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Up to $35,000 in grants: NSW, VIC and NT now support apartment solar installations. Check eligibility

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Strata and multi-unit buildings

Solar for Apartments

If you own a unit, government grants in NSW, Victoria and the NT can help your strata building put a shared solar system on the roof. That can cut common-area power costs and the strata levies that pay for them, and with some setups, owners' own power bills too.

Get a strata quoteHow it works

Apartment solar grants by state

These state programs help apartment buildings pay for shared solar systems.

New South Wales

Solar for Apartments (SoAR)

Up to $30,000

Benefits

  • Grants for feasibility studies ($5,000)
  • Installation grants up to $30,000
  • Covers shared solar and battery systems
  • Technical support and guidance
  • Reduces common area electricity costs

Eligibility

  • Strata scheme in NSW
  • Minimum 6 lots in the building
  • Building with suitable roof space
  • Owners corporation approval

How to apply

  1. Apply for feasibility study grant
  2. Get professional assessment of building
  3. Present business case to strata
  4. Apply for installation grant
  5. Install system via approved installer
View New South Wales rebate details

Victoria

Apartment Solar Grants

Up to $35,000

Benefits

  • Grants for eligible apartment buildings
  • Covers solar PV and battery storage
  • Interest-free loan options available
  • Reduces strata fees through energy savings
  • Increases property value

Eligibility

  • Apartment building in Victoria
  • Strata/owners corporation approval
  • Building has suitable roof area
  • Uses approved installer

How to apply

  1. Check eligibility on Solar Victoria
  2. Get quotes from approved retailers
  3. Pass motion at AGM or EGM
  4. Submit application with quotes
  5. Install and claim rebate
View Victoria rebate details

Northern Territory

Community Solar Scheme

Up to $20,000

Benefits

  • Grants for multi-unit dwellings
  • Supports solar for remote communities
  • Battery storage incentives
  • Reduces reliance on diesel generation
  • Community-focused approach

Eligibility

  • Multi-unit dwelling in NT
  • Community or strata agreement
  • Grid-connected or off-grid eligible
  • Uses approved installer

How to apply

  1. Contact NT Government energy office
  2. Submit expression of interest
  3. Get building assessment
  4. Apply for available grants
  5. Work with approved installer
View Northern Territory rebate details

How apartment solar works

There are four common ways to share the benefit of a rooftop system across an apartment building.

Common Area Solar

Solar powers shared spaces like lobbies, lifts, pools, and common lighting.

Upside

  • Reduces strata levies
  • Simple billing arrangement
  • No individual metering needed

Watch for

  • Benefits shared equally
  • Limited to common area usage
Embedded Network

Building becomes electricity retailer, buying wholesale and selling to residents with solar offset.

Upside

  • Maximum savings for residents
  • Full solar utilisation
  • Professional management

Watch for

  • Requires network setup
  • Ongoing management needed
Virtual Net Metering

Solar credits are allocated to individual units based on ownership or usage share.

Upside

  • Fair distribution of benefits
  • Individual bill credits
  • Flexible allocation

Watch for

  • Requires retailer support
  • Not available everywhere
Community Solar Shares

Residents purchase shares in the rooftop system and receive proportional energy credits.

Upside

  • Flexible investment levels
  • Transferable ownership
  • Direct benefit to investors

Watch for

  • Requires legal structure
  • Share management overhead

Getting strata approval for solar

Installing solar on an apartment building requires owners corporation approval. Here's how to build support and pass a motion.

  1. Start with a feasibility study

    Use government grants (like NSW SoAR $5,000) to fund a professional assessment of your building’s solar potential.

  2. Build the business case

    Show the payback, the strata levy reduction and the environmental case, using the feasibility study results.

  3. Present at the AGM or an EGM

    Solar installation typically requires a special resolution (75% of votes). Bring the strata committee in early.

  4. Apply for the installation grant

    Once the motion passes, apply for the full grant and work with an approved installer to complete the project.

Typical apartment solar savings

An example: a 30kW system on a 20-unit building.

Common area electricity, before
$15,000/yr
Common area electricity, after solar
$6,000/yr
Per-unit levy reduction (20 units)
$450/year
System payback (after grants)
4 to 6 years

$9,000/year

Annual savings in this example

Example based on a 30kW system for a 20-unit building. Actual savings vary by building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can apartments get solar panels installed?

Yes. Several state programs specifically support solar for apartments and strata buildings. NSW SoAR, Victorian grants, and NT schemes provide funding for shared solar systems on apartment buildings.

What is NSW Solar for Apartments (SoAR)?

NSW SoAR (Solar for Apartments) provides grants up to $30,000 for apartment buildings to install shared solar systems. The program covers feasibility studies and installation costs for strata properties.

How does apartment solar work?

Apartment solar typically uses shared rooftop systems with energy distributed to common areas or individual units through embedded networks. Some buildings use virtual net metering to credit residents.

Do I need strata approval for apartment solar?

Yes. Installing solar on an apartment building requires approval from the owners corporation (strata). Government grants often cover feasibility studies, which helps build the business case.

What is an embedded network for apartments?

An embedded network is a private electricity network within a building. It allows the building to buy electricity wholesale and sell to residents, often incorporating solar generation for reduced rates.

Can individual apartment owners install their own solar?

Generally no, as the rooftop is common property. However, some buildings allocate rooftop space to individual units or use community solar arrangements where residents buy shares in a shared system.

Take solar to your next strata meeting

Check what your building may qualify for, or contact us with the details of your strata scheme.

Get a strata quoteContact us about your building
Up to $8,000+ in solar and battery rebates · Federal rebates step down in 80 daysSee how we calculate this