On Friday 11 September, the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council agreed to explore safe use of plug-in solar. Sometimes called balcony solar or balcony power stations. These typically consist of portable photovoltaic panels that can be plugged into a standard power outlet, potentially paired with a plug-in battery. This opens access to solar and storage for renters, apartment occupants and those who can’t afford larger systems.
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Our recent article attracted media interest and contributed to moving plug in solar from a niche idea to a national policy conversation. Plug-in devices are now on the national consumer energy resource agenda, raising hopes for a rapid and consistent approach across all states and territories.
The benefits are certain, but standards should consider Australian conditions
The financial and environmental benefits of plug-in solar will vary. These include the household’s daytime electricity consumption, system orientation, shading, location and size, and whether the electricity is used directly or stored in a battery.
Our scoping work suggested energy cost savings, but these are estimates, not promises. It is important to communicate reasonable expectations. Australia still needs the tools to predict the performance and financial benefits of plug-in systems (with and without batteries) in different locations, taking into consideration individual household electricity use patterns and the many different electricity tariffs.
The potential market is also larger than the term balcony solar suggests. Our estimates indicate that approximately two-thirds of households who would benefit most are living in detached or semi-detached homes, not apartments. Australia may therefore see more “backyard and front yard solar” than balcony solar.
Making access possible for renters requires more than law reforms
Interviews with Energy Minister Chris Bowen suggest that tenancy and strata law reforms are anticipated. These are important steps in empowering renters and apartment dwellers. Policy makers and advocates often point to Germany where well over a million homes have balcony solar. Its “Right to Solar” sets the benchmark with where landlords and owners corporations cannot unreasonably refuse safe and compliant systems.
However, Australia would have to put in more effort than just changing the laws. The German housing policy context and power balance between landlords and renters is very different to Australia’s. Germany has a higher share of rental households (53 per cent versus 31 per cent across Australia), a national, pro-tenant regulatory framework, a federal incentive program for home energy retrofits with renter protection, and landlords who are used to accommodating modifications that benefit renters.
In Australia, rental and strata laws as well as incentives for roof top solar for renters and apartments are state-specific. Minimum insulation and energy efficient appliance requirements for rental homes are emerging in a few states, but landlords can raise rents to recover costs potentially increasing rental stress.
Plug-in solar model clauses can be developed, but each state and territory will need to enact them. If Australia decided to back a ‘right to plug-in solar’ strategy, too, clear communication and legal protections will be critical for widespread uptake. In the current tight rental market, even renters with relatively secure jobs and good incomes may be reluctant to attract their landlord’s attention. Rental tribunals would need to be adequately resourced and willing to back renters in disputes against their landlords and owners’ corporation committees.
Innovative ownership models and technical support could unlock social benefits
A system might be owned by an individual household, a housing provider or an energy retailer. Low-income households may need targeted subsidies, as offered by some German councils. In social and community housing, a housing provider could install and maintain systems while passing the benefits on to residents[1]. Retailer or community models could potentially help households facing payment difficulties.
In addition, support should not be limited to people who are already confident using electrical equipment. Practical guidance, paid safety checks and hands on workshops could help households use the technology safely and with confidence.
Pilot programs would also provide a better understanding of the real benefits of plug-in solar systems on balconies, in backyards and other settings. They could also reveal how households use electricity, what barriers they face and whether the benefits reach those most in need.
Importantly, plug-in systems will not replace the need for energy-efficient housing, strong renter protections or broader investment in renewable energy. But they could give households currently excluded from rooftop solar a new way to participate in the clean energy transition and access cost of living relief.
The guiding principle should be clear: legislation must be accompanied by measures that make access safe, affordable and fair, and educate potential users. If plug-in solar is designed with renters, apartment dwellers and disadvantaged communities at the centre, it could help make the low-carbon housing transition more inclusive.
