VIC Solar For Apartments Rebates: Round 3 Kicks Off

Another 5,000 rebates are available for eligible apartment, unit and townhouse residents to install solar power systems under the third round of Victoria’s $32 million Solar for Apartments program.

How Much Are The Rebates?

Rebates of up to $2,800 per household, or up to $140,000 per building, will be provided to Victorian Owners Corporations (OCs) with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 50 occupiable lots. As with most ‘rebate’ programs associated with solar, this is actually an up-front discount. The rebates are paid directly to the retailer and deducted from the final invoice, with owners corporations paying any outstanding balance to the retailer.

Solar For Apartments Eligibility

Among the criteria eligibility:

• The building can be no more than 8 storeys from ground level, although some exemptions may apply.
• The site must have a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 50 occupiable lots, but again, some exemptions may apply regarding the upper limit.
• Can’t be a retirement village, commercial building or owned by a local council, property developer or community housing organisation.
• Solar systems must demonstrate a payback period within 10 years.
• Equitable sharing of the cost saving benefits among participating residents.
• Systems must be installed on sections of the roof that are common property.
• Systems must directly supply power to residential lots behind the meter.

More information on rebate, building and system eligibility, and the process for applying can be found here. Round 3 applications are open until 5pm Thursday 30 April 2026.

How Many Rebates Have Been Approved So Far?

The total number under rounds one and two isn’t clear. But according to the Victorian Government, more than 3,200 households have installed solar panels under the program since its launch in February last year.

While a state program overseen by Solar Victoria, funds have been provided through the Albanese Government’s Community Solar Banks initiative, which is a national scheme. The Victorian program originally kicked off in 2024 with $16 million in funding that was subsequently doubled.

“Whether you’re in a house or an apartment, everyone should be able to take advantage of our abundant cleaner, cheaper solar energy to bust bills for good,” said Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. “We’re making it easier for Victorians who live in apartments to reap the benefits of our abundant sun – powering more homes with renewables and driving down prices for everyone.”

Approximately 12 per cent of Victoria’s 2.5 million households live in apartments, and around 65 per cent of these households are renters. The Victorian Government says approximately half of the current uptake has been associated with apartments that are rented.

While uptake has been across metropolitan Melbourne, the highest number of approved applications so far have been within the Merri-bek (formerly City of Moreland), Port Phillip, Yarra and Darebin local government areas.

Solar Victoria says:

“By adopting solar, an average household in a multi-unit development can save up to $500 a year on their energy bills.”

The Australian Solar Apartments Opportunity

A 2019 report from the Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets (CEEM), UNSW Sydney and Energy Consumers Australia stated there was potential for an estimated 2.9-4.0 GW of solar PV on the roofs of Australian apartment buildings. The high-end potential would likely be more now given ongoing improvements in solar panel efficiency; meaning more power can be generated from a smaller footprint.

The Challenges Of Solar For Strata

Installing solar panels is a no-brainer for most owners of stand-alone homes and usually a comparatively straightforward process. But when it comes to strata properties, issues such as shared rooftops, multiple electricity meters, and owners corporation/body corporate rules make things more complicated. And getting everyone involved on the same page can be like trying to herd cats.

SolarQuotes’ comprehensive Solar for strata guide covers options for shared solar (such as local company Allume Energy’s Solshare solution), the incentives available across Australia, and how to get a body corporate on board.