About the grants
While both grants support shared solar for apartment residents, there are key differences:
| Feature | Solar for Apartment Residents | Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Total available funding | $25 million | $5 million |
| Target buildings | Eligible residential strata buildings (3-55 lots) | Eligible residential strata buildings (3-55 lots) located in selected suburbs |
| Policy objective | Increase access to shared solar for apartment residents | Increase access to shared solar for apartment residents within selected suburbs |
| Funding structure | Covers up to 50% of eligible project costs | Covers up to 80% of eligible project costs |
| Enabling works limit for solar installation | Up to 10% of eligible enabling works are supported through grant funding | Up to 20% of eligible enabling works are supported through grant funding |
| Payment schedule | Milestone 1 - 20% Milestone 2 - 40% Milestone 3 - 40% | Milestone 1 - 40% Milestone 2 - 40% Milestone 3 - 20% |
For full eligibility details, refer to the Solar for Apartment Residents grant guidelines (PDF, 601KB) or Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost grant guidelines (PDF, 605KB).
The Solar for Apartment Residents grants will fund new shared solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations on eligible apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings in NSW.
For Solar for Apartment Residents, a total of $25 million in funding is available with up to $150,000 per project.
For Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost, a total of $5 million in funding is available with up to $200,000 per project.
For Solar for Apartment Residents, funding is available for apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings across NSW.
For Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost, view the list of eligible suburbs.
The following products and services are covered under this grant:
- solar panels
- solar inverters
- solar mounting
- solar sharing technology
- labour for solar installation
- safety equipment
- essential meter board upgrade where there is clear evidence that it is required for the solar system to function effectively
- wiring upgrade for solar connection purposes only
- roof waterproofing only where required due to the solar installation.
The Australian Government is funding this grant and it is being administered by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The grant only funds solar PV installations on buildings managed by a residential owner’s corporation under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
The grant is focussed on buildings managed under a strata scheme with an active owners corporation, because they have clearly defined frameworks for shared ownership, decision-making and common area maintenance, as outlined in the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015. This ensures the installation of the solar system on common property benefits all owners within the strata scheme. This requirement was set by the Australian Government who funds this grant.
The total system cost quoted in your application must be the amount after the STC discount has been applied and excluding GST.
For Solar for Apartment Residents, this means the 50% rebate is calculated on the total cost of the solar PV system after STCs have been applied and GST excluded.
For Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost, this means the 80% rebate is calculated on the total cost of the solar PV system after STCs have been applied and GST excluded.
The grant will not fund any interest payments for solar PV installation costs. If you wish to take up a financed option for solar PV installation, you are required to pay for any interest payments from your strata capital works fund. The total system cost quoted in your application must be the upfront cost, not the financed cost that includes interest repayments.
The total system cost quoted in your application should exclude GST.
The grant is designed to target medium density residential developments with 3 to 55 units. This is because it is generally challenging to generate enough energy from a solar PV system on a larger apartment complex to make payback period economical and achieve economies of scale.
Therefore, the 3–55 residential lot range ensures the grant supports the majority of strata scheme residents without excessive installation expenses.
No. A building does not need to have renters to be eligible. There is no minimum requirement of rental properties.
Yes. Applications will be funded if they meet all the assessment criteria and funding is available.
Eligible buildings must be:
- a Class 2 residential apartment building, or
- a strata-managed Class 1a attached dwelling (for example, townhouse or row house) with shared rooftop that is common property.
Buildings must meet all eligibility requirements set out in the Solar for Apartment Residents grant guidelines (PDF, 601KB) or Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost grant guidelines (PDF, 605KB).
Yes. The building must be structurally suitable for the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
The owners corporation is responsible for ensuring the building, including the roof and relevant electrical infrastructure, can safely support the proposed system.
If building works are required to enable the solar installation, applicants may use the enabling works component of the grant (up to 10% of the total eligible project cost under Solar for Apartment Residents and up to 20% of the total eligible project cost under Solar for Apartment Residents – Boost) to address those works, provided they are directly related to supporting the solar installation and comply with the Solar for Apartment Residents grant guidelines (PDF, 601KB) or Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost grant guidelines (PDF, 605KB).
Applicants should clearly identify any building condition issues and proposed rectification works in their application to support assessment.
About the Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost grant
There is $5 million available for grants. Each grant can receive up to $200,000.
View the list of eligible suburbs.
Selected suburbs have a decile number of one to 4 on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage.
The selected suburbs have been identified as experiencing relatively greater disadvantage. The aim of the grant is to improve access to shared solar for communities that face greater barriers to installing rooftop solar.
Shared solar can help lower electricity bills for everyone in the building. This includes both renters and owner‑occupiers.
While renters don’t apply for or manage the solar project themselves, they can still benefit through reduced electricity bills.
The 80% grant funding is calculated:
- excluding GST and
- after STCs discounts have been applied.
Applicants must ensure their quotes clearly show:
- a detailed breakdown of costs
- total system cost
- STC deduction
- GST
- final net cost used to calculate the grant amount.
If your application is successful, grant payment will only include GST if you are registered for GST. Any GST associated with the STC must be remitted directly to the ATO.
For more information, please refer to the ATO’s guidance.
For your reference, a quote template is also available on our website to assist you in preparing your application.
Yes. Approved enabling works are included within the total project costs and fall within the grant’s maximum 80% funding contribution (as specified in the grant guidelines).
This means:
- the grant will fund up to 80% of total eligible project costs, including up to 20% of eligible enabling works
- the owners corporation must fund the remaining minimum 20% contribution.
For a complete list of eligible enabling works and funding limits, refer to Section 2.4 of the Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost grant guidelines (PDF, 605KB).
Yes. The owners corporation can choose how it funds its required co-contribution, including raising a special levy or obtaining finance (such as a strata loan), in accordance with the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 and the scheme’s by-laws.
However, any interest payments, loan establishment fees or other financing costs are not eligible for funding under the grant. The grant only contributes toward eligible capital costs of the solar photovoltaic (PV) system and associated approved works.
Applying
To be eligible to apply for this grant you must be either:
- a residential owners corporation responsible for the management of a strata scheme under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015
- a strata managing agent as outlined in the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, if authorised to do so by the owners corporation.
The grant has 2 stages for applicants:
- Stage 1 – submit an expression of interest to check eligibility
- Stage 2 – submit a full application based on quotes for installation of a suitable shared solar PV system. You will need to pass a sustainability infrastructure resolution at a strata meeting prior to submitting the application for stage 2.
You may wish to obtain independent advice from a solar consultant or a solar feasibility assessment to help the owners corporation and residents understand the benefits, including the payback period, of a shared solar PV system.
Your application will be assessed against the following criteria as a pass or fail:
- the payback period for the shared solar PV system is within 10 years, this is the time it takes for you to save as much money on your energy bill as you paid for the initial solar PV system
- a sustainability infrastructure resolution has been passed and it has been agreed that the costs and benefits of the solar PV system will be shared proportionately with all residents.
A numerical scoring system will be used to evaluate applications against the following criteria:
- demonstrated project effectiveness to deliver the grant’s objectives, including how the benefits of the system will be shared and distributed proportionately
- the project is value for money and a reasonable cost (compared to similar projects)
- the method proposed to undertake the work is sound
- capacity and capability of the applicant to undertake the proposed project.
A score of 5 out of 10 or greater is required against each criterion for the application to be funded.
Applications are open now and close at 5 pm 4 December 2026 or earlier if the funds are fully allocated. All projects must be completed, and acquittal reporting provided to the department, by 30 April 2027.
Yes. The grant is a co-funding model.
For Solar for Apartment Residents, the owners corporation must contribute 50% of the total eligible project cost and items that are ineligible for funding by this program.
For Solar for Apartment Residents – Boost, the owners corporation must contribute 20% of the total eligible project cost and items that are ineligible for funding by this program.
For Solar for Apartment Residents, grant funding will be paid in 3 instalments:
- 20% once the funding agreement has been signed by both parties and the solar installation contract has been executed between the owners corporation and the supplier
- 40% when 50% of the solar panels have been installed
- 40% when installation is completed, the system is operational, and final reporting has been provided.
For Solar for Apartment Residents – Boost, grant funding will be paid in 3 instalments:
- 40% once the funding agreement has been signed by both parties and the solar installation contract has been executed between the owners corporation and the supplier
- 40% when 50% of the solar system have been installed
- 20% when installation is completed, the system is operational, and final reporting has been provided.
Payment timing and milestones are also outlined in Schedule A of the funding deed and section 1.2 of the Solar for Apartment Residents grant guidelines (PDF, 601KB) or Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost grant guidelines (PDF, 605KB).
No.
For Solar for Apartment Residents, the grant will cover up to 50% of the eligible cost of purchasing and installing the shared solar PV system.
For Solar for Apartment Residents - Boost, the grant will cover up to 80% of the eligible cost of purchasing and installing the shared solar PV system.
The grants will not pay for replacement of an existing system or ongoing maintenance.
If you can’t complete the installation before 30 April 2027, let us know early so we can discuss your options. Email us at [email protected].
No. Applications must be submitted by the owners corporation or strata manager.
Yes. The solar installation must be approved through a sustainability infrastructure resolution.
Equity and benefits
By reducing the upfront cost for the installation of shared solar PV systems for strata schemes in selected suburbs, it enables lower electricity bills for residents, including renters.
The grant does not regulate rental arrangements. The policy intent is to improve energy affordability for residents through reduced electricity bills.
Systems must meet a 10-year payback requirement and allocate at least 60% of electricity to all residential lots, ensuring bill savings flow to all occupants.
Landlords may benefit through:
- increased property attractiveness and rental demand
- improved tenant retention and reduced vacancy rates
- enhanced building sustainability credentials
- support for environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments, including reducing emissions and improving building sustainability
- protection against future regulatory risks related to building performance.
Shared solar can strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the property within the rental market.
Getting help
For any enquiries about the grant, email us at [email protected].
Apply for the grants
Owners corporations can apply now for funding to install shared solar systems on your apartment building.