Applications & Installations
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.
“WA’s announcement starts a ‘race to the top’, and puts a rocket up the need for the federal government to announce a nationally coordinated approach for the release of this money-saving technology across Australia by July next year,” Douglas said.
“We support the Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announcing a date for the legal safe sale of these money saving devices that are already legally and safely available in the United Kingdom, Germany and 10 states of America.“
“Plug-in solar and batteries are an anti-inflationary energy reform. They put downward pressure on household electricity bills, allow more Australians to use cheap solar power, and can reduce demand for expensive electricity during peak periods,” Douglas said.
According to the WA plug-in solar and batteries consultation website, DEED and LGIRS will continue to work with safety experts, other states and territories, and the Australian Government to support nationally consistent requirements for plug-in systems.
“For this reason, the final TBS is likely to have two separate parts, one each for product-specific requirements and another for installation requirements. This would make the TBS more consistent with AS/NZS technical documents,” the site says.
The department will also work on other changes that might be needed to support renter access to the systems once they are available.
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