The SolShare is the world’s first solution to connect rooftop solar directly to apartments within the same building. Finally, there’s an opportunity for apartment owners to enjoy the numerous benefits of solar power, including: reduced electricity bills, energy independence, and lower carbon footprint.
Solar for Apartment Owners
The SolShare monitors when an apartment is using energy and will direct solar power to it to reduce electricity bills as much as possible. This optimisation can increase the amount of solar you use by up to 50%, meaning less reliance on expensive grid power and higher savings.
How it works
The SolShare is a distribution box that can direct solar energy to multiple apartments behind-the-meter simultaneously. It optimises the solar delivery based on who needs the energy at any point in time, while also ensuring that every apartment receives the same amount of solar over the course of each month.
Benefits for you
Reduced Electricity Bills
The SolShare can reduce
electricity bills by up to 40%
– and even more with batteries
Optimised System
Every apartment receives the
same amount of solar but it’s
automatically delivered when it’s
going to save the most money.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
Whenever you’re using solar, less
carbon emissions are being
pumped into the atmosphere
Increased Property Value
Installing solar on your home is
proven to increase its value
Flexibility
Not every apartment has to sign up
How do I get a SolShare System?
There are 2 different methods of buying the system and getting a SolShare system installed on your building.
Community-owned shared solar
You and your neighbours buy into the SolShare system together and enjoy free solar energy whenever you use it, saving up to 40% on your energy bills.
The SolShare will ensure that the same amount of solar is delivered to each apartment over the course of each month but it will deliver the solar when you need it, saving up to 50% more than if you had an individual system.
As a guide price, the system will likely cost between €1,000 – €2,000 per apartment. If you’re interested in this option, one of the most important steps is to speak with your neighbours about the solution, let them know the rough cost and understand the level of interest as early as possible.
The system is owned by the owners corporation.
Benefits:
• Some or all of the owners can buy into the system, bypassing the naysayers
• The common light and power can also be connected, to save there too
• Optimised and even solar delivery – saving you the most amount of money
Solar + Grid energy package – no upfront cost
Your Owners Corporation signs up the supply of common light and power to one of our energy retailer partners. The energy retailer partner will then install a SolShare solar system at no upfront cost.
Any resident that signs up to the retailer will not only get solar without having to pay for the hardware, but will experience the convenience of having one bill for grid electricity and solar.
The system is owned and maintained by a specialise energy retailer.
Benefits:
• No upfront cost to the residents
• Opt-in basis
• No long-term contracts for the residents
• Cheaper electricity bills and lower your carbon footprint
How to get a SolShare system through Capex
Case studies
Chatham, Kent – New Build
The client approached us with the challenge of reaching EPC B for every flat in their development. They had exhausted all reasonable measures when they discovered the SolShare.
With the SolShare they were able to specify the precise kWp associated to each flat. This fidelity enabled them
to add exactly the right number of SAP points to each flat to achieve the goal of EPC Bs throughout the building.
The client was extremely happy to be able to achieve the EPC B in a simple, low cost method.
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Cardiff, Wales – Wales & West Housing
The client’s brief was to connect all 24 flats to rooftop solar PV and battery storage. The initial proposal was to connect an individual solar system with individual batteries to each flat. The space requirements for 24 inverters and 24 batteries left the attic as the only place to house the equipment. This was deemed inappropriate by the client and the project ground to a halt.
Upon discovering the SolShare, the solution was able to be dramatically simplified to two inverters, two SolShares connected to 12 flats each. The reduction in hardware enabled the equipment to be installed next to the meter room on the ground floor, green lighting the project. The simplification also reduced the project costs by 25%.
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Whetstone, London – New Build
The client’s objective was to develop a building of net-zero flats. To achieve this, solar had to be connected to each flat and funnel any excess energy produced to a heat battery contained within each flat. Space constraints meant that installing 20 individual inverters for each flat was not an option.
The developer learnt about the SolShare and was delighted to learn that just two inverters and two SolShares were needed to connect all 20 flats to solar. All the equipment was easily housed inside a small plant room on the ground floor.
The SolShare solution increased the SAP scores and achieved certified net-zero status for every flat in the building.
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Norwood, London – Retrofit
The client wanted to provide solar energy to each of the 6 flats in the building. However, the limited roof space made multiple individual systems infeasible.
The SolShare provided a solution to connect all 6 flats to solar PV while still providing a decent bill saving for each resident.
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Ashfield, New South Wales
The strata corporation of this classic red brick apartment building in Sydney’s inner west retrofitted rooftop solar to reduce the electricity bills for all residents and the common light and power.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, any separately metered connection can be added to a SolShare system, including the Landlord supply.
The SolShare comes with an industry standard 10-year warranty.
This is a tricky one… They can sometimes. It all depends on if there are any spare connections left. The best solution is for everyone who’s interested to join the system at the beginning.
The SolShare delivers solar under a ‘fair-share’ algorithm. The SolShare monitors how much energy each apartment is using (energy demand) and sends solar to where it’s needed, maximising the savings for everyone in the building. However, to make sure that everything’s fair, the SolShare logs how much solar’s been delivered to each unit and if it identifies that a unit has received more than the others it will start to reduce the amount of solar that it sends to that unit until the others have caught up.
Yes, batteries can be included in the system. Even better, because the SolShare is a shared system, your batteries will also be shared. This means that rather than needing to buy an expensive battery for every connected unit, you simply by a communal battery that everyone uses when they need it. This greatly increases their value for money.
Every SolShare installation is unique. Once we have gained the relevant information from you, we will introduce you to one of our certified SolShare installation partners. They will be able to talk you through what is most suitable for your building.
Typically, the SolShare is suitable for apartment buildings that have more than 6 apartments. Send us an enquiry and we will be happy to see if our technology is suitable for your apartment building.
If your electricity meters are all located in one location on common property, then yes you can. If your electricity meter is located within your townhouse then, unfortunately, you can’t use a SolShare system. All is not lost though because with a meter inside your building, you should be able to install your own private solar system.
The main switchboard is the place in your building where the energy from the grid is divided up and sent to your apartments. It’s typically located in the same place or very close to your electricity meters and is usually labelled.
As with all solar installations, every connected unit must have a smart electricity meter. If the apartments don’t have smart meters, don’t worry. Our certified SolShare Installation Partners will be able to guide you through upgrading. Residents can also contact their energy retailer directly and upgrade the meters in advance.
Installing solar onto an apartment does more than just reduce the electricity bills. Studies have shown that property prices increase significantly when they have solar power. Landlords specifically report having less vacancy and increased longevity of tenants.
No. Residents can stay with their existing retailer, or to choose to change to another one. They can also access any market protections provided for vulnerable electricity customers, if applicable.
There are a number of factors in determining this, the main one being how much energy you use. But on average, a 40% reduction in grid energy usage can be achieved. This is increased further if batteries are included. See our cases studies for more information on price and payback.
Contact us to learn more and get a SolShare.
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