Program update
Due to very high uptake, the free energy upgrade advice offering by ZapCat is currently closed.
Free independent advice with ZapCat
From 1 September 2025 Council will be working with social enterprise ZapCat Pty Ltd to offer residents and small business owner's free independent advice on solar and batteries.
On offer are online instant estimates, quote reviews, free virtual consultations with energy experts and access to vetted installers.
If you are living in an apartment or townhouse in the Inner West, you can still join in the solar journey.
Following the February 2025 release of the NSW Government's Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Grants, Council has launched a new networking and information sharing network.
The network aims to help connect strata committees, owners, renters, building and strata managers to share learnings and experiences of sustainability upgrades.
The launch event was held at Council's Sustainability Hub in Summer Hill.
Presentations covered:
- The solar grant eligibility guidelines,
- An overview from solar sharing technology manufacturer Allume Energy and
- Council's offering to join the FOGO apartment engagement program.
All recordings and presentations are available on the Network page. Find out more about solar and other sustainable living options, grants and incentives and networking events via the
Solar for apartments FAQs
There are over 200 great apartment block and mixed use strata buildings in the Inner West local government area which would see a payback on a solar system in 5-7 years. If you are interested in investigating solar for your apartment building, you can contact ZapCat, read the FAQs below or visit the 2024 Commonwealth's Solar Consumer Guide that includes a section on Solar for rentals and multi-occupancy properties.
Strata buildings in Australia consume 7% of the national electricity grid, equivalent to $1.7bn of electricity per annum.
The 2021 Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Sustainability Upgrades) Bill makes it easier for owners and owners corporations to make sustainability improvements including installing rooftop solar panels, solar batteries and electric vehicle charging points.
To get solar projects passed now only requires a simple majority (over 50 per cent) to vote in favour at a general, owners corps or committee meeting (if they have delegated power).
Approximately 0.6% of apartment buildings have solar, compared with 22% of residential houses. It is expected that solar installations will rise with the NSW Government's Solar for Apartment Residents grants program, which launched in February 2025.
Average sized solar system on an apartment block is 12kW. The largest solar system on an apartment block in the Inner West local government area is about 80kW.
Yes, by using solar sharing gateways, which share solar fairly and equitably between participating lots. These are now approved by Ausgrid, the electricity grid provider in the Inner West council area.
This means that a single solar system can be shared between multiple residents and the common area meter. Also, not every lot owner needs to participate. A shared solar system can be installed just for those who are interested.
Yes, a solar sharing gateway makes this possible. Previously, commercial tenants operating in mixed use strata schemes have not had a way to effectively engage with the strata on a shared solar system.
Shared solar systems on residential strata buildings in NSW are already connected to electric vehicle charging stations in the basement carpark, giving electric vehicle owners the ability to charge their vehicles with clean energy.
Yes, the combination of solar photovoltaic on the roof of an apartment block and an electric heat pump, which uses ambient air temperature, can provide the lowest cost hot water to an apartment building – up to 90% cheaper than gas storage tanks.
If you can't install solar panels on your roof, why not consider GreenPower, an Australian Government scheme that enables almost every household and business to choose renewable energy to meet all their electricity needs. Choosing GreenPower is a quick and easy way to support solar and a renewable energy future. Simply call your energy retailer to switch to GreenPower, or use the Government's Energy Made Easy site to compare GreenPower plans.
The Green Living Centre runs free workshops and can link you to GreenPower, Community Renewable Energy groups and other solar initiatives.