Western Australia is consulting on a draft technical standard that would class plug-in solar and battery systems as ordinary electrical appliances, opening them up to renters and apartment dwellers.
In an Australian first, Western Australia is on the path to legalizing plug-in solar panels and batteries based on German standards. The systems plug into a household wall outlet, offering clean energy for homes and apartments unable to benefit from rooftop solar installations, and can be moved when a resident changes address.
Western Australian 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.
“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,” said Sanderson.
The state’s Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) and the Building and Energy Division of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) are consulting on the proposed legalization pathway and a new technical standard.
The proposal would class plug-in systems as standard electrical appliances through a new Technical Bridging Standard (TBS). The draft is based on DIN VDE V 0126-95, the German technical specification for plug-in solar devices, with local changes for Australian plugs and wind loading. It would allow systems with a combined solar and battery output of up to 2 kW (DC) and inverters of up to 800 VA (AC).
The TBS does not propose to set an upper limit on plug-in battery storage capacity, but limits batteries to lithium iron phosphate or sodium-ion chemistries. It also allows only one plug-in system per household and none at homes that already have a fixed installation such as rooftop solar.
Heidi Lee Douglas, chief executive of Australian solar advocacy group Solar Citizens, said the group 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 state’s 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 departments will also work on other changes that might be needed to support renter access to the systems once they are available.
From pv magazine Australia
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].
Comments
Please login to comment
pv magazine hosts its four-day virtual event on European solar and energy storage, exploring market opportunities, solar-plus-storage business cases, technical quality, and cybersecurity in the years ahead.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
As a media partner of Genera 2026, pv magazine will organize and moderate a session in Spanish in Madrid, during International Electrification and Decarbonization Week.
Monday, November 2, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Missed pv magazine USA Week 2026?
Catch up on three days of expert discussions on U.S. solar manufacturing, distributed energy, and solar-plus-storage.
Thursday, November 5, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
Monday, November 23, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm CEST, Berlin, Paris, Madrid
You have no items in your basket.
