Maple Syrup of Renewable Energy for 21 lot strata

This project at the "Maple" strata scheme in Breakfast Point, is a masterclass in modern strata management. For a 21-lot scheme to move from a standard "gas and grid" setup to a fully electrified, solar-powered ecosystem is rare; to do it with this level of technical integration and subsidy-stacking is almost unheard of. Here is a blog post highlighting why this project is a trailblazer.

The Future of Living: How One 21-Lot Strata Scheme Just Redefined Urban Sustainability

While many apartment dwellers feel left behind in the renewable energy transition, one 21-lot strata community has just proven that "too complex" is a myth. By retrofitting a massive shared solar and battery system while opening a pathway to ditching gas, they’ve created a blueprint for every medium-density building in Australia.

Here is why this specific project is a game-changer.
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​1. The "Total Building" Energy Ecosystem
Most strata solar projects focus only on "common area" power (the hallways and lifts). This scheme went further. They installed a 52kW shared solar system and 52kWh of battery storage (2 x 26kWh units) that feeds power directly into every single one of the 21 apartments, plus the common areas.
This moves the needle forward from the nearby "Jackson" building at 3 Abbotsford Cove Dr, Abbotsford (which was also a participant in Canada Bay council's "Solar for Community" program. Jackson featured 20kW common area solar + 12.8kWh battery + 7 x daisy chained Reclaim Energy heat pumps for 24 lots.)

2 x Sungrow 26.6kWh batteries, 2 x inverters, 2 x Allume Energy Solshare Systems at "Maple"

2. Ditching the Gas Giant
In a bold move toward full electrification, the community decommissioned its ageing Raypac common gas hot water system. In its place? A high-efficiency electric heat pump solution from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
This is the "brain" of the energy strategy. The heat pump is timed to run when the solar panels are at peak production or when the batteries are full. By turning sunlight into hot water for 21 showers, the building has effectively eliminated a massive recurring gas bill and significantly lowered its carbon footprint. This opens the possibility for each individual lot to move off gas entirely when they choose to swap out their existing gas cooktops and move to electric or induction cooktops. That process will allow the individual lot owner to even call Jemena, the gas distribution operator, and permanently remove their gas meter, freeing up valuable space under the kitchen sink.

3. The Art of the "Rebate Stack"
Timing is everything in renewables. This scheme demonstrated incredible financial savvy by securing three major incentives:

• The NSW Solar for Apartment Residents Rebate: Securing a 50% discount on the shared solar installation.
• The Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Rebate: By moving quickly, they secured the full rebate before the May 1st reduction, saving thousands on the 52kWh storage capacity.
• The NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) on the heat pump. Due to changes in the NSW ESS which made the 'daisy chained' style of multiple small heat pumps less attractive in August 2025, Maple went with one powerful heat pump system to maximise the rebates on offer from the NSW government. (However, the Mitsubishi Q-ton heat pump was not eligible for the federal STC rebate as it hasn't been accredited for that program).

​4. Breaking the "Community Association" Barrier
Perhaps the most impressive feat wasn’t the engineering—it was the diplomacy. As the first scheme within their broader Community Association to install rooftop solar, they had to break through years of "aesthetic" red tape.
By installing panels on a rooftop visible to neighbouring schemes, they haven't just lowered their own bills; they’ve proved to the entire community that sustainability and modern aesthetics can coexist. They are no longer just a building; they are a proof-of-concept for their neighbours. (There are 36 stratas schemes in the Breakfast Point community association, which is located in the Sydney suburb of Canada Bay but resembles the U.S. Home Owners Association ("HOA") model of a gated community). This strata scheme also 'dotted the i's' and 'crossed the t's' by lodging a fast track DA with the local council for installation of batteries that exceeded 20kWh in size.

The Verdict
This isn't just a retrofit; it’s a total transformation. It proves that with the right leadership and a clear vision, even established strata schemes can move from the gas-reliant past into a self-sufficient, all-electric future.
Brent Clark
​Contributor, Strata Energy News