Strata buidings are one of the final frontiers for rooftop solar, a ripe opportunity just waiting for the right solution. Solar Choice specialises in assessing the potential options for solar power on strata buildings and helpings committee members get a compelling proposal approved at their committee.

Solar for strata is tricky: Here’s why

If you’re looking into solar for a strata building, it’s important that you understand the challenges that you’re up against – and the experiences that a lot of solar companies have in implementing solar for strata properties.

Where the roof area to be used is common property (most cases) then a special resolution is required to pass a new by-law. This requires a 75% vote, or in NSW the state government has just reduced this to 50%. As this needs to be done at a EGM, the decision-making and approval process is usually quite slow for these projectsThere are usually additional costs to install solar on strata building:>Flat and concrete roofs will mean additional equipment is required to ballast and tilt the solar panelsTall buildings might require crane hire and traffic control from local councilIf there isn’t space in existing electrical risers (cable conduit that travels vertically up a building) then there could be an extra long cable run or some costs to drill a core hole through the floorsIf you want to tackle the electricity bill from your individual unit you will need to equitably divide the roofspace or install a system that shares power between the units that want to participateThere is often a mix of renters and owner-occupiers in a strata complex. The incentives for getting solar differ depending on which you happen to be. If a landlord with renters wish to invest in solar then they may need to reach an agreement with tennants to increase rent payments before participating

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50%CommercialIs MobileBusiness NameDo you know what size system you would like to install?Under 30kw30 to 100kW100 to 1MWOver 1MWNot sureWhat stage are you at with your investigations?Just getting startedAlready done some research into solarReceived Quotes AlreadyWhat is the address of the proposed installation?This information is used to identify your roof and the local pre-vetted installers to include in your online quote comparison.Full AddressAddress Line 1CityNSWVICACTNTQLDSATASWAStatePostcodeContact NameEmail AddressPhone NumberUpload a recent power bill (optional)Drop files here or Accepted file types: pdf.Affiliate CodeStatsNameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.jQuery(document).ready(function($){gformInitSpinner( 34, ‘https://www.solarchoice.net.au/wp-content/themes/solarchoice/img/btn-ajax-loader.gif’ );jQuery(‘#gform_ajax_frame_34’).on(‘load’,function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find(‘*’).html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf(‘GF_AJAX_POSTBACK’) >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find(‘#gform_wrapper_34’);var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find(‘#gform_confirmation_wrapper_34’).length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf(‘gformRedirect(){‘) >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery(‘html’).css(‘margin-top’), 10) + parseInt(jQuery(‘body’).css(‘margin-top’), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery(‘#gform_wrapper_34’).html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass(‘gform_validation_error’)){jQuery(‘#gform_wrapper_34’).addClass(‘gform_validation_error’);} else {jQuery(‘#gform_wrapper_34’).removeClass(‘gform_validation_error’);}setTimeout( function() { /* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome */ }, 50 );if(window[‘gformInitDatepicker’]) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window[‘gformInitPriceFields’]) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery(‘#gform_source_page_number_34’).val();gformInitSpinner( 34, ‘https://www.solarchoice.net.au/wp-content/themes/solarchoice/img/btn-ajax-loader.gif’ );jQuery(document).trigger(‘gform_page_loaded’, [34, current_page]);window[‘gf_submitting_34’] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find(‘.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK’).html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}setTimeout(function(){jQuery(‘#gform_wrapper_34’).replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).trigger(‘gform_confirmation_loaded’, [34]);window[‘gf_submitting_34’] = false;}, 50);}else{jQuery(‘#gform_34’).append(contents);if(window[‘gformRedirect’]) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger(‘gform_post_render’, [34, current_page]);} );} ); jQuery(document).bind(‘gform_post_render’, function(event, formId, currentPage){if(formId == 34) {} } );jQuery(document).bind(‘gform_post_conditional_logic’, function(event, formId, fields, isInit){} ); jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery(document).trigger(‘gform_post_render’, [34, 1]) } );

There are 4 options to install solar power on strata buildings

With these complications in mind, here are four potential solutions to the ‘solar on strata buildings’ problem – from most straightforward & simple to most technologically sophisticated & complex.

Option 1: Solar for the common areas

Each strata building has a dedicated meter for the common areas, where lights, lifts and other communal equipment run; the electricity bill associated with this meter is paid for out of strata levies. For very tall apartment blocks with limited roofspace this is usually the best option available as it is a communal cost and everyone will (or should) benefit equally from it in the form of reduced strata bills. Furthermore, the capital expenditure required to purchase such a system can be relatively small, especially if the strata building does not have any communal lifts, air conditioning, pools or other devices which use a large amount of electricity.

Main advantages:

Relative simplicity, with one solar PV system behind just the common area meterAll owners benefit equally through reduced common costs (usually covered by strata levies)

Main disadvantage:

No savings on electricity bills for individual occupants

Solar PV array installed on Manly National Building (NSW) with aide of Solar Choice

When getting quotes for your strata committee it is really important to find installers with experience installer on high-rises and concrete roof-spaces. Solar Choice has a network of installers and we can help you find the local options with the right experience.

Options 2: Each unit gets a separately-metered solar system

If the common area bills are already quite small, or if the unit owners are more interested in solar to benefit themselves or their tenants directly, then it may make sense to have a solar system installed for each unit. At this point, however, there is the question of roof allocation. This is a consideration that doesn’t come to mind for most people when they purchase a unit, but one which is sure to arise if one individual owner asks to install a solar system for their unit (unless the units are townhouses).

In this case, in the name of ‘fair share’, it makes sense for the solar-friendly (i.e. unshaded and north/west/east-facing) sections of roof to be pre-emptively divided up between all the owners. This could turn out to be complicated, especially if the roof is multi-faceted and has shading issues in more than one place. Assuming that the strata building has a section of roof with full and equal solar access, this challenge should be relatively clear-cut and easy to solve.

If your strata committee gets to this point, you’ll then need to work out how much each section of roof area will translate into in terms of solar panel capacity. In the end, each system may be quite small (1.5kW–2kW), especially if the building is more than 2-3 stories tall and there’s significantly more floor area than there is roof area. In either case, the most financially sensible approach may be to have all of the solar systems installed at the same time and by the same company, as smaller systems tend to be more expensive per watt of capacity than larger ones, and the way to bring down the overall cost would probably be a bulk buy.

Main advantages:

Provided there is ample viable roof space to go around, each unit has their own solar system, wired up to their own individual meter. This means that there’s no question of whether the benefits of the solar are being shared around in an equitable way, as actual savings will come down to how individuals use energy throughout the day.Each unit may have the option to own their solar PV system separately

Main disadvantages:

Question of how to fairly allocate available roof area between unitsAs the individual systems will be small and wired up individually, they may be expensive on a per watt basis compared to solar for stand-alone home, affecting their financial attractivenessMix of renters and owner-occupiers could mean that it’s harder to get sign-off from body corporate; this is especially important in light of the fact that solar is likely to be less expensive for each individual if a greater number of units go ahead

Option 3: A single solar system shared to individual apartments

This is a relatively new approach, and currently there is only one company (that we are aware of) in Australia with the technology to deliver it. Allume Energy with their SolShare solution have solved a number of the issues outlined at the top of this article.

The SolShare solution is essentially a smart diverter that enables solar energy from a single rooftop solar system to be shared between multiple apartments within the same building. To make the system as efficient as possible but also fair, the SolShare delivers the same amount of solar energy to each apartment over the course of a month, but supplies it when it’s needed by each unit.

In addition, the technology incorporates energy monitoring software, so that you know how much electricity you’re using throughout the day and when solar energy’s available.

How the Allume Energy SolShare program works. (Image via Allume Energy.)

Main advantages:

Any metered unit can be connected, including common light and power.Units can opt-out if they don’t want to be connected.The system is bought by the owners corporation, removing complications around individual roof space ownership.No changes to existing metering infrastructure is required – everyone retains their right to choose their electricity retailer.Participation is not mandatory; meaning only a 50% vote is required (75% in some states)

Main disadvantages:

The Allume solution comes at an additional upfront cost to a traditional solar system, so typically it is better if there are 5 or more owners participatingThis is a new model that has only been deployed in a relatively small number of situations, with Allume Energy being the only company supplying this type of solution in Australia

Find out whether your apartment building is suitable for Allume’s solution

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Option 4: Single system with embedded network

If your building is not set up on an embedded network already, then this approach is the most complex, difficult and potentially costly of all the options listed here. An embedded network is basically a private ‘microgrid‘ inside within a strata building. Every unit is metered separately behind a ‘master’ meter that connects the building to the grid. Individual units in an embedded network are generally promised cheaper rates for their electricity, regardless of whether there is solar or not.

In instances where solar is installed on an embedded network, the energy produced can theoretically be ‘split up’ equitably among units and supplied at an even lower rate than under a PPA (or possibly at no cost). Even feed-in credits could be split up among different units. Legally, residents of individual units would still have their choice of electricity retailer (if they live somewhere with a competitive market).

While the embedded network solution is the most ‘thorough’ of those listed here, it is also the most fraught with complications and the most difficult to implement – especially for existing buildings where an embedded network would need to be retrofitted. The first hurdle is getting agreement would be the strata committee, where a unanimous vote would be required in order to take any action. Given the potentially large costs and broad variety of approaches, there’s a considerable chance that the project would never get past initial committee discussions without some serious dedication on the part of its members.

Another important challenge that  is the requirement to get approval from the Embedded Network Manager (ENM). In the National Electricity Market (NEM), every embedded network needs to have a registered manager, due to Power of Choice regulations. The ENM is not incentivised to allow the Body Corporate to install solar as it means they are drawing less power through their gate meter and selling less power to the residents. Solar would also mean a change in the ENM’s billing system which would be difficult to negotiate.

Diagram of an embedded network. (Image via MyComm Energy.)

Main advantages:

Potentially the most equitable way to supply solar energy to units in a strata building that also helps to deliver the full potential value of solar energy (i.e. ‘free’ solar energy to be consumed during the day, plus solar feed-in credits)Depending on the arrangement, a single electricity bill for each unit with appropriate charges & credits

Main disadvantages:

Could be prohibitively costly to implement – especially if applied as a retrofit solution instead of as part of a brand new developmentA wide range of suppliers and specific approaches could make it difficult or time-consuming for strata committees to decide on the one that best suits their situation and needs, or to get unanimous agreement about the best approach among committee membersAdditional red tape associated with Power of Choice regulations governing the establishment of embedded networksPossibly a number of questions to ask and answer about exactly how solar energy will be divvied up among residents

Investigating solar for your strata building: Next steps

Now that you know your options, there is the question of which one is most appropriate for your situation. Solar Choice manages tenders for a wide range of solar projects – including apartment buildings – and are happy to have a no-obligation chat. Get in touch today to learn more about receiving a Business Case Analysis & indicative Quote Comparison of leading solar installation companies in your area.

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