Community-based organisation Solar Citizens welcomed the announcement by Australia’s Energy Ministers that they will work to make plug-in solar and batteries available to all Australians.
Renters locked out of the solar revolution could soon plug in and cut their power bills after a landmark ministerial announcement.
Community-based organisation Solar Citizens welcomed the announcement by Australia’s Energy Ministers that they will work to make plug-in solar and batteries available to all Australians, exploring “pathways to support their safe deployment”.
Renters, low income households and people living in apartments will be able to access cheap, safe, bill-slashing plug-in solar panels and plug in batteries.
It means renters, low income households and people living in apartments will be able to access cheap, safe, bill-slashing plug-in solar panels and plug in batteries, following a strong campaign from Solar Citizens.
“Renters, apartment dwellers and low income homes will soon be able to plug-in, switch-on and save, save, save,” said Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas.
“This commitment to make plug-in solar and plug-in batteries legal in Australia is great news for more than a third of Australians who rent or live in apartments, and also for low income households so they can access some of the bill-busting benefits that cheap clean solar homeowners enjoy.”
MORE NEWS: Families roll credit card debt into mortgages
‘Unrecognisable’: Inside huge American-inspired ranch
‘Forced’ out: Foreign buyer cops $370k fine in Australia
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas.
Plug-in solar refers to small solar units that can be plugged into power points to help offset the cost of fridges, TVs and other appliances.
They can be attached to apartment balconies or installed in backyards and can be taken by renters when they move to other residences.
Ms Douglas said Solar Citizens would keep campaigning for renters, apartment dwellers and low income earners.
“We want to see a firm timeline and deadline by December at the next energy ministers meeting for when plug-in solar and batteries will be available for use in every state and territory,” she said.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas says it’s only fair that renters, apartment residents and low income households will be able to access affordable solar.
Ms Douglas said Australians were looking for every opportunity to bring down their power bills.
“It’s only fair that renters, apartment residents and low income households will be able to access affordable solar that’s already available to millions of people in the UK, Germany, and many American states, and will be available in New Zealand by late next year.” she said.
“Let’s get plug-in solar and batteries legal in Australia by 1 July 2027.”
Solar and battery engineer Glen Morris.
Solar and battery engineer Glen Morris, director of Smart Energy Lab, said the path to safe plug-in solar was not complicated.
“Germany has had over a million of these systems plugged in for years and the UK has just written the rules into its wiring regulations,” Mr Morris said.
“We do not need to invent anything.
“We need a product standard so the inverter shuts down instantly when unplugged, a cap of around 800 watts so it cannot overload a normal power circuit, and a simple registration with the network so they know it is there.
“That is a job for the Energy Ministers to hand to the regulators with a deadline.”
“None of the concerns raised about plug-in solar needs new technology, they need a rule that says what is acceptable.”
Plug-in solar systems do not require electricians to install the appliances and provide around 600-800 watts of power and would likely cost between $650 to $1300.
