A recent Tech Xplore article explores how many well-suited rooftops remain idle in Australia, despite strong solar potential, because homeowners and renters face financial or structural barriers. While more than half of owner-occupied houses now have solar panels, high cost and housing price pressure mean large numbers of suitable homes delay or forgo installation.
The researchers found that the typical system cost, about AU$8,500 (€5,000–6,000) for a 6.6 kW installation, is still out of reach for many households grappling with high housing costs and limited disposable income. Importantly, incentives such as rebates seem to help, but the study suggests that housing affordability itself plays a stronger role in whether solar gets adopted.
To overcome this, the article proposes an ambitious “use it or lend it” policy: homeowners of detached or semi-detached houses could allow the government (or a public entity) to install and operate solar panels on their roofs at no cost to them. The property owner would receive lease payments, while the electricity generated could be directed to renters or low-income households who struggle to access rooftop installations.
This model offers a potential win-win: property owners monetize otherwise unused roof space without bearing installation or maintenance costs; renters and low-income households gain access to solar-generated electricity without owning the panels themselves. The article highlights safeguards such as roof structural checks, indemnity protections, and equitable access rules that would need to be built in.
In conclusion, unlocking the vast untapped rooftop solar potential means designing models that work for everyone—owners, renters, and the energy transition. The “use it or lend it” idea stands out as a pragmatic route to shift rooftop solar from a privilege of those who can afford it to a broader part of the clean-energy future.