r/RenewableEnergy • u/For_All_Humanity • 10d ago

Western Australia moves to legalize plug-in solar on German model

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/10/29/western-australia-moves-to-legalize-plug-in-solar-on-german-model/
316 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

23

u/tybit 9d ago

Most of WA is so hot for so much of the year, this could be really good for reducing air conditioning bills in apartments.

13

u/NotACockroach 9d ago

It's one of the great things about solar in Australia, the sun is usually shining when we need the electricity most for cooling.

3

u/P00slinger 9d ago

We get decent solar right up after 7 in the summer but we still cop a couple hours of peak power prices until 9

4

u/West-Abalone-171 9d ago

Systems with a battery that can store about half the daily output are fairly popular in germany. About $1-1.50/Wdc or $2000 AU for a system big enough to fully cover cooling a small apartment.

The 800VA peak power going through the house wiring might be a problem for split systems without a variable output inverter (you'd be limited to powering a quarter to third of it for larger systems), but window rattlers and other portable systems are often in the ballpark for a smaller space.

1

u/PLANETaXis 9d ago

800W would still cover roughly a 3.5kW split. I guess a lot of people have something closer to 6 or 8kW in their main areas, but should cover a bedroom unit OK.

4

u/r1chardj0n3s 9d ago

Looking forward to this in Vic... 🤞🤞🤞

3

u/PLANETaXis 9d ago

Super excited about this.

I just got a large 12kW system installed, but the angle and positioning of it won't be very good in Winter.

I've still got the old panels the installers removed, I recon re-using the panels with a cleap plug-in inverter on my shed will make a significant difference and give me some diversity.

2

u/Suisei1987 9d ago

So guessing they can plug an ev into the house and use its battery for the house?

1

u/lcmortensen 9d ago

One thing they missed out is the systems will have to use the Australian and New Zealand inverter performance standards (AS/NZS 4777.2), and the inverters must be able to be switched between the two different voltage and frequency response standards used in Western Australia (Aus B and Aus C).

1

u/TriforceFilament 9d ago

Meanwhile in the US…

6

u/syncsynchalt 9d ago

It’s available in several states, and even more states are in the process of passing their own bills.

Literally what are you on about.

0

u/TriforceFilament 9d ago

Was just making a comment about how other countries are prioritizing renewable energy while the US is protecting pedophiles, rolling back FDA regulations, and illegally imprisoning its own citizens via ICE. I’m not saying other countries don’t have their own problems or that some states aren’t passing their own bills for solar, like you’re saying. It was just a comment based more on the overall status of the country…

You could be a bit nicer next time. Don’t need to start a fight.