Solar and batteries for NSW apartment buildings: the grants, and the deadline
Most solar advice assumes you own a house and its roof. In much of Sydney, most people do not. New South Wales now has two programs written for apartment buildings, and one of them has a deadline.
Shared solar: the Solar for Apartment Residents grants
The NSW Government's Solar for Apartment Residents grants co-fund shared solar on apartment buildings. The owners corporation applies, or someone it authorises: a strata managing agent, a building manager, a consultant or a nominated resident[1].
Applications close at 5pm on 4 December 2026, or earlier if the money runs out[1]. If your building has been talking about solar, that is the date to put to the next strata meeting.
Batteries: the apartment building incentive
Since 1 September 2026, NSW has offered an upfront discount on a new battery for apartment buildings with four or more units. It is indicatively 30 to 40 per cent when the battery goes in with new or additional solar, and 20 to 30 per cent for a battery alone[2].
The battery must be 20 to 200kWh of usable capacity, on the approved list, installed outdoors by an accredited installer. The owners corporation has to pass a sustainability infrastructure resolution approving the installer option, which needs 50 per cent or more of those present to vote for it. Renters need their landlord's agreement[2].
Common areas or individual apartments?
The first design decision for any building is who the system serves. A system on the common areas, the lifts, lights, pumps and car park, is the simplest: one meter, one bill, one saving shared through the levies. Sharing solar out to individual apartments reaches more residents directly, but needs more metering work and a fair way to split the power.
Neither is wrong. A building that does the common areas first can still do more later.
Getting it through the strata meeting
Bring a quote that says what the system serves, what it costs after the grant or discount, and what it saves the building. Bring the deadline. And bring the resolution wording the battery incentive needs, so the vote can happen at one meeting rather than three.
Get your own numbers
Two minutes of questions gets you your system size, what it should cost after rebates, and what it saves, built on your roof and your usage. No installer sees anything unless you ask.
Run my numbers, freeArea guides
Common questions
Who applies for the NSW apartment solar grant?
The owners corporation, or someone it authorises, such as a strata managing agent, a building manager, a consultant or a nominated resident.
When do the Solar for Apartment Residents grants close?
5pm on 4 December 2026, or earlier if the funds are fully allocated.
How much is the NSW apartment battery discount?
Indicatively 30 to 40 per cent with new or additional solar, and 20 to 30 per cent for a battery alone, for buildings with four or more units. The final discount depends on the installer, the battery and the building.
Sources
- NSW Government, Energy, Solar for Apartment Residents grants. Read 2026-10-26.
- NSW Government, Energy, Batteries for apartment buildings incentive. Read 2026-10-26.