Latest News

Short answer: apartment buildings and townhouse complexes in Melbourne can install a shared solar system on common property, with the owners corporation making the decision. Solar Victoria’s Solar for Apartments program offers rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment, capped at $140,000 per property, for eligible owners corporations. The program is listed as open until 30 June 2027, or earlier if funding runs out.

How shared solar works

A shared system sits on common-property roof space and supplies electricity to individual lots and, in some cases, common areas such as lighting and lifts. Generation is split between lots using metering and inverter arrangements designed for the building. Each design is specific to the site, so an assessment of the roof, switchboards and metering comes first.

The Solar for Apartments rebate

According to Solar Victoria (page last updated 15 September 2026):

• Rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment and up to $140,000 per property.
• The rebate is applied by the retailer as a discount on the invoice, calculated on the system cost after STCs and other incentives.
• The owners corporation must be tier three or four (3 to 50 occupiable lots) and must not have received the funding before.
• The building must be a completed Class 2 apartment building or horizontally attached Class 1a townhouses or row units, generally no more than 8 storeys, with no solar installed in the last ten years.
• The system must supply 5 to 50 residential lots, with common-area use capped at 20% of output.
• Products must be on Solar Victoria’s eligible list, the installer must be a Solar Victoria authorised retailer, and the distributor must pre-approve the grid connection.
• Buildings on an embedded network, retirement villages and commercial buildings are not eligible.

Solar Victoria has also said that changes announced in September 2026 will remove the property value cap and expand eligibility for larger buildings. Check the official page for the latest rules before you apply.

Steps for an owners corporation

1. Check eligibility using Solar Victoria’s online check. A strata manager, owner or renter can do this.
2. Talk to residents. Explain how costs and benefits will be shared and which lots will be connected.
3. Get quotes. Solar Victoria recommends at least three from authorised retailers.
4. Apply. The owners corporation nominates an authorised representative and provides the plan of subdivision and lot details.
5. Approve the quote within 70 days using the Owners Corporation Approval Form signed by two representatives.
6. Install within 120 days of rebate approval. The retailer then claims the rebate and the owners corporation pays the balance.

Practical questions to settle early

• Is there enough unshaded common roof space?
• Do switchboards and metering need upgrades?
• How will lots that join and lots that do not be treated fairly?
• Who is responsible for maintenance and monitoring?
• What do the owners corporation rules require for approval?

Separate townhouses

If each townhouse has its own roof and meter, owners may be able to install individual systems instead, subject to owners corporation rules. Individual owners may then look at Solar Victoria’s standard solar panel rebate, which has its own eligibility criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Can renters benefit?

Yes. Rented lots can be supplied by the shared system; the application asks how many lots are rented and owner-occupied.

Do STCs still apply?

Yes, for eligible systems. The Solar for Apartments rebate is calculated after STCs are deducted.

Can a battery be included?

Battery eligibility for this rebate is not covered in this summary. Ask the retailer and check Solar Victoria’s current guidelines.

Talk to us about your building

Cosmic Solar designs and installs residential solar and handles solar panel installation across Melbourne. For larger shared or mixed-use sites, see our commercial solar page, or contact us to discuss a site assessment. Ask us whether we can participate as an authorised retailer for your application.

Sources

• Solar Victoria – Solar for Apartments (last updated 15 Sep 2026; checked 29 Oct 2026)
• Solar Victoria – Solar Homes Program settings (checked 29 Oct 2026)

General information only. Program rules can change; confirm eligibility with Solar Victoria before applying.