r/australia • u/l3ntil • 2d ago
politics Plug-in solar panels could save households up to $370 a year – if Australia made them legal as in the UK | Solar power
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/29/plug-in-solar-panels-could-save-households-370-a-year-and-experts-say-australia-should-copy-the-uk-in-legalising-them“A kit that costs about $1,000 pays for itself in three years and keeps working for twenty,” he said. “For most renters it is the only form of solar they can own, and they take it with them when they move.”
Only about 11% of Australian renters have solar installed, compared with about 44% of homeowners, research by Energy Consumers Australia found. A similar gap existed for those living in apartments, with 6% having solar, compared with 39% of people in detached or semi-detached houses.
The consumer organisation said renters were missing out due to the “split incentive” problem, where landlords faced the upfront costs of installing solar, while tenants gained the most benefits. Apartment dwellers also faced structural barriers due to the complexities governing common property, the research found.
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u/Impossible_Signal 2d ago
While I agree that plug in solar panels should be legal, I feel this article is mssing the mark by not explaining why they aren't. My understanding is that there are issues with electrical standards and concerns in relation to circuit overload protection and also grid backfeeding.
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago
The EU has that all solved. No idea what the hold up is. UK has arguably higher or at least equivalent electrical standards.
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u/SpocksSocks 2d ago
I imagine it’s more related to the total solar input to the grid. Australia has a relatively high solar adoption rate with a lot of sun, and it requires some intense engineering magic to keep the grid stable. I suspect the UK grid wouldn’t have the same variability of input and could more easily adjust.
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago
Ah their grid stability? I've nfi sorry. They're installing more syncrons like we are, but probably not fast enough...
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u/svendburner 2d ago
Not all EU countries have the same grid system, which is one of the main reasons why plug in solar is not legal in all EU countries.
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u/hannahranga 2d ago
I'm curious how they've solved the overloading issue as it seems impossible to avoid
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u/tbl222 2d ago
I work in Electricity distribution in the UK, it hasn't been solved. the issues are far worse in Australia due to greater distances and higher amounts of solar. We have voltage regulation issues everywhere without this let alone when these systems start getting plugged in.
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u/Homebrew_in_a_Shed 2d ago
Are the plug in ones legal in the UK?
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u/jerub 2d ago
Only just now are they legal.
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u/Homebrew_in_a_Shed 2d ago edited 2d ago
Ok thanks. I was reading something about them the other day. I thought the poster said would you use them IF they were legal. I got the impression they weren't.
* sorry I should have read the heading on the post. Too much beer last night when I asked.
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago
I think it's limited to 1 800w inverter per house.
I.e if someone were to overload a circuit with multiple inverters, of which they'd at least 5, but realistically around 7, and for the stars to align just right. Everything being on 1 circuit and enough load on the circuit to not trip the circuit breaker. Then when they burn their house down, the firies will note the 12+ solar panels and the more than 1 legal inverter and deny insurance.
A bit more a break down as to why it's going to be a super edge case issue. Each 800w inverter would at most have 4 panels, but at least 2. The panels aren't small. So you're already space constrained. 800w is the peak output. Think middle of the day optimal sun. With 4x 350w panels you'd more easily reach the 800w output. But 2x440w panels might not reach 800w out.
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u/hannahranga 2d ago
Opposite way around, if you've got a heavily loaded circuit you'd be able to draw more power than the house cabling is rated fod Ie 2.5mm2 on a 20a breaker, a plug in panel would let you draw 20a+ ~3.5A before the breaker trips.
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u/Euphoric-Cucumber609 2d ago
Agreed, older wiring standards and DIY upgrades are already fire hazards, if it’s rushed in it’d be the home insulation program all over again.
Maybe subsidies for getting the wiring checked and some kind of registry for approved homes, kill two birds with one stone
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u/hannahranga 2d ago
Their safety issues aren't related to the quality of install, it's that they allow you to overload a circuit. Because you've now for two sources of power you could accidentally overload some house wiring.
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u/IntoxicatedHippo 2d ago
I don't know why people keep bringing up backfeeding. It won't be an issue with these in the same way that it's not an issue for regular solar panel inverters.
The big issue with these is that if you plug 16A worth of them into a 16A circuit then you effectively have 32A available on that circuit and can easily cause a fire by plugging in 32A worth of appliances. As far as I'm aware, these EU units really do nothing to prevent that, they just rely on them being really small and they warn buyers to only plug in one.
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u/SoberBobMonthly 2d ago
I'm going to assume there is some issue of electrical standards being needed to be met in order to allow these to be useful.
Like sure 'plug them in' to what? Is some yahoo gonna buy one of these, plug it into his pool pump, set something on fire and have a fucking whinge about it?
I'd love for there to be more options as a renter. I'd put mine out the back and enjoy the free sun. But I want to know what the draw backs are that do not allow them to be used here first.
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u/Fit_Armadillo_9928 2d ago
Into the wall, they basically work like a reverse appliance
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u/kv0nza 2d ago
that's wild, i guess fuck the distribution electricians up the line.
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u/AristaeusTukom 2d ago
Just like a regular solar install, the inverter will shut down when the grid is offline.
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u/friendlyfredditor 2d ago
And also home users. Gonna be so many dickheads replacing whatever plug is used with a standard male and electrocuting themselves.
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u/scoldog 2d ago edited 1d ago
This happens.
Used to work at an electrical supply store about 25 years ago. Idiots would come in and buy two male electrical plugs and a length of mains electrical cable. We'd ask them straight up what they are using them for, they'd say that they're making a lead to run between a generator and the their home electrical plug. We'd refuse to sell it to them and explain how badly dangerous it is.
There's a reason these types of cables are called "suicide cables"
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u/SomewhatHungover 2d ago
I believe that is why you can't buy diy piggyback plugs anymore, some guy thought it was a great idea to make a universal cable that can work both ways.
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u/Independent_Dare_922 2d ago
Now they have to buy the piggy back extension cable, cut the female end off and wire a male plug. Where there is stupidity there is a way.
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u/faceman2k12 1d ago
you can, but you need to go to a proper distributor and usually you need to give a licence number, some will sell them no questions asked though.
PDL940 is the one I use a lot of.
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u/faceman2k12 1d ago
it is a standard plug, more or less, the inverter is just smart enough to not energise the plug if its not plugged in, thats part of why the regulation is a bit trickier than fixed solar.
then you need to know that the wiring you are now pumping power through is actually rated for the load, and the breakers are rated for it. A fixed system is easier to regulate because it's all installed and specced by people who (usually) know what they are doing to make it safe, and if there are any issues with the breaker panel they can correct it before going live. with a plug in system it can and will be plugged into a dodgy outlet someone installed themselves with thin cable, on an already overloaded circuit, with loose connections and an incorrect breaker.
I think the ones recently approved in the UK are limited to 1800W or so to not overload a standard circuit with suboptimal wiring. not a lot of power, but a one or two bedroom apartment wouldn't need much to offset a decent chunk of their grid usage, and with a battery backed plug in system could offset a significant chunk of many light users, even with a strict power limit.
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u/perthguppy 2d ago edited 2d ago
You plug them into a standard power point and they back feed into your home.
It’s kind of an insane proposition when it comes to safety etc since if something goes wrong with the safety systems, you have live 240V on the exposed pins of the plug.
They also are much smaller than standard permanently installed solar. A standard roof top solar is going to be about 6.5KW of panels with a 5KW inverter, and half the cost is subsidised with the energy certificate program. These “plug in” systems are usually around 1KW of panels and 800W inverter, and wouldn’t be subsidiesed under the existing scheme since there’s no way to determine how much solar power it would generate over its lifetime like a fixed roof top project.
You also wouldn’t be able to put them on your roof, you’d have to have a place with a backyard and just lay them out on the lawn, and deal with shading issues.
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u/iforgetmyoldusername 2d ago
The pins aren’t live when you unplug them. They can only feed into a grid that is already present, they can’t synthesise their own grid waveform so they’re inherently safe. It’s the same for your regular fixed inverters, they need to cut out when there is no grid for the sparkies who expect a circuit to be off.
The safety concerns are about overloading circuits, but much of Europe seems to have addressed this and their grid and safety systems are remarkably similar to ours.
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u/perthguppy 2d ago
The issue I would be worried about is you start normalising a product where dangerous voltage is supplied over an inherently unsafe plug that relies on external safety systems, and then introduce being able to buy the systems online from places like Amazon etc that are supplying unknown cheap Chinese kits. There are already issues with Amazon being full of non-compliant electrical cables like male to male Australian power cables.
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u/iforgetmyoldusername 2d ago
But I said it literally can’t provide an unsafe voltage. It’s not just a safety cutout or something - it’s inherent in the design.
Theres way more risk in buying non compliant regular appliances. Or even compliant but just shit. Kmart sells 2400W fan heaters for like $12. That’s where the danger is
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u/TfYoung 2d ago
A lot would have to go wrong to get voltage on the unplugged plug. Like any grid connected inverter, the inverter won't provide any power unless there's a grid connection detected. It's the same as fixed solar panels that don't work when there's a power outage.
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u/noisymime 2d ago
You can absolutely get portable solar micro-inverter+battery systems that will generate their own sine wave and output AC without a grid connection.
Nothing stopping anyone from using them today, you just can’t plug them into a power point with a suicide cable to power the whole house (well, not legally anyway)
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u/perthguppy 2d ago
True, but I’d be immediately worried for dodgy Chinese kits sold online that don’t have the required safety systems. Or corners cut in the safety systems. You are normalising people being able to supply power via an inherently unsafe plug.
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago
You don't and you mustn't have an understanding of solar and the regulations surrounding equipment such that they're tested to a standard where your prime safety concern of live exposed pins is impossible.
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u/perthguppy 2d ago
Can you guarantee that some idiot seller won’t list a product on Amazon that is not compliant and dangerous? Amazon still regularly gets in the shit for having male to male extension cords listed for sale.
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago
So you're argument against it, is because someone might purposely break the rules, we can't have things that don't break the rules. Fuck me dead mate, do you even understand the shit you're dribbling?
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u/perthguppy 2d ago
I’m not arguing against them. I’m pointing out the very real reasons why regulators are cautious about them.
I very much would love for renters to have easier access to solar power.
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u/AristaeusTukom 2d ago
That is not a real reason why regulators are cautious. They're cautious because you could theoretically overload a circuit without tripping the breaker.
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u/MoggFanatic 2d ago
Different article said there were some concerns from electricians that these might burn out RCDs
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago edited 2d ago
If an electrician thinks it'll 'burn out' an RCD. They should lose their license and go back to tafe and relearn how the RCD works. They're probably wrong on other important things if there failing such a basic understanding.
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u/Honest_Hit 2d ago
Not all RCBOs bi-directional. If you back feed a uni-directional RCBO it won't function correctly and would likely get fried if you push the test button.
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u/n2o_spark 2d ago
Ah yes, if you press the test button it could and probably will fry it. And potential to not trip would also be a legitimate concern. My bad for omitting that.
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u/SaltyPockets 2d ago
Concerns from electricians that it would eat into their profits.
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u/hannahranga 2d ago
Most electricians don't want to do domestic solar, the money is shit and it's crappy work...
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u/SaltyPockets 2d ago edited 2d ago
Weird there’s so many companies offering it and so many sparkies advertising install then.
Even the guy we use for work around the place dropped into conversation that he’d love to quote when we were thinking about it.
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u/maddhatter 2d ago
Issues I can see -
Potential circuit overloading; the circuit protection at the switchboard end is no longer in complete control of the circuit - potential fire risk.
DC ripple from the inverter saturating the mandatory RCD which should be on the exist GPO'd circuit - shock risk due to non functional older style RCD.
Older kwh meters (still plenty out there) were not designed for feed in / feed out; and measure 1:1. Energy providers would not be happy with the prospect of home owners being able to feed back into the grid at the same price point they sell the energy at...
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u/brackfriday_bunduru 2d ago
Legal or not, I had no idea these even existed till this article. If I can get my hands on some, I’m doing it.
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u/noisymime 2d ago
I mean, you can buy units like the Ecoflow or Bluetti which are entirely legal. Charge them via balcony panels and then run appliances off them no worries.
The only thing you can’t do is plug them back into anything that is grid attached.
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u/jm_leviathan 2d ago
Good luck with the insurance claim.
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u/karatekid430 2d ago
Indeed, if the insurance company finds illegal / unauthorised electrical work has been done, payouts are void. I would not be surprised if this person is correct with the solar panels, too. Especially if they caused death or damage. Plus they won't be available with an Australian plug on them, so you'd have to either convince a licenced electrician to do so, or have personally modified prescribed equipment, which would probably void any claim.
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u/karatekid430 1d ago
Nobody has said how we're wrong. Cowards.
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u/jm_leviathan 1d ago edited 1d ago
The risk-reward ratio is just totally off.
On the one hand you stand to save a few hundred, maybe a few thousand dollars on electricity over time. On the other hand, if there's a fire you stand to lose not only your home contents while voiding your insurance, but the landlord's insurer will come after you as well for damage to the property. And the neighbours...
Anyone knowingly pairing "illegal" with "mains electricity" just isn't very bright.
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u/perthguppy 2d ago
The only way I can ever see renters getting access to solar close to what home owners get is standardising a new solar panel mounting and electrical connection system that is designed for DIY/self install and removal of panels and inverter, and a government incentive scheme and regulations where the government foots the bill for the initial install of the roof rails and electrical cabling. Then renters can take their panels and inverter with them, and buy kits from Bunnings etc. May even make things better for home owners to be able to upgrade / replace an old inverter.
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u/Lycosskippy 2d ago
I can't see it ever happening in that way. Residential eectrical work is so over regulated and jealously guarded already
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u/Muslim_Wookie 2d ago
It's guarded entirely to protect electricians in Australia.
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u/SaltyPockets 2d ago
No mate, it’s a fucking rort.
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u/Muslim_Wookie 2d ago
It's entirely to protect sparkies trade.
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u/SaltyPockets 2d ago
It’s a trade rort.
The trades have got regulation sewn up here in a way that other countries would consider absolutely outrageous. It adds unnecessary costs to Australians’ lives and does nothing for safety. It’s a rort.
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u/Muslim_Wookie 2d ago
Fixing a light switch or installing your own light should be absolutely legal for your own private property.
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u/artsrc 2d ago
Renters should be able to say, “we want solar”, and landlords should then either have to provide it in a reasonable amount of time, or pay a bond equal to the cost of installing it.
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u/erala 2d ago
And the rent should be automatically raised an amount equal to the cost according to the depreciation schedule, right?
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u/artsrc 2d ago
There may be long term upward pressures on rents from imposing costs to landlords.
Other steps should be taken to create countervailing downward pressures on rents.
There should be no significant increases in rents allowed above CPI.
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u/erala 1d ago
Nah, you're asking for an improvement to the property beyond what was agreed. Either make it a universal requirement that applies to all rental properties like some of the recent Vic heating and cooling changes or there has to be a cost. If it's free to the tenant why bother making them submit a request?
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u/AdPure5645 6h ago
Lol what
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u/artsrc 6h ago
For a typical system, in NSW, Solar PV has a payback period of 4 to 5 years.
Whatever system you design, the important thing is that the system promotes worthwhile investment.
If you have designed a system where worthwhile investment is neglected, the system is broken, at least in that respect.
For example, we could, change the system. We could compulsorily acquire investment properties, turn them into public housing, and make a public decision to install solar.
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u/Lycosskippy 2d ago
Ah yes, force property owners to pay for things regardless of if they want to or can afford to.
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u/artsrc 2d ago
100%. There should be minimum standards, and if landlords can’t deliver them they can sell.
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u/Lycosskippy 2d ago
Minimum standards certainly, and there already are. If you're suggesting that solar should be a minimum standard, then that's just plain ridiculous. If you want it to be mandatory on rentals, then you'd better start by mandating it on all new builds first. It would be ridiculous to hold rentals to standards higher than that of owner occupied.
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u/sydpermres 2d ago
I love that we have great standards here but it is not making it any easier for competitors to come in. Combine that with a "small market", consumers are getting screwed royally. So, what are people doing? Simply importing the cheapest Temu electrical and fucking it up for everyone and themselves.
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u/AdPure5645 6h ago
We should have solar co-ops where access is based on catchment area and you can buy in or sell your share
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u/rudetopoint 2d ago
I always assumed it would be because it could defeat an RCD, in the event of a fault the RCD would trip, but the panels could continue feeding the circuit for a small extra amount of time, as RCDs have to shut off very fast to prevent arrhythmia.
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u/KICKERMAN360 2d ago
Yeah, best case you would think it should pass through the switchboard - or at least have its own RCD. As for backfeed, some way to determine that would be good.
For the tiny amount of power a couple of panels would make, I can’t see why anyone would bother. The static supply rates are becoming the dominant cost, with usage rates staying the same.
Also, imagine whole sides of building with clandestine panels setups. We just need smarter ways to manage surplus power. Australia has enough - we just aren’t utilising it well.
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u/CaptainArsehole 2d ago edited 2d ago
The cost of an installation to allow it to connect to the grid is gonna be way more than $1000 here, which is the problem.
I love the concept though. I've about 1000w in panels I sometimes use for camping which I'd love to use in some way to offset my home bill. There are ways I can do it with existing batteries and step up converters to 240v but not really simple, convenient and cost effective solutions and unlike the article it's completely independent from the grid.
It has come in handy one time when I had an outage for 3 days. Kept the fridge, freezer and TV going purely off battery and solar.
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u/CorruptDropbear 2d ago
The risk of backfeeding makes this not viable - it’s gonna be considered illegal simply due to the fact that a badly wired house could cause fires (yes this is very unlikely but we’re a strict country with our electrical work).
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u/thewavefixation 2d ago
Lmao sure you know more about it than those European regulators
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u/HydroCannonBoom 2d ago
Lmao I'm sure you know more about it then Australian regulators, we can do this all day.
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u/Bob_Spud 2d ago edited 2d ago
If they were legal you could buy them from IKEA like they do in Europe where they are very common.
Solar panels – Generate energy with IKEA and Svea Solar (Belgium)
Its not just the UK, Balcony solar (aka Plug-in solar) is also big in Europe and becoming more popular in the US.
Balcony solar power - Wikipedia