Australia has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, but the growing number of apartment dwellers have been left behind. Here is how to turn the tables.
Australia has the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world, but millions of apartment residents are not reaping the benefits of cheaper power and electrification.providing 11.3 per cent of the nation’s total energyAcross Australia, 2.5 million people live in a flat or apartment, with more again living in duplexes, townhouses and villas that can be under strata title.
“I have tried to let my landlord know about the ability to install solar panels for free ,” West said. “And the message I got, quite quickly, was that my landlord is not interested in getting free solar panels.”Rob Chan, who owns an apartment in a modern 18-storey building in North Sydney, said he had been working with his owners’ corporation for more than a year to try to install communal solar panels.
“Across the board, everyone sees the economic benefits,” Chan said. “There is endorsement from the chair and broad agreement that this is a sensible thing for us to do … but other more urgent issues are taking up the owners’ corporation’s time.” One obstacle identified in the report is that owners’ corporations and strata committees often lack the required technical understanding and knowledge of the various rebates and grants.
In Victoria, a solar rebate scheme for apartment owners run by the state and federal governments was so popular a second round of grants was announced in August. It was also expanded to include other strata properties such as townhouses, villas and units.Under the $32 million scheme, apartment residents could apply for up to $2800 per apartment or up to $140,000 for buildings of up to 50 apartments. When the scheme is exhausted in December, 15,000 apartments will be powered by solar.
Kew resident Caroline Pribble said commercial tenants voted differently from most residents on the issue of solar panels.
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