Victoria’s solar-powered apartment plan is now taking applications

Under the program, approved applicants will receive rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment – double the $1,400 solar homes rebates available to freestanding homes – or $140,000 per building of up to eight storeys that comprises between five and 50 apartments.

Called Solar for Apartments, the program is being delivered by Solar Victoria, and forms part of the federal government’s overarching “community solar banks” initiative.

The joint partnership between the Victorian and federal government will each fund an equal contribution of $8.05 million to the program, securing around 5,000 apartments with rooftop solar.

An initiative to address the challenges that owners corporations face in installing solar, the program offers successful applicants the choice of installing multiple individual solar PV systems, a single large solar PV system joined with solar sharing technology, or a combination of both.

Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D‘Ambrosio, stated that the Victorian state government has worked with organisations across local government, property and technology sectors, as well as residents to deliver a program that meets the renewable energy needs of apartment households.

“This is all about making it easier for Victorians that live in apartments to install solar,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

The Commonwealth Minister for Energy, Chris Bowen, noted that in the past it’s been difficult for apartment residents to access the benefits of cleaner, cheaper solar.

“We want to make it cheaper and easier for apartment residents to install solar on their rooftop so they too can take advantage of cleaner, cheaper solar to provide cost-of-living relief.

“This program will help overcome those barriers”, Mr Bowen said.

Of the 2.5 million households in Victoria, 12 per cent live in apartments, with around 63 per cent of these occupied by renters.

Labor member for Northern Metropolitan region, Sheena Watt, noted that more Victorians are choosing to live in apartments, and programs like this would hopefully allow them to “reap the benefits of renewables, saving them money on their bills and helping to tackle climate change at the same time”.

According to Ms D’Ambrosio, apartment dwellers are likely to save around $500 per year on their power bills once rooftop solar is installed.