Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Grant Program

The Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) grant program provides funding to support the installation of solar panels on eligible apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings in NSW.

Program objective

SoAR supports NSW residents living in apartments or other multi-unit dwellings to install a shared rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, with the aim of giving these households access to the benefits of solar energy.

Providing funding for the transition of apartment buildings or other multi-unit dwellings to solar energy will assist NSW households, including renters, to reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

This initiative will benefit owners and residents through lower upfront costs for the installation of a solar PV system and ongoing cost savings from locally generated solar energy. It will also increase the uptake of solar systems across the state by reaching households previously locked out of installing solar.

This program is administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Program objective

SoAR supports NSW residents living in apartments or other multi-unit dwellings to install a shared rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, with the aim of giving these households access to the benefits of solar energy.

Providing funding for the transition of apartment buildings or other multi-unit dwellings to solar energy will assist NSW households, including renters, to reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.

This initiative will benefit owners and residents through lower upfront costs for the installation of a solar PV system and ongoing cost savings from locally generated solar energy. It will also increase the uptake of solar systems across the state by reaching households previously locked out of installing solar.

This program is administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Eligibility

 Who can apply

As defined under the program guidelines, an eligible applicant must be either:

• a NSW 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 application can be made by a nominated resident, on behalf of the owners corporation, if they are authorised to do so.

 Who the grant is targeted towards

NSW residential owners corporations managing an eligible building.

 Types of projects funded under this grant

The grant funds the installation of a shared rooftop solar system on an eligible multi-unit dwelling, by an eligible applicant, within NSW.

 When the project can start and end

The project should be started as soon as possible after the Funding Deed is signed by both parties, and the project must be completed by 31 March 2026.

All funded projects must be complete and all required documentation provided to the Department prior to 31 March 2026, which includes:

• the installation of the shared rooftop solar PV system is complete and the system is operational
• all payments and required reporting has been completed.

The project should be started by 28 February 2025 and the project must be completed by 31 March 2026.

 Outcomes for projects funded under this grant

This project is expected to deliver the following:

• NSW residents of eligible multi-unit dwellings gain access to a shared rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, with the aim of giving these households access to the benefits of solar energy.
• Providing funding for the transition of apartment buildings or other multi-unit dwellings to solar energy will assist NSW households, including renters, to reduce their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
• It will also increase the uptake of solar systems across the state by reaching households previously locked out of installing solar.

 What costs you can apply for

The list below outlines what products and services are covered under this initiative:

• solar panels
• solar inverters
• solar mounting
• solar sharing technology
• labour for solar installation
• safety equipment
• essential
• roof waterproofing only where required due to the solar installation.

The majority of the funding must be used on the solar PV system purchase and installations itself, although enabling works to support the installation (for example, meter board upgrade, wiring upgrades or roof waterproofing) will be considered for funding. Expenditure on these enabling works must not exceed 10% of the total project cost. The Department has the right to exclude any expenditure above the threshold for enabling works.

 Who can’t apply

As defined under the program guidelines, the following applicants are not eligible for this grant program:

• individual property owners
• government agencies
• private sector businesses and agencies
• educational institutions
• local government authorities
• not for profit organisations
• social housing tenants
• community housing providers.

 What costs you can't apply for

The solar PV system will not be eligible for funding if it:

• is installed through a third-party power purchase agreement
• only provides energy to common areas of the property
• connects to apartments with existing solar PV systems that were installed in the last 10 years
• is for maintenance or replacement of existing solar PV systems.

Associated work that cannot be undertaken using this funding includes:

• waterproofing of the entire roof area
• rewiring of a whole building
• solar batteries (you can seek funding through other NSW Government incentives)
• EV charging (you can seek funding through other NSW Government incentives).

 Types of projects not funded under this grant

Any project that does not meet eligibility requirements as outlined within the grant guidelines.

 Example projects

A NSW residential owners corporation installing a shared rooftop solar system on an eligible building for the benefit of all residents.

 What co-contributions are required

This grant program is co-funded. This means up to 50% of eligible products and installation costs will be covered by grant funding, with the remaining amount being a co-contribution from the owners corporation.