help you find trusted installers.

Sizes range from S to 3XL for shirts, pants, and trunks, and 6-10 or for socks. With tradies making up around 14 per cent of national employment in Australia, the products are expected to fly off the shelves. There are almost 2 million technicians and trades workers in Australia, according to the latest data from the ABS. The Aldi Solar website states “installers are licensed electricians and Solar Accreditation Australia certified” but lists no specific companies, which can make it hard to specifically research them before signing on. “I’d never heard of Altius before the Aldi Solar announcement,” says Peacock, who’s reviewed hundreds of solar products since he started SolarQuotes in 2009. Detailed information on Altius products is hard to find online (beyond very recent Aldi Solar mentions) and customer reviews seem non-existent.

Good solar and battery design means designing the system to suit the roof, the usage and the tariffs of the house it’s going on,” Finn says. Aldi is expanding its solar offer both in size and coverage, featuring bigger batteries that will be available in more areas of Australia. Here’s our verdict on whether it’s a good idea to get a supermarket to power your home.

Solar’s best bargain or buyer beware? We dive into the details of the supermarket’s new solar solutions.

That’s despite Tempo’s website stating Altius products were introduced to Australia in 2023. The prices of Aldi’s packages might be low, but so are the specs, says SolarQuotes’ Peacock. With these simple set packages, Aldi says it aims to remove “the complexity that can often deter Australians from switching to renewable energy”.

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