Solar for All? Why the Next Energy Revolution Must Include Renters, Not Just Rooftop Owners
Australia’s solar story is globally unique: more than 3.5 million homes have rooftop systems, making us a world leader in per-capita solar uptake. But beneath that success lies a growing divide—between those who benefit from solar and battery rebates, and those who are locked out.
In this deep dive conversation, Markus Lambert sits down with Heidi Douglas, CEO of Solar Citizens, to unpack the messy realities of solar policy, grid stability, and what’s needed to ensure the clean energy transition is fair, fast, and future-proof.
Are Solar Rebates Just “Middle-Class Welfare”?
It’s a criticism gaining traction: that solar and battery rebates disproportionately benefit middle-class and wealthier homeowners while pushing up power prices for the rest.
Heidi Douglas challenges that claim.
“I hate the term ‘middle-class welfare.’ I’m middle class and I need help. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis,” she says. “Rich people don’t care about their energy bills. Solar uptake has mostly been about middle-income families trying to save money.”
Still, she agrees the rollout hasn’t been equitable—and renters have been left behind.
“When you fly over Sydney, you can literally tell which homes are rentals—they’re the ones without solar,” says Markus. “We should have included renters from day one.”
Solar for Renters: The Missing Link in Australia’s Clean Energy Future
More than 30% of Australian households rent. Yet almost none have solar—because the system has never been designed for them.
Solar Citizens is now campaigning hard to fix this. Their upcoming policy push includes:
Accelerated tax incentives for landlords to install solar.
Minimum energy efficiency standards at the state level.
Strata-owned batteries and new models like Allume’s SolShare to share solar fairly among apartment dwellers.
A proposed clean energy mandate for all new high-rise developments to include rooftop solar, EV readiness, and no new gas.
“It’s a carrot and stick approach,” says Douglas. “We need both incentives and regulations. We’ve got the technology. Now we need the political will.”
Why the “Million Battery Promise” Is Just Political Spin
The federal government’s recent $2.3 billion battery rebate scheme was promoted as helping install 1 million home batteries. But Markus isn’t buying it.
Douglas acknowledges the issue.
“It’s a number chosen for political memorability,” she concedes. “But the real goal is grid stability. We need batteries—whatever the number—to shift us off coal and firm up renewables.”
What About Local Manufacturing?
Both Douglas and Lambert agree: Australia missed the boat on solar panel manufacturing, but there’s still hope when it comes to batteries.
“The panel race is over,” says Markus. “But we’ve got lithium. We’ve got opportunity. Why didn’t we invest $200 million in a battery industry when we spent $2.3 billion on rebates?”
Douglas points to some progress, including federal funding for local battery and copper-based solar startups like SunDrive. But admits it’s a drop in the ocean compared to Chinese manufacturing scale.
The Looming Crisis of Solar Waste
Another major blind spot in the clean energy boom? Waste.
Tens of thousands of perfectly functional solar systems are being ripped off roofs—not because they’ve failed, but because they’re being replaced by bigger systems to support batteries. And Australia still lacks a national solar panel recycling scheme.
“I sold 100 million solar panels,” says Markus. “I would have put $1 per panel toward recycling. We didn’t. Now we’re going to pay for it.”
Douglas agrees the circular economy of solar and batteries must be tackled and says it’s on Solar Citizens’ radar for future campaigns.
Grid Chaos Is Coming—Unless Batteries Catch Up
Australia’s energy grid is changing fast. Coal plants are retiring. Big renewables projects are being delayed or cancelled. The only thing currently working at scale? Home solar and batteries.
“If we don’t get batteries in now, the grid won’t cope,” warns Markus. “And if the lights go out, guess who’ll get blamed? Renewables.”
Douglas believes the solution lies in consumer energy resources—not just home batteries, but urban renewable energy zones using commercial rooftops to share solar and reduce reliance on long-distance transmission lines.
But there’s no time to waste.
Policy Needs Bravery, Not Bureaucracy
So why aren’t these solutions already in place? Douglas and Lambert agree: it’s political cowardice.
Douglas calls for leaders who are willing to stand up to developers, support renters, and incentivise long-term planning—even if it costs more upfront.
What’s Next for Solar Citizens?
Under Douglas’s leadership, Solar Citizens will be focusing on:
Solar for renters and apartments
Commercial and industrial rooftop solar
Circular economy and solar waste
Equity-driven policy reform
Energy literacy and access for all Australians
