Australians can now access solar, battery and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technology with no upfront costs thanks to a new partnership between energy retailer Alinta Energy and climate tech startup NRN (National Renewable Network).
The new product, Solar Together, uses NRN’s advanced platform to supply and coordinate solar and battery systems for households across Australia. Alinta Energy then delivers a plan tailored to work with those systems, while NRN operates the VPP behind the scenes to maximise value for customers and the grid.
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Unlike legacy models that require customers to pay upfront or finance their own system, Solar Together offers a complete solar and battery system with no upfront cost, no financing, and no repayments. Customers enjoy lower daily supply charges and can choose to purchase the system at any time or take ownership after 12 years.
“We’re not just managing energy, we’re redesigning how the market works,” NRN founder and CEO Alan Hunter said.
“Our platform gives energy retailers a stake in the future of distributed energy, with zero upfront investment and no asset liabilities. It makes solar accessible without shifting cost burdens to consumers, while giving retailers and installers the tools to grow together.”
For energy retailers, NRN’s VPP platform offers a fully managed, off-balance sheet solution. It includes asset ownership, sub-metering, and behind-the-meter retailing, unlocking new revenue streams without compromising customer value. This makes it especially attractive to retailers seeking a low-risk entry into distributed energy.
Unlike legacy VPP models, the Solar Together Program doesn’t require upfront payment, financing, or repayment schemes from customers. Instead of relying on customers to supply their own solar and battery, the program includes a complete system at no upfront cost. It avoids the common pitfalls of buy-now-pay-later and financed solar models, where customers face upfront cashflow pressure, take on long-term liability for asset performance, and risk conflicts of interest with the provider.
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After a successful pilot last year with 50 customers, Solar Together is now rolling out across New South Wales and South Australia, with plans to expand into Victoria and Queensland in the coming months. This rollout will help NRN achieve its target of bringing on thousands of homes in the next 12 months.
“We built this platform to be flexible, fast, and scalable,” Hunter said.
“And we’ve proven it. This is what the next phase of the energy transition looks like, shared systems, aligned interests, and smarter infrastructure.”
