New South Wales’ Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) grant initiative has been extended for a further three months and the first shared solar system funded under the program is up and running thanks to homegrown smart technology.
What is SoAR?
The program is a $25 million Federal and NSW Government initiative to fund the installation of shared rooftop solar arrays on eligible apartment buildings and other multi-family properties across the state. It covers up to 50% of the cost of eligible systems, with a maximum grant of $150,000 possible per project. SoAR is part of the Australian Government’s $100 million Community Solar Banks initiative.
While individual apartment residents cannot apply for SoAR, they can encourage their strata committee to do so.
Max from SolarQuotes took a look at SoAR earlier this year. For more information, visit the New South Wales Government website.
SoAR progress to date
Since launching in February 2025, the program has approved 33 applications, covering more than 1.1 MW of rooftop solar for over 534 homes. According to the New South Wales Government, energy bill savings for beneficiaries are estimated to be up to $600 per year for each apartment.
Program extension announced
Previously, the application deadline was December 1, 2025 or when the funding was exhausted. However, it was recently announced that the program had been extended until March 2026 “to give people more time to apply.”
In terms of results, SoAR hasn’t exactly been a resounding success. Even if each of the 33 approved applications received the maximum funding of $150,000 each; that is equivalent to $4.95 million; So there is still a lot of money in the pot.
However, hundreds of grant applications have reportedly already been submitted. Based on current application rates, it is assumed that funds will be fully exhausted by the end of the extended deadline.
Switch flipped on first project, uses Australian technology
Residents of an apartment complex (pictured above) in the Sydney suburb of Newtown have the honor of hosting the first operational rooftop solar array funded by SoAR.
The apartment building with 22 residential units was connected via SolShare; Solar sharing technology designed, developed and manufactured in Australia by Melbourne-based Allume Energy.
“With our SolShare technology, both owners and tenants can now reap the benefits of solar energy – proving that any building can make it possible,” the company said.
SolShare was the world’s first behind-the-meter solar sharing system. It enables optimal sharing of a single rooftop solar array by separately grid-connected and separately metered units within that building. Ronald from SolarQuotes became intensively involved with SolShare a few years ago and Allume’s technology has continued to develop since then.
Allume Energy has expanded its wings beyond our borders and SolShare is now available in four additional countries.
Solar Challenges for Homes
When announcing the launch of the SoAR program earlier this year, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s office said in a joint press release that one in five homes in New South Wales were apartments, but only about 3.5 per cent of those were connected to solar panels.
The three main reasons why installing solar power systems in apartment buildings is difficult are the following problems:
- Shared attic space and property
- Layers and legal hurdles
- Measurement and energy distribution
Although installing solar panels in an apartment building has its challenges, the benefits are well worth the effort when done correctly. The SolarQuotes guide, “Solar for Homes: Unit and Layer Options,” delves deeper into the issues and solutions (e.g. SolShare).
In this regard, an additional 5,000 rebates were recently made available to eligible residents of apartments, condominiums and townhouses for the installation of solar power systems under the third round of Victoria’s Solar for Apartments program. More than 3,200 households have installed solar panels under the Victorian program since it launched in February 2024. Applications for Round 3 are open until Thursday, April 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
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