Western Australia is set to become the first Australian state to allow plug-in solar panels and batteries, often called balcony solar, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The kits connect to an ordinary power socket and are widely used in Germany, where about one in ten households has one. They can already be bought in Australia but cannot legally be plugged in. The state's Energy Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, was due to announce the change on Wednesday, saying it would help renters and apartment owners who cannot fit rooftop panels. She estimated savings of about A$240 a year, or A$500 with a battery.
Consultation on safety standards is opening, with legislation to follow at a date not yet set. The federal Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, has said the UK and New Zealand are moving in the same direction.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
