In an Australian first, Western Australia is on the path to legalise plug-in solar panels and batteries based on German standards, which can plug in to a household wall outlet, offering clean energy for homes and apartments/units unable to benefit from rooftop solar installations and can also be moved when a resident changes address.

WA Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the benefits of cheap solar have been out of reach for anyone who doesn’t own their roof.

“That isn’t fair, and the Cook Labor Government is doing something about it,” Sanderson said.

“I’m proud that our State is leading the nation on this issue – millions of European households already use these systems every day, and WA families should be able to do the same.”

The WA department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) and Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Building and Energy Division (LGIRS) are consulting on the proposed legalisation pathway and a new technical standard.

The proposal would mean plug-in systems are classed as standard electrical appliances through a new Technical Bridging Standard (TBS), which proposes to enable plug-in systems with solar panel combinations up to a rated capacity of 2 kW (DC), and with inverters up to a rated capacity of 800 VA (AC).

The TBS does not propose to set an upper limit on plug-in battery storage capacity.

Balcony solar advocacy organisation Solar Citizens Chief Executive Officer Heidi Lee Douglas said it agrees it isn’t fair that the benefits of cheap solar are out of reach for anyone who doesn’t own their own roof.

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