When it comes to the renewable transition, Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers have always liked to lead. First to ban single use plastics, first to declare a climate emergency, first to make way to live lighter on the land. So, it is no surprise that our community is asking how we can lead on ensuring everyone gets to come along for the ride, including the renters, pensioners and the families doing it tough on a single income.

One exciting answer to this question is on the horizon: 

Plug-in solar, aka (also-known-as) ‘balcony solar‘. It’s cheap, simple and can be installed by anyone. In our push for a truly local energy transition, it could be a genuine game changer for people who have been unable to join the rooftop solar boom.

What exactly is plug in solar?

Plug-in solar systems are small, usually made up of one or two solar panels, equivalent to approximately 500W. They can be hung off a balcony rail, propped against a fence or laid flat in a courtyard. In many new models these panels come bundled with a small battery to store extra power for later. 

Best of all, the whole setup connects with nothing fancier than a standard power point. No electrician, no scaffolding, no wait for approval.

This is already common in Europe. Germany alone has more than half a million households running these mini power plants, and companies are racing to bring similar kits to Australia, as Renew Economy reports.

Why this matters most for low-income households

Byron Shire’s rental crisis is no secret. Many locals live in units, granny flats or homes they do not own. Across Australia, almost a third of households rent, live in apartments or are connected to shared private networks, which locks them out of traditional rooftop solar, as researchers for The Conversation explain.

Limited roof space, the cost of upgrading old switchboards and wiring, long approval times and landlords who see little benefit in paying for panels that only save their tenants money, all add up to a familiar story: the households who would often benefit most from cheap solar power are the ones least able to access it.

Plug-in solar will not solve every part of that puzzle, but it is an exciting solution for renters and low-income households to help take control of their energy use. 

The upside for Northern Rivers families

There is plenty to feel good about here. Plug-in solar kits typically cost a fraction of a full rooftop system, often just a few hundred dollars, which puts real energy savings within reach of a household budget rather than requiring a loan or years of saving. 

Because they simply plug into a wall socket, tenants can install one and when moving house  take it with them. A plug-in solar kit can help offset daytime power use for things like the fridge, the wifi router or a fan, chipping away at power bills right when households need relief the most.

There is also a community pride factor worth mentioning. Every panel installed on a balcony is a small but visible act of climate leadership, the kind of grassroots participation that turns a region into thousands of achievable actions. 

The catch

The current picture in Australia is a work in progress. 

As things stand, fully grid connected plug in solar systems are not yet certified or legal to install in Australia, because our electrical standards have not caught up with this new technology. 

Rental and strata rules are another hurdle. Landlords and body corporates in Australia currently have far more say over what can be attached to a balcony or wall than tenants do, unlike in Germany. 

It’s also important to note that compared to a full rooftop system, the energy generated and electricity bill savings from a small plug-in system are going to be modest 

The good news is that regulators are actively working through this. Government inquiries are underway and industry voices and advocacy groups like Solar Citizens are pushing hard for rule changes that would let plug in solar be safely and legally connected to the grid. 

The direction of travel is clear; it is hopefully just a matter of time.

What Northern Rivers can do while we wait

In the meantime, there is plenty the wider community can do. 

Locals can also make sure they are getting the most out of existing programs such as the federal Solar Sharer Offer, which delivers free midday electricity to eligible households. 

And everyone can add their voice to campaigns like Solar Citizens’ push for rental and social housing solar, because the fastest way to bring safe, legal, grid connected plug in solar to renters is to keep the pressure on decision makers for a fair shot at cheaper, cleaner power.

Plug in solar will not get us all the way there on its own, but it is a bright, practical step in exactly the right direction, and the Northern Rivers is well placed to lead the way.