Volt has redirected its solar tile strategy toward Australia after its previous plan to enter the U.S. market stalled. It is currently working to sell an integrated system that includes solar roofing, batteries, electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps, rather than selling the tiles alone.
The shift came after some parties’ interest in renewable energy projects declined, according to the company’s CEO, Peter Leeson, as quoted by the author. Volt is now focusing on direct sales to consumers, homeowners, architects and contractors, while managing the entire project offering, from roofing work to energy and storage components.
From Solar Tile to Energy System
The company says current demand is driven largely by batteries, particularly following the Australian government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program. During 2025, Volt also worked to reduce manufacturing costs and expand into utility-scale projects, including the development and construction of 5-megawatt solar and storage farms.
This expansion builds on Leeson Group’s experience developing the 520-megawatt AC Corop Solar Farm hybrid project, the largest project mentioned by the source among the group’s activities. Volt says it currently supplies homes with energy through solar tiles and batteries, and is also developing storage solutions and projects serving regional towns that may be too large to rely solely on residential rooftops and too small to attract major developers.
Changes to the Tile Design
Volt’s new version integrates with conventional tiles and uses 3.2-millimeter-thick double glass for each layer and M12 cells instead of M6 cells. The company says the design reduces costs and raises the level of technology, while the tile is also 240 millimeters wider.
The tiles are currently manufactured in China, while Leeson remains interested in bringing manufacturing back to Australia once demand reaches a level that justifies it. He said Volt would like to work with Tindo, which the source describes as currently the only Australian manufacturer in this field.
What Changes in Practice for the User?
Volt has so far installed 50 roofs in Australia, with its activity concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, where owners of older homes are reroofing their properties after leakage and maintenance problems. The company is using this need to offer a single package comprising the roof, battery, vehicle charger and heat pump.
According to Leeson’s estimate, reroofing alone may cost between 40,000 and 50,000 Australian dollars, while the solar tiles add about 10 to 15% to the cost when a roofing project is already under way. However, the source does not provide an independent return study, and results vary depending on the home, consumption, prices and electricity program.
Volt’s systems use hybrid inverters that connect the roof and a home battery with a capacity ranging from 24 to 27 kilowatt-hours, along with a 12.5-kilowatt DC vehicle charger, on a single DC bus. According to the source, from October 1, 2026, the inverter will be able to charge from the grid during Victoria’s free solar energy period between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., up to a limit of 24 kilowatt-hours per day.
Deployment and Limitations
Volt says its products have been installed in six countries across four continents, including Argentina in early 2026, with demand continuing from Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. The company is also seeking additional crowdfunding as it expands.
The most important shift is not just in the tile itself, but in the business model: Volt is trying to sell a complete home energy system through a single point of contact. However, the savings and return figures cited in the article are based on company statements and customer experiences, not independently verified results. Buyers therefore need to assess actual output, grid conditions, storage capacity and installation costs before comparing the system with conventional solar panels.