When I joined Solar Citizens as CEO three years ago, it was to scratch a deep itch — to unite people behind tangible climate solutions that make good economic sense and cut across politics. To help build a joyful, climate-safe world where everyday people feel empowered to be part of the solution.
I was an early adopter of rooftop solar. Back then, I didn’t realise I was joining a movement of everyday Australians discovering the magic duality of doing what’s good for the environment and good for the household budget.
Today, more than four million homes and businesses are powered by the sun, helping ten million Australians slash their energy bills and emissions. But the climate crisis — and a growing sense of global disempowerment — demand faster, bolder action.
I still remember the day I proudly watched my little 1 kW system being installed. I wish we had found more climate and economic solutions like rooftop solar. That’s why I’m now leading Solar Citizens to double down on the success of rooftop solar and storage. Because when something works — we double down.
Rooftop solar and batteries empower families and individuals to be both energy producers and consumers. They democratise energy. They put power — literally — in the hands of the people.
While large-scale renewable projects and transmission lines need careful negotiation to be accepted by some communities, rooftop solar and household batteries face no such obstacles. They remain the fastest, cheapest, and most popular path to decarbonising our grid and empowering our communities.
When we scale up Consumer Energy Resources (CERs) — rooftop solar, batteries, smart EV charging, and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) — we:
✅ Cut bills and strengthen local economies
✅ Reduce pressure on the grid and defer costly infrastructure upgrades
✅ Slash emissions while empowering households and businesses
✅ Build energy independence and resilience to climate shocks
Every solar household is a mini-power station helping replace coal and gas. Now it’s time to make that opportunity available to everyone — not just homeowners with sunny roofs.
The Rooftop Solar Pledge: Power for All
We’re calling on the Australian Government to make a Rooftop Solar Pledge — a national commitment to double rooftop solar backed by storage by 2035.
This means:
- Solar for Renters and Apartments — unlocking policies so people who don’t own their roof can still access clean energy.
- Solar on Big Roofs — incentivising commercial and industrial solar, and sharing that power locally through Urban Renewable Energy Zones (UREZs).
- Fairer Virtual Power Plants — ensuring battery participation rewards households, not just energy companies.
As Australia bids to co-host COP31 in Adelaide in 2026 alongside Pacific Island nations, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show the world what’s possible.
While others campaign against fossil fuels, we’re focused on scaling the solutions to replace them. Through a Rooftop Solar Champions Alliance, we’ll partner with NGOs across at least three Asia-Pacific countries to help them set their own rooftop solar targets and roadmaps.
Because we can’t end fossil fuel exports without ensuring that countries like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan have clear, affordable pathways to transition their energy systems too.
This campaign isn’t just about more panels on roofs — it’s about power in the hands of people. It’s about proving that community-driven climate solutions can be fast, fair, and scalable — here and across our region.
The rooftop solar revolution started on our homes — now it’s time to take it national, and global.
Together, we can double down on what works, scale it up, and show that the clean-energy transition is powered not just by technology, but by people.
FIND OUT MORE AT OUR RAISE THE ROOF CAMPAIGN LAUNCH WEBINAR
BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW - Thursday 6 November 12:00-1:00pm
👉 Support the Raise the Roof Campaign
