On Friday 28th February 2025, the prime minister launched the NSW solar for apartment residents rebate. $25m to be allocated as 50% co-funding to residential strata buildings in NSW which install solar systems which feed solar power into individual apartments and reduce the cost of living. Channel 9 coverage is here.
It applies to strata schemes with between 3 lots and 55 lots for either:
1) Bulk install of individual solar systems for every apartment paid for by the Owners Corporation e.g. Townhouse/Villa
2) Install of Solar Sharing Gateways and splitters e.g. Allume Energy Solshare
3) Install of Solar Systems connected to the gate/parent meter of embedded networks, where the embedded network provider can allocate solar power savings to the individual residents through their billing system
Batteries are not included in the rebate but on 1st November 2024 the NSW government announced a separate rebate for batteries and strata schemes can apply for both rebates at the same time.
Wattblock has prepared a 10 minute explainer video on the Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate which can be found here.
Wattblock has also prepared article on the Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate which can be found here.
A strata manager or an Owner can register their building but will need to upload the last annual financial statement for the strata scheme and the strata insurance policy document (with evidence of public liability insurance coverage). The NSW government registration page is now open for Expressions of Interest here.
Additional Resources which may be of interest:
- We have setup a separate sub-group in the Electrify Strata Whatsapp group to discuss the rebate here
- 40 videos on solar for strata are here
- Solar Readiness for Strata online training course is here.
- Examples of Wattblock customers in NSW which have installed Solar Sharing systems are here
- A map of residential apartment buildings with solar sharing installed is here
- A list of all government rebates and incentives available to NSW strata schemes (including the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme for batteries at 5A)) is here
Wattblock has assisted strata buildings with solar feasibility studies, solar tenders and surveys of owners to gauge interest in solar sharing.
The grant guidelines from the NSW government can be arranged by contacting Brent’s team. It is expected that the grant will close at about 500 registrations. Over 50 strata buildings have already registered.
Brent Clark
Wattblock
address: Level 1, Michael Crouch Innovation Centre, Gate 2 High St UNSW 2052
mobile: +61 (0)414 900 515
web: https://www.wattblock.com/