Australia’s clean energy boom has largely benefitted homeowners with rooftops suited for solar panels, but that may soon change.
Rooftop solar now generates 12.8 per cent of Australia’s electricity*, yet nearly one in three households rent (31 per cent), and apartments account for 16 per cent of the nation’s housing stock, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Now, thanks to cutting-edge startup SolarCloud, solar is entering its next evolution — going cloud-based.
Much like a cloud storage service keeps your files regardless of your device, SolarCloud stores your solar benefits “in the cloud,” allowing users to take their renewable energy access with them when they move homes or switch energy companies.
SolarCloud’s model is designed to “democratise clean energy for all Australians” through a sharing-economy system that redistributes the output of underused rooftops.
This innovation opens solar access to renters, apartment dwellers, and those with unsuitable roof designs — groups historically excluded from government solar schemes.
For a starting price of $139, SolarCloud customers can invest in one or more virtual solar panels, with the company managing all related government incentives.
“The good news for these consumers is that SolarCloud doesn’t require a physical roof, government grant or home ownership,” the company said.
With the Albanese government preparing to announce a 2035 emissions target, SolarCloud’s timing underscores a broader national debate about equitable access to clean energy.
Energy bills now average $1,996 per household annually, while many Australians struggle with record rental costs and limited housing options.
For millions, the question is no longer who can afford solar — but who can access it.
SolarCloud’s CEO and Founder, John Kennedy, says this problem has been the driving force behind his decade-long development of the platform.
“The solar market is racing ahead, with rooftop solar already delivering nearly 13 per cent of grid power.
“Despite a record uptake of solar panels, so many are locked out of owning solar (more than 6 million Australians who rent), as they have the wrong roof, rent, or live in an apartment (over 2.4 million Australians),” said Kennedy.
Kennedy said that access to solar energy has long seemed exclusive to homeowners and wealthier Australians.
After almost ten years of development, securing the necessary energy and financial licences, and testing the platform with early users, he explained that SolarCloud now offers a more inclusive model that enables anyone to benefit from affordable, renewable energy — without needing a roof of their own.
Much like Netflix or Spotify transformed media access, SolarCloud applies the same cloud-based logic to renewable energy.
Customers still purchase solar, but the panels are hosted offsite — currently, 24,877 commercial-grade panels are available to Australian consumers.
Energy credits are then applied directly to the customer’s electricity bill, irrespective of provider or time of use.
The platform’s benefits extend beyond accessibility. SolarCloud allows for 24/7 performance tracking via its website, effortless portability across energy providers, and flexible investment options starting from a single panel.
There’s no hardware, no installation, and no maintenance — just solar energy that follows the consumer, not the roof.
*While national figures show around one in three Australian homes have solar, that figure also includes solar hot-water systems, so the number of households generating their own electricity is 12.8 per cent.
