Preparing for Round Two: Solar Grants for Apartments in Victoria

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data from the 2021 Census, 12.1% of Victorians reside in apartments, a little increase from 11.6% in 2016. About 65% of these apartment residents are renters, a demographic that has historically had difficulty taking use of solar power’s advantages. In September of last year, the Victorian Government introduced a grant program targeted at owners’ companies (OCs) in response to this, in partnership with the Albanese Government’s Community Solar Banks project.

Whether an apartment is owner-occupied or rented, eligible OCs can get up to $2,800 per unit or up to $140,000 for buildings with up to 50 units. The suggested technologies’ ability to provide a payback period of less than 10 years is one of the main requirements. Projects might involve separate solar systems for every apartment or a bigger joint system using solar sharing technology, such the locally manufactured SolShare.

With 438 submissions spanning over 5,000 units and a total capacity of 12 megawatts, the $16 million Solar for Apartments program attracted a lot of attention in its first round. The program’s influence is clear, even though the precise number of accepted applications is unknown. For example, a Northcote apartment complex, where the percentage of apartments is strikingly high at 22.8%, was granted $39,200 to put solar panels on 14 apartments. Lily D’Ambrosio, the Minister of Energy and Resources, emphasised how well the initiative has worked to assist locals in controlling their energy expenses and reaping the benefits of renewable energy.

Applications for Round Two are anticipated to start this month, with Round One ending at the end of May. Prospective candidates are encouraged by Solar Victoria to start their research and conversations with their OCs as soon as possible. Although there will be changes from the initial batch of applications, details are still pending.

In addition to the Solar for Apartments program, the Solar for Rentals initiative provides qualified landlords with a $1,400 maximum reimbursement for solar panel installations on rental homes. There are still 1,917 rebates available as of right now.

Residents of Victorian apartments will have another chance to take advantage of solar energy with the impending second batch of incentives. The assistance from these programs is a big step towards lowering energy prices, increasing access to renewable energy for more people, and advancing sustainability throughout the state, regardless of whether they are renters or owners.