Australia’s growing uptake of rooftop solar and home batteries is being constrained by factors that have little to do with consumer interest, according to new research from Energy Consumers Australia (ECA).
The organisation’s report, Understanding household barriers to residential solar and battery uptake and the potential for growth, found that 50 per cent of Australians face at least one structural barrier to adopting solar or battery systems.
The findings are based on data from ECA’s Consumer Energy Report Card, which surveyed around 4,000 households about their views on the energy transition.
The report found that 33 per cent of Australians live in rental properties, limiting their ability to make decisions about solar or battery installations. Another seven per cent are owner-occupiers living in apartments, where strata governance arrangements can complicate electrification projects. A further 10 per cent have household incomes below $50,000, creating financial barriers to investment in home energy technologies.
ECA Executive Manager, Analysis and Advocacy Ashley Bradshaw said the findings point to a growing divide between households that can access energy-saving technologies and those that cannot.
“We applaud the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program and similar programs which are significantly accelerating household battery uptake across the country,“ Mr Bradshaw said.
“Our data shows, however, that millions of households – especially renters, apartment dwellers, and low-income families – are being locked out of the solar and battery revolution.”
Untapped demand remains strong
While the report identifies barriers affecting half the population, it also found considerable interest among households that do not face those obstacles.
According to ECA, 15 per cent of Australian households are currently researching solar systems, while 23 per cent are interested in purchasing a battery.
Mr Bradshaw said these households are generally not constrained by rental arrangements or apartment ownership structures and could proceed with installations if they choose.
The report also found a link between understanding the reasons behind Australia’s clean energy transition and interest in battery ownership. Households that strongly agreed they understood the transition were more likely to already own a battery or be considering one.
Calls for policy reform
ECA is urging governments to introduce a range of measures aimed at improving access for households currently unable to participate.
Among its recommendations are minimum energy performance standards for rental properties, accelerated upgrades to social and community housing through the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative, mandatory energy performance ratings at the point of sale or lease, reforms to strata governance arrangements and financial support for lower-income households seeking to electrify.
The organisation is also calling for governments to investigate tax incentives for landlords who invest in energy upgrades without increasing costs for tenants.
Mr Bradshaw said access to trusted information is another important factor.
“All households and small businesses should have tailored, trusted, and well-publicised advice and support to make better energy decisions, including the purchase of a battery,” he said.
NSW apartment program targets a key barrier
The findings come as NSW continues to expand its Solar for Apartment Residents program, which is designed to help overcome one of the barriers identified in the report.
The program provides grants to owners corporations and strata managers to install shared rooftop solar systems on eligible apartment buildings across the state. Almost 140 projects had been funded by March 2026, supporting 2,580 households, including more than 950 renters, to access shared solar systems. The projects are expected to deliver average annual energy bill savings of more than $1,000 per household and reduce emissions by an estimated 9,600 tonnes each year.
Under the main grant stream, apartment buildings can access funding of up to $150,000, covering up to 50 per cent of eligible installation costs. A separate Boost stream offers up to $200,000 and can cover up to 80 per cent of eligible costs for qualifying projects.
Applications are open until December 2026 or until available funding is exhausted. The program is available to eligible apartment buildings and strata-managed developments with between three and 55 residential lots located in NSW.
For NSW residents living in apartments or rental accommodation, the combination of ECA’s findings and the state’s shared solar funding program points to a common challenge: ensuring the benefits of lower energy bills are available to households regardless of whether they own a freestanding home.
