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The complete guide to solar for apartments

info@allumeenergy.com (Allume) — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:18:03 GMT

Six steps to shared solar

“If you can have solar, then you should. For (my) apartment, the consumption has gone down by about 60%, which is huge.”

- Nathan Hage, Zinc Building resident.

Over 4 million Australian households¹ and small businesses are now taking advantage of rooftop solar. Ask those homeowners, and they’ll tell you the same thing as Nathan: your energy bills could drop by up to 60%².

They might also tell you about the green benefit of reducing your CO2 emissions. A typical apartment using rooftop solar saves 1 - 2 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, which means you’re doing the same job as a small forest of 50 - 100 trees.

Or they might also speak of how solar increased the value of their apartment. Asset values of apartments with solar increase by anywhere from 2.7³ - 12%⁴.

And yet, with all the benefits of rooftop solar and with installations booming around Australia, apartment residents often assume that solar is not available to them. Despite having roof space sitting idle, solar for apartments was always considered too hard-basket; there’s the issue of shared roofspace ownership, it can be technically complicated to install, practically complicated due to the involvement of multiple decision-makers and it’s expensive.

This guide is here to dispel those misconceptions and to provide you with a road map that covers the full picture of shared solar for apartments through the six steps to shared solar:

Step 1 - Start the conversation: Building momentum with your neighbours
Step 2 - Obtain a solar sharing feasibility assessment: Find out how shared solar stacks up financially and physically
Step 3 - Time to talk with the owners’ corporation: the OC facilitates the decision on shared solar
Step 4 - Get quotes from installers: Guidance on how to find installers and what a good quote typically includes.
Step 5 - Decide how to finance the project: Investigate financing options
Step 6 - The vote: Steps to ensuring the vote will pass, and what happens next

The six steps will cover the technology and the process: every step from the first conversation you have with your neighbours to having the live system on your roof, quietly generating clean, low-cost energy.

Solar sharing is not only possible, but it is more achievable than you think.

Great British Energy recognises pioneering Cardiff solar project

info@allumeenergy.com (Allume) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:38:07 GMT

First NSW apartments switch on solar under new government program

9 News — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 01:44:44 GMT

Apartment residents in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney in New South Wales, have pioneered the first rooftop solar installation funded by the NSW Solar for Apartment Residents grant program.

As announced by 9News, this 22-unit apartment building in Newtown is now connected to rooftop solar via our solar-sharing technology. This is the first owners' committee to leverage the 50% government grant funding program.

via 9 News Australia

How to get your strata to vote for solar (state-by-state guide)

info@allumeenergy.com (Allume) — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:04:34 GMT

Getting to a ‘yes’ vote on shared solar for your apartment building may well be easier than you think.

Because the rooftop and common property are shared, your building needs formal approval before any installation can begin. This usually means calling a meeting and holding a vote.

But, whilst installing shared solar in your apartment building is a decision that should involve all owners, not all members of the owner’s committee need to vote in favour.

So, how many owners do you need on board? It depends on what state you’re in…

While the process is similar across Australia, each state and territory has slightly different rules. Below, we’ll walk you through why a vote is needed, what decisions are typically made, and the steps to follow depending on where you live.

Why a vote is needed
Strata terminology cheat sheet
State-by-state processes
Frequently asked questions
Your path to shared solar

How to pay for shared solar in your apartment building

info@allumeenergy.com (Allume) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:39:07 GMT

Four ways apartment residents are funding their SolShare systems

If you're thinking about getting solar for your apartment building, you’ve probably seen the benefits – lower energy bills, a more sustainable building, and better resale or rental appeal.

But one big question still needs to be answered:

How are we going to pay for it?

You’re not the first to ask. Across Australia, apartment owners are successfully installing shared solar by choosing one of a few common funding options. Some use a mix.

Here’s a breakdown of the four most popular approaches, so you can figure out what might work best for your building.

Everyone chips in, aka a special levy
Use your building’s sinking fund
Apply for a government grant
Get strata finance