Authorised retailers can apply the rebate as a discount on the applicant’s invoice. We will then pay the retailer post installation, and the owners corporation will pay any outstanding balance to the retailer.
Installations must be completed by authorised solar retailers and accredited installers, unless expressly agreed to by Solar Victoria in writing.
The Solar for Apartments Program is jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments.
Application and quote process
Authorised retailers must use the Solar Victoria retailer portal to upload applicant quotes and claim rebate payment. Once you submit the quote, rebate funding is held for 70 calendar days. Please allow sufficient time for the OC to approve the quote when you set the quote expiry date.
Download the Solar for Apartments retailer portal user guide and follow the step-by-step process:
Retailers must seek approval from the applicant’s Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) to connect and export self-generated solar to the grid. The process and technical details for grid connection vary depending on the DNSP.
You must also advise the applicant of any export constraints. This needs to happen before you submit the quote through the portal.
Nominated authorised retailers will be contacted to upload a quote in the portal. Information you must provide at this step includes:
the final solar PV system design (including the eligible products to be installed and the system’s capacity and expected energy generation)
the total costs for supply and installation of the solar panel (PV) system
the value of small-scale technology certificates (STCs) applied to the project
the location on the building where the solar panel (PV) system will be installed
the final number of participating lots
any relevant connection details
the annualised return on investment/payback period for the total purchase and installation in accordance with the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC)
quote expiry date (please allow sufficient time for the OC to approve the quote when you set the quote expiry date).
Payback period assessment – how to prepare it
To be eligible, a demonstrated payback period within 10 years for the cost of the solar panel (PV) system and installation is required. This must be calculated at the apartment level and stated on the final quote. You must:
base the payback period assessment on the total cost for supply and installation of the system after any small-scale technology certificates (STCs) have been applied and prior to application of the program funding
You will be asked in the portal to provide information about how you prepared the payback period assessment. This includes stating the solar energy self-consumption rate used for the system performance estimate.
We will email the applicant with the quote details. The applicant’s owners corporation will need to approve the quote or ask for any changes.
When the quote is uploaded, we will allocate funding towards the installation. The applicant then has 70 days to approve the quote by completing an OC Quote Approval Form (mandatory) which we email to them.
If the quote is not approved within this timeframe the rebate funding allocation will be cancelled.
If the quote expiry date is set earlier than the 70-day rebate expiry date, the retailer must update/cancel the quote. The applicant will then be prompted to approve the new quote.
We will assess the application and notify the applicant and retailer of the outcome. The installation must be completed within 120 days of the funding being approved.
At least 24 hours before the installation, the retailer must enter this information in the retailer portal:
the installation location
the installation date
certifications of the installer involved.
We may take compliance action if this information is not provided. Information on how to provide this information is in the user guide.
Please encourage the applicant’s owners corporation to use this checklist to prepare for their solar installation:
Solar sharing technologies are eligible under the Solar for Apartments program, where agreed to by Solar Victoria.
Under this program, an interface protection system must be installed for all eligible systems based on inverter power sharing devices where the connected inverter energy system nameplate KiloVolt Amps (kVA) capacity is greater than 30.
Retailers must also ensure that the original equipment manufacturer provides a minimum 5 year whole-of-product warranty on all solar sharing technology or major components that may be used in the eligible system. Go to the Notice to Market section 3.2.1 for more information.
Safety installation guidance and audit checklist
We are working with regulators to ensure safety and compliance standards are met. Your installation may be audited under our audit program during or after the installation.
Independent auditors use this checklist when they conduct audit inspections of solar PV installations under the Solar for Apartments program.
For technical installation guidance on solar PV installations on apartments, units and townhouses, go to the Energy Safe website.
Installers can also use safety installation guidance developed with WorkSafe Victoria, Energy Safe Victoria and TechSafe Australia. It covers issues that may arise when installing solar at height on apartment buildings, including:
safe work practices using elevated platforms
working safely at height (including specific references to increased risks for multi-level buildings)
edge protection
manual handling of heavy items
fall risks
working near asbestos-containing material
WorkSafe Victoria and Energy Safe Victoria explain workplace safety and technical installation requirements for Solar for Apartments installations in this webinar, presented on Wednesday 14 May 2025. View the Solar for Apartments safety and installation requirements recording.
