– NEW SOUTH WALES –
Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Boost Grant: Explained
Cut shared energy costs and secure renewable power for your residents with the NSW SoAR Boost Grant.
GET IN QUICK: APPLICATIONS CLOSE 4TH DECEMBER 2026
The NSW Government's SoAR Boost Grant is a targeted initiative to help eligible strata buildings install shared rooftop solar.
It provides substantial funding to lower the barrier for owners corporations, covering up to 80% of eligible project costs, capped at $200,000 (ex. GST).
SAE Group works with owners corporations and authorised strata managers from the first site assessment through to installation. We ensure your committee can apply with comparable quotes, a clear payback model, and a solar system expertly designed for your specific building.
How it Works:
The SoAR Boost grant simplifies the transition to renewable energy for multi-unit dwellings. The system generates power on the common roof and uses sharing technology to distribute the electricity fairly across individual lots.
SAE Group takes the guesswork out of the application process.
We assess your building, prepare the necessary quotes, and verify that the proposed system meets the grant’s strict criteria, including a simple payback period of 10 years or less. We then provide the technical documents and sample motions your strata manager needs to present a clear, compliant proposal to the committee.
The Benefits of the SoAR Boost Grant:
-
Cut Electricity Costs for All Residents
The grant is specifically designed to reduce power bills for everyone in the building, including renters and owner occupiers, by generating clean energy on the common roof and distributing it across the lots. -
Increase Property Value and Appeal
Adding shared renewable energy infrastructure to your building modernises the property, making the apartments more attractive to potential buyers and tenants looking for sustainable, eco living.
-
Fair and Equitable Energy Sharing
Shared solar is not a standard house job. By utilising specialised sharing technology, the solar generation is allocated fairly among residents, ensuring everyone benefits from the owners corporation investment. -
Long Term Reliability
By partnering with SAE Group, your building gets commercial grade componentry, including solar panels with a fully traceable supply chain, ensuring long term performance and peace of mind for strata.
What the Incentive Gives You & How Much You Can Save
SoAR Boost is a targeted NSW Government grant for shared solar on apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings in selected suburbs.
Key Funding Details:
- Up to 80% of eligible shared solar costs
- Maximum $200,000 per building (ex. GST)
- The Boost pool is limited to $5 million, and applications close 4 December 2026 at 5:00pm
- Projects must be completed by 30 April 2027
What the Grant Boost Covers:
Understanding exactly what the grant covers is critical before taking a motion to your committee.
Funding typically covers the following eligible items:
- Solar Panels
- Inverters
- Mounting Equipment
- Sharing Technology
- Installation Labour
- Essential Meter Board Upgrades, and the wiring required for the solar connection.
Funding does NOT cover:
- Batteries
- EV Chargers
- GST (unless the recipient is GST registered)
Interest on finance and the replacement of an existing solar system are generally outside the SoAR Boost scope. Note that a separate NSW apartment battery incentive may be available on its own terms.
We understand that committee resolutions are financially binding. It is critical to review the current grant guidelines before your owners corporation votes, ensuring all residents understand exactly what is covered before committing strata funds to the project.
Building Requirements:
- The building must be a completed residential strata scheme with 3 to 55 residential lots
- It must be located in selected NSW suburbs ranked SEIFA IRSAD deciles 1 to 4
- The building must have an active strata insurance policy and cannot have had a solar PV system installed in the last 10 years
Why Apartment Buildings Need a Specialist Installer
Shared solar systems must sit on common property, satisfy the committee, meet the grant’s strict payback test, and allocate electricity fairly.
SAE Group is a licensed electrical contractor with our own staff and engineers end to end. We are Gold Master Electricians and hold ISO 9001 and AS/NZS 4801 certifications. That combination matters when a committee is committing owners’ funds and a government grant to one roof.
How to Apply
We simplify the journey from your first enquiry to a complete Stage 2 application pack.
- Building Assessment
We review the roof area, orientation, shading, switchboards, and how many lots the system needs to serve. - Comparable Quotes
The grant requires two comparable quotes from Solar Accreditation Australia and NETCC accredited installers. We prepare a clear preferred option that the committee can confidently take to a meeting. - Payback and Sharing Model
Successful projects need a simple payback of 10 years or less and a resolution on how costs and benefits are shared. We help model this out. - Committee Paperwork
We provide a sample motion for your AGM or SGM and the technical documents your strata manager needs for SmartyGrants. - Installation and Commissioning
Once funding is approved, our team installs to the quoted design, provide a reliable warranty, and offer full support after handover.
Don’t miss out, funding applications close on
4th December 2026 at 5:00pm
Government grant pools are capped and operate on strict funding allocations. With a total funding pool of $5 million for the SoAR Boost program across eligible NSW suburbs, waiting could mean missing out if funds are fully allocated before the deadline.
Preparing a strata proposal also requires AGM or SGM voting lead time.
Initiating your site assessment and locking in your comparable quotes with SAE Group early ensures your committee has ample time to pass the necessary resolution, submit a complete Stage 2 application, and secure up to 80% funding well before the 4 December 2026 cut off.