For years, apartment dwellers have watched homeowners cash in on rooftop solar while their own roofs sat empty. Shared ownership, tricky wiring, and strata red tape often put solar in the “too hard” basket. Now, the NSW Government’s Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Grant Program aims to change that.
This initiative is designed to make shared rooftop solar possible — and affordable — for apartment residents across New South Wales. All program details and requirements are available on the official site: nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/solar-for-apartment-residents-soar-grant-program.
What the Program Offers
The SoAR grant supports the installation of shared rooftop solar systems on eligible apartment buildings.
- Funding available: Up to $150,000 per project on a 50/50 co-funding basis with the owners corporation.
- Total pool: $25 million available statewide.
- Applications close: 5:00 pm, 30 March 2026.
- Project completion deadline: 30 October 2026.
The aim is simple — help medium-density strata buildings (between 3 and 55 lots) install shared solar systems so residents can save on electricity bills and reduce emissions.
Who Can Apply
According to the NSW Government’s program guidelines, applications can be made by:
- The owners corporation of an eligible apartment building, or
- An authorised strata managing agent acting on behalf of the owners corporation.
Buildings must be located in NSW and have between 3 and 55 lots, excluding common property lots.
What Funding Can Cover
The SoAR grant can help pay for the main components and installation costs of a shared solar system, such as:
- Solar panels, inverters, and mounting equipment
- Solar sharing technology
- Installation labour and safety equipment
- Meter board or wiring upgrades required to connect the system
- Roof waterproofing directly related to the solar installation
However, the majority of project costs must go towards the solar system itself. The program guidelines note that “enabling works” (such as switchboard or wiring upgrades) are capped at 10% of the total project cost.
What’s Not Funded
The NSW Government makes it clear that SoAR will not fund:
- Power purchase agreements (PPAs) or leasing arrangements
- Systems that only supply common area power
- Systems installed on apartments that already have solar (within the past 10 years)
- Battery storage or EV chargers (these are outside the SoAR scope)
- Maintenance or replacement works unrelated to the new solar system
How the Grant Works
Under the SoAR guidelines:
- The grant provides up to 50% of eligible project costs, based on the post-STC (Small-scale Technology Certificates) price.
- Quotes should exclude GST.
- Payments are made in three stages:
- 20% on signing the funding deed
- 40% midway through installation
- 40% on completion and final reporting
The owners corporation must fund the remaining 50%. Financing options are up to each strata but interest or financing costs are not covered by the grant.
Application and Assessment Process
The process is a two-stage application:
- Expression of Interest (EOI): confirms eligibility.
- Full Application: includes quotes and a copy of a sustainability infrastructure resolution showing how costs and benefits will be shared fairly among residents.
Applications are assessed against merit criteria such as project value, feasibility, and delivery capability.
To qualify, projects must:
- Have a payback period of 10 years or less, and
- Include a resolution confirming proportional sharing of solar benefits and costs.
Final decisions are made by the Director, Energy Programs, within the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Deadlines at a Glance
- Applications close: 30 March 2026 (5:00 pm AEDT)
- Funding agreements signed by: 1 June 2026
- Projects completed by: 30 October 2026
Applicants should check the official NSW Government page for any updates or changes to these timeframes.
Where to Find the Official Information
All program details, eligibility rules, and application steps are clearly set out by the NSW Government here:
👉 https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/solar-for-apartment-residents-soar-grant-program
That’s the definitive source of information, including full eligibility criteria, technical requirements, and supporting documents.
A Note from the Author
This article simply summarises key information from the NSW Government’s official SoAR guidelines and publicly available documents. If you’re part of a strata committee or residents’ group considering applying, always rely on the official program documents and website for the latest, authoritative advice.
Article info sourced from: nsw.gov.au - Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Grant Program
