An Australian utility is letting renters buy into shared rooftop solar for the first time
Ausgrid's new Community Power Network trial will let renters and other customers without solar access share bill savings from surplus power generated at nearby commercial rooftops.
According to a piece published Friday by Ev Foley on PV Magazine Australia, grid operator Ausgrid has launched a trial of its Community Power Network, which uses a network of community batteries to let renters, apartment dwellers, and small businesses share in surplus solar power generated at nearby commercial and industrial rooftops. The trial is expected to benefit around 32,000 Ausgrid customers across parts of Sydney and the Central Coast.
The project is backed by 13.2 million Australian dollars in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Ausgrid chief executive Marc England said the scheme could generate annual bill rebates of roughly 150 to 200 Australian dollars for a customer with no solar panels of their own, funded by surplus power that would otherwise go unused on the grid.
Community consultation on battery locations is already underway in the first trial area, covering the Sydney suburbs of Botany, Mascot, Pagewood, Eastlakes, and Rosebery, with consultation for the Central Coast site set to begin in 2027. The University of New South Wales and the RACE for 2030 research center will independently evaluate the trial, including whether its benefits are shared equitably among participating customers.
Ev Foley, PV Magazine Australia: http://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2026/09/18/ausgrid-trials-ci-rooftop-solar-initiative-to-share-energy-benefits-with-renters/
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
