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When Gunnar Friese visited his parents in Germany about a year and a half ago, he saw a lot of plug-in solar systems, but when he returned to New Zealand, he found they were illegal here. Since then he has been on a mission to introduce the technology and, with many political parties now on board and the Ministry of Regulation proposing it be legalised, it looks like it's about to take off.
Friese runs My Mini Solar and he says plug-in solar is a particularly good option for apartment dwellers (in Germany it's known as 'balkonkraftwerk' or balcony power plant), renters (because they can take it with them) or households that aren't sure if they just to invest in a larger rooftop system.
He says it will cost roughly $1,500 for two panels and an inverter that plugs directly into the wall. If the regulations are similar to those seen in Europe, where it's estimated there are more than five million systems in operation, he says it's likely to be limited to four panels.
The cost-of-living crisis is a major issue among voters and while plug-in solar won't be able to run high-draw appliances or charge an EV, it could make a significant dent in electricity bills.
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