Australian renters are a step closer to generating their own solar electricity with small, portable systems they could buy from a shop and take with them when they move.
Solar you can take with you. A basic solar kit could cost you between $650 and $1,300, with potential electricity savings of several hundred dollars a year.
Adding a battery could bring the package to the area between $2,000 and $3,000 – Australian prices and launch dates are still to be confirmed – with potential electricity savings of up to $500 dollars a year.
In other words, after around three to four years, the system will have paid itself off. From then on, the actual saving begins.
30 per cent rentals
Australia’s federal solar scheme has already supported more than 4.5 million households and small businesses to install solar. Yet around three in ten Australian households rent, according to the 2021 Census.
Renters generally have little control over whether solar goes on their roof. Plug-in solar would let more of them own their own equipment and benefit directly from the electricity it produces.
Typically, the system consists of one or two solar panels and a small inverter, which converts their electricity into power the home can use. The panels could sit in a sunny backyard or courtyard, or be securely mounted on a balcony. The system would feed electricity into the home through an ordinary power point, reducing how much power the household buys from the grid.
A battery could store solar electricity for the evening. Some designs can also charge when grid electricity is cheap and supply it later when prices are higher. That opens up possibilities for renters without a suitable sunny space, although the final Australian rules will determine which systems are allowed.
Solar engineer Glen Morris, who represents the Smart Energy Council on Australian solar and battery standards committees, says the technology is already widely used overseas.
He points to an output limit of around 800 watts, as used in European markets and proposed in Western Australia. That would contribute to running appliances such as a fridge, internet router and other everyday equipment. It would not replace all the electricity a household needs.
Costs and savings
Morris quoted Solar Citizens’ estimate that a solar-only system with reasonable exposure to the sun could save around $300–$400 a year.
Western Australia’s government has published a different estimate: around $240 a year from a north-facing solar system in Perth, or around $500 with a battery. These figures depend on the assumptions used and should not be treated as guaranteed savings for every home.
For the purchase price, Anker SOLIX representative Sachin Sardana estimated around $2,000–$3,000 for a solar-and-battery package, based on the company’s European experience. That is a preliminary estimate in Australian dollars, before any rebates.
As a simple illustration, a $2,500 package saving $500 a year would recover its purchase price in about five years, before any extra costs.
The actual result will depend on sunlight, shade, panel position, electricity prices and how much of the power the household uses. The daily electricity supply charge would remain.
Renters should also avoid assuming they will be paid for surplus electricity sent to the grid: WA’s proposed approach focuses on using the power at home.
Requirements and regulation
The aim is for approved systems to avoid the usual cost of permanently wiring in solar. But secure mounting, an electrical inspection or improvements to old wiring could add costs. Final installation requirements are still being worked out.
Australia’s energy ministers agreed in September to explore a safe pathway for plug-in solar and batteries. At present, these grid-connected kits cannot legally be used here simply by plugging them into a household socket.
Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the government is working with Standards Australia and state regulators to move as quickly as possible.
“I understand the frustration of people who’d like to go down to Bunnings and buy their plug-in solar tomorrow,” he said on 5 November.
But he stressed that older wiring, electrical protection, battery safety and panels’ ability to withstand strong winds all need proper attention.
Morris outlined a practical route forward: clear product standards, approved equipment, electrical safeguards, secure mounting, stronger access for tenants and simple registration so electricity networks know where systems are connected.
Changing the electrical rules alone will not remove every barrier. Landlords and owners corporations can also restrict what renters attach to buildings. Those tenancy and strata arrangements are part of the work still ahead.
WA ahead of the pack
Western Australia is leading with a proposed interim standard, drawing on German experience and adapting it for Australian conditions. Public consultation closes on 9 December 2026. The state is aiming for access during 2027 and wants its work to help establish consistent rules nationally.
Solar Citizens is campaigning for legal access across Australia by 1 July 2027 – about eight months from now. Bowen promised a progress update before Christmas and further announcements next year. He did not promise a launch date.
Suppliers say they are preparing to sell through shops and websites once the rules allow it. Bunnings has been mentioned as a possible outlet, but no Bunnings launch date was announced.
Minister Bowen argues that solar and batteries can help lower costs across the electricity system. AEMO’s latest figures show average wholesale prices in the National Electricity Market fell 27 per cent in the September quarter compared with a year earlier, as renewable generation and storage grew. That does not mean household bills automatically fall by the same amount.
For renters, the opportunity is more immediate and personal: owning equipment that can reduce their power bills, help make their home more comfortable and move with them to the next address.
Sources
→ SolarCitizens – 11 September 2026:
Australia will get Plug-in Solar and Batteries
“Solar Citizens welcomes today’s 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”.”
www.solarcitizens.org.au/australia_will_get_plug_in_solar_and_batteries
→ Government of Western Australa – 28 October 2026:
FAQs – Balcony Solar Consultation
“What is plug-in solar and balcony solar? Is it safe? Can I use one at home or in an apartment?”
www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/faqs-balcony-solar-consultation
→ The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) – 23 October 2026:
Warmer weather, solar and batteries reshape energy markets
“Renewable generation supplied a Q3 record 44.3% of NEM generation, with grid-scale solar increasing 30%.”
www.aemo.com.au/newsroom/media-release/qed-q3-2026
Newsletter from Solar Citizens:
What a jam-packed Plug into Sunshine webinar! 
Whether you joined us live or couldn’t make it on the day, we’ve got a quick update and a way YOU can help bring plug-in solar and batteries to Australian homes!
We heard from Energy Minister Chris Bowen, WA Energy Department’s Jai Thomas, solar standards expert Glen Morris, the Smart Energy Council’s Nigel Morris and industry leaders about what it will take to make plug-in solar and batteries safely and legally available across Australia.
Watch and share the webinar recording!
Here’s the video to share with friends, family and anyone who wants cheaper, cleaner energy:
Now, let’s turn that sunshine into action!
One of the biggest takeaways from the webinar was that Western Australia wants to hear from people right across the country about how much they want plug-in solar and batteries to be made available.
And this is where YOU come in!
We’re asking everyone who registered for the webinar to take just five minutes to make a personal submission to the WA Government’s Plug-in Solar and Battery Consultation.
We’ve made it easy with a simple submission form, so you don’t need to be a solar expert to have your say!
Make your 5-minute submission now!
Not sure what to say? Just add a few lines in your own words about why you want plug-in solar and batteries to be safely and legally available across Australia.
Perhaps you’re renting and want to cut your electricity bills, living in an apartment without access to rooftop solar, or simply believe everyone deserves the chance to benefit from affordable, renewable energy.
Your personal story is what makes your submission powerful.
And if you’d like a little guidance, skip to 5 minutes before the end of the webinar recording (at 1:20:58) to see our CEO Heidi Lee Douglas demonstrate just how easy it is to make a submission!
Together, we’ve helped put plug-in solar and batteries on the national agenda. Now let’s keep the momentum going and make them a reality by 1 July 2027!
Thank you for being part of the movement to bring affordable solar to more Aussie homes.
It’s time to plug in, power up and SAVE! 
In sunny solidarity,
Heidi Lee Douglas
CEO, Solar Citizens