Solar – exciting news for residential strata plans

Solar grant opportunity for residential strata plans

Exciting news for residential strata properties! If your property meets the criteria outlined below, contact your strata manager for more details.

The Commonwealth and NSW State Governments have jointly launched the Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) grant scheme (read more here). This initiative opens the door to affordable, sustainable energy solutions for apartment residents across NSW, with expression of interest applications starting at the end of February.

A press release from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other officials titled “$25 million to power-up apartment solar and bring down power bills” highlights this game-changing effort.

Grant details:

The SoAR grant covers up to 50% of the cost of a shared rooftop solar system—one system shared by all residents—helping residential strata plans take a significant step toward energy savings and sustainability.

While the scheme is slated to remain open until 1st December 2025, experience with similar grants (like the VIC Solar Scheme) suggests funding may be allocated quickly—possibly within 4-6 weeks. Don’t miss out! Registration is quick and easy, taking less than five minutes with the online application form: Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Application.

Eligibility criteria:

To determine which properties in your portfolio qualify, keep these key requirements in mind:

• Residential strata plans with 3–55 lots.
• No existing solar systems installed.
• Costs shared by all owners.
• Inclusion of essential upgrades, such as meter board improvements and waterproofing under the solar system
• Payment required upfront—no solar financing available

Note: Only 50% of the ballot is needed to pass a special resolution for solar projects in NSW. Funds for half the system cost must be accessible via the sinking fund or raised levies.

Estimated costs after grant funding:

Here are the projected out-of-pocket costs and payback periods for strata properties based on apartment numbers:

• 3-15 apartments = $30k spend with a 1.9-year payback period
• 16-30 apartments = $55k spend with a 1.8-year payback period
• 31-45 apartments – $75k spend with a 1.7-year payback period
• 46-55 apartments – $90k spend with a 1.9-year payback period

Don’t wait—take advantage of this exciting opportunity for greener, cost-effective energy solutions today!

If this criteria applies to you, please reach out to your strata manager for further details.