Using a state-wide survey of South Australian residents, the report also shows that there is significant interest among both tenants and landlords to co-invest in the installation of a solar system, as long as certain conditions are met.

Background

• South Australia has the potential for 17 GW of rooftop solar, but currently uses just 1 GW of that capacity.
  • The state currently has capacity to produce 7.8 GW of electricity in total, across all generation types.
• Australia wide, 29% of owner-occupied dwellings have rooftop solar installed, compared to just 4% of rental dwellings.
• This disparity may be explained by the ‘split incentive problem’, where renters benefit from solar through lower electricity bills while the landlord typically pays for the installation.
• There is significant potential to overcome the split incentive problem in South Australia, with a willingness from some tenants (41%) and a majority of landlords (55%) to co-invest in the installation of a solar system.
• A State Government scheme, modelled on successful initiatives and pilot programs from around the country, could help to greatly increase the rate of solar on rental properties.

“Getting more solar panels onto the roofs of rental properties in South Australia would be good for tenants, landlords and the environment, but more needs to be done to make it happen,” said Noah Schultz-Byard, SA Director at The Australia Institute.

“If the State Government were to design and implement an effective scheme it could help to overcome the distrust and apathy that exists in the rental space, allowing tenants and landlords to unlock the financial and environmental benefits that come with installing solar.”

The report recommends that the State Government combine and build on successful pilot schemes run across the country, such as the ‘Solar Savers’ program run by Adelaide City Council, by:

• Marrying a rebate, an interest-free loan and a formal structure for passing a modest rent increase on to the tenant.
• Remunerating solar installers for each installation on a rental property and paying a “finder’s fee” for property managers who secure an arrangement between a landlord and tenant.
• Legislating a right for tenants to have their requests for reasonable energy efficiency and solar PV installations met, provided the tenant is prepared to pay the cost of the upgrades via a modest increase in rent.

“South Australia can become a world leader in cracking the ‘split incentive’ problem, which has denied people who live in rental properties the benefits of rooftop solar for far too long,” Mr Schultz-Byard said.

“Our research shows that there is significant interest from both tenants and landlords when it comes to installing solar on rental properties, but they need help getting there. The government can act as an honest broker in this space, helping to align interests, nominate an installer, guarantee quality and subsidise up front installation costs.

“A comprehensive and well-designed scheme for increasing installations on rental properties could play a significant role in helping South Australia reach 500% renewable energy by the year 2050, as outlined in the government’s recent climate action plan.”