Grants and Rebates for NSW Strata Schemes

Last Update: 10/7/26

What are all the sustainability rebates, grants and incentives which apply to residential strata schemes in the state of New South Wales? There is financial assistance available from the federal government, state government and even a number of local councils which apply to Owners Corporations. The financial assistance on offer ranges from subsidising advice from professionals to reducing the cost of installing different technologies such as solar panels, batteries, heat pumps for hot water, carpark ventilation fans, EV charging infrastructure, common area lighting, recycling, virtual power plants and more....

Wattblock has independently analysed sustainability for strata schemes housing over 125,000 residents over the past decade. View over 150 educational videos and webinars on our YouTube channel. Take the Solar Readiness for Strata training course. Take the EV Charging Readiness for Strata training course. View examples of upgrades and retrofits in our strata portfolio. Read our fact sheets and case studies. Wattblock has also provided services to 20 different local councils on strata sustainability programs and consulting to four state/territory governments over the past decade.If you are interested in appointing Wattblock to undertake a sustainability report, solar feasibility study, EV charging feasibility study or engage us for our other professional services you can register interest here.

The financial assistance available to Owners Corporation for sustainability comes from three levels of government:

Federal
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water (DCCEEW)
- Clean Energy Regulator (CER)
- Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
State
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water (DCCEEW)
- Sydney Water
Local council
- City of Sydney
- North Sydney
- Lane Cove
- Mosman
- Canada Bay
- Ku-ring-gai
- Willoughby
- Woollahra
- Waverley
- Randwick
- Northern Beaches
- Inner West
- Parramatta
- Hunter Region councils

Sometimes the funding will be given by one level of government and the deployment of that funding will be given by a lower tier of government, e.g. the federal government may allocate co-funding for solar on strata, but the NSW government will manage the distribution of that funding to individual strata schemes, in a case such as the NSW Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate.

6-8 Albert St Newtown was the first recipient of a NSW Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate of $54,000 for shared solar system for 22 lots

Sometimes it is possible to 'double dip' or even 'triple dip' on financial assistance from two or three levels of government for the same technology installation in a strata scheme such as electric heat pumps for domestic hot water.

"Jackson" at 3 Abbotsford Cove Dr, Abbotsford received both Federal STC and NSW ESS (~$10,000) for a hot water heat pump system for 24 lots

In the case of the federal agency, ARENA, subsidies for something like EV charging infrastructure may be administered by private companies on a first in, best dressed basis.

"Freesia Gardens" at Chatswood received an ARENA subsidised install of 8 low power QR Code activated general power outlets ~$50 per GPO

The financial assistance provided to strata schemes from government can cover:

Sustainability advice from professionals
- Energy efficiency in lighting, ventilation, air conditioning, induction cooktops
- Renewable energy advice on solar, batteries, virtual power plants, heat pumps
- Electric vehicle charging advice
- Energy & water ratings (e.g. read a blog on the difference between NABERS and NatHERS.)
- Electrification initiatives such as "getting off gas"

Financial assistance to reduce the cost of product installation
- Solar panels
- Batteries
- EV charging infrastructure
- Heat pump hot water systems
- Ventilation, e.g. carpark extraction fans being put on a CO sensor system to reduce their running time
- Compost bin or vegetable garden

Financial incentives for the 'common good'
- Payments for connecting a common area battery to a Virtual Power Plant program and allowing it to be discharged during peak times
- Offset of software costs for providing data from your strata scheme to the government to assist with future planning, e,g. EV charging sessions
- Waste management and recycling, e.g. local council may subsidize pickup of old bikes left in strata bike racks

Below are the incentives, rebates and grants available to NSW Strata schemes, updated at June 2026.

SECTION 1 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STRATA SCHEME SUSTAINABILITY

1) Federal Government - Clean Energy Regulator "STCs"
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are tradable certificates created under the Australian government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). They provide a financial incentive to help Owners Corporations offset the upfront cost of installing eligible renewable energy systems, such as solar panels or heat pumps.
How STCs work for strata properties:

Eligibility: To qualify, the renewable energy system must be installed by a Clean Energy Council-accredited installer or Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) installer. Eligible systems include small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems (up to 100kW), wind turbines, and energy-efficient hot water systems or heat pumps.
Certificate Value: One STC is equivalent to 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated or displaced by the system over its deemed lifetime (typically 1 to 15 years, depending on your location and installation date).
Financial Benefit: Owners Corporations can either sell these certificates on the open market or assign them to the installer in exchange for an upfront discount on the total purchase and installation price. In practice, the Owners Corporation assigns them to the installer.
Market Fluctuations: The market value of STCs fluctuates based on supply and demand. You can check live pricing and find registered agents to manage your certificates on the Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator portal.

STC incentives for heat pumps require an accredited certificate provider (ACP) to be used by the plumber. Also, the specific brand and model of heat pump needs to be listed as eligible for STC's. The list of brands and models can be downloaded here.

2) Federal Government - Cheaper Home Batteries (CHB)
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate launched on 1st July 2025 and has been hugely successful with over 430,000 batteries being installed at June 2026. This $7.2 billion national initiative offers substantial upfront discounts on eligible home battery installations, aiming to accelerate battery adoption and enhance energy grid stability. The rebate is administered through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) via Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). These certificates are typically traded by installers to provide an upfront discount on the battery installation cost.

The rebate is available to batteries between 5kWh and 100kWh of nominal capacity, however the rebate only applies to the first 50kWh of usable capacity. For example, an 80kWh battery is eligible for this rebate, however the STCs are only calculated on the first 50kWh of capacity. There is currently no rebate for batteries which are larger than 100kWh.

The value of the rebate will be approximately $245-$272 per usable kWh in 2026, equating to a 30% discount on battery costs. From 1st May 2026 the full incentive applies for batteries up to 14kWh but will reduce per kWh for in the range between 14 kWh and 28 kWh, which will get 60 per cent of the original discount, while kWh between 28 kWh and 50 kWh will get 15% of the original discount at time of program launch. The incentive value per kWh will decrease annually until the program concludes in 2030. To qualify for the rebate, the battery system must be Virtual Power Plant capable, be installed alongside a new or existing rooftop solar PV system, be carried out by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer, and both the battery and inverter must be listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved product list. There is a limit of one rebate per property. Battery brands which are eligible are Tesla, BYD, Energizer, Enphase, Genz, Goodwe, iStore, Powerplus, SolaX, Sungrow, Zenaji, SolarEdge, Sonnen, Eguana, Fimer, Soltaro, Sunpower, Varta, Bluetti, SigenStor and Lavo (Hydrogen). You also have to use a 'certified installer' and sign a nomination form and give this to the certified installer.

Further information can be found here.

3) ARENA Origin Energy Backbone Charging Infrastructure Project
This is an EV charging infrastructure initiative co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to develop Australia’s first end-to-end building retrofit solution for strata schemes. Through $4.2 million funding under the Driving the Nation Program, it addresses the high capital costs that usually prevent Owners Corporations from investing in shared EV infrastructure.
The project bypasses upfront financial bottlenecks by establishing the fundamental wiring needed to scale up high-capacity charging over time.

How the Backbone Offer Works

End-to-End Retrofitting: Origin Energy designs and installs the core electrical backbone from the building’s main switchboard to the resident parking bays, avoiding patchwork installations.
Phased and Modular Scaling: The baseline infrastructure is built to support multi-tenant charging without requiring massive, immediate grid upgrades. The Owners Corporation installs the core backbone, and individual residents can choose to pay to connect their specific car spaces when they purchase an EV.
Origin 360 EV Charge Software: The system includes a central management platform that provides building managers with a dashboard to track all charger locations, monitor live load management, and control operational status.
Smart Access and Automated Billing: Residents use RFID cards or a dedicated mobile app to activate charging. The software automatically tracks consumption, bills the driver directly, and streamlines electricity cost reimbursement back to the strata corporation.
Dynamic Load Balancing: The software automatically balances the power draw across all charging vehicles simultaneously, ensuring the building's overall maximum electricity limit is never exceeded.

Benefits for Strata Schemes

Removes AGM Funding Roadblocks: Because EV adoption is still growing, Owners Corporations rarely pass capital investments that only benefit a few residents. The ARENA subsidy lowers this financial barrier to make approvals at Annual General Meetings (AGMs) viable.
Protects Common Property Capacity: Shared garages running unmonitored charging risks overloading the grid or causing "energy theft" from common property power points. Origin’s backbone ensures safety, compliance, and structured cost-recovery.

Origin Energy has funding for 16 residential apartment buildings nationally, which want to proceed with a Level 2 EV charging backbone using Origin 360 team for delivery. This is only applicable to Origin Energy embedded network strata sites and also strata schemes where Origin Energy is the energy retailer for the common area/houselights meter. For example in a large site with 259 strata carspaces, Origin Energy offerred a $184,000 subsidy on a $369,000 Level 2 EV charging backbone project.

4) ARENA - NOX Energy Low Power EV Charging for 2,000 residential strata carspaces
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded a $1.51 million grant to NOX Energy to subsidize the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging across apartment buildings nationwide. The overall $4.78 million initiative aims to overcome the high costs and infrastructure barriers usually associated with strata living. Here is how the subsidy and the NOX Energy solution work for strata schemes:

How the Charging System Works

Intelligent Power Sockets (IPS): NOX Energy replaces or installs metered power sockets in the building's car park which feature a QR code as part of the physical power socket. These sockets provide Level 1 charging, which is relatively slow, adding about 10km of range into the electric vehicle for each hour of charging.
No Common Power Costs: Residents use a mobile app to scan the outlet and pay for the electricity they consume, ensuring the Owners Corporation or strata doesn't bear the cost of tenant charging.
Infrastructure Upgrades: The project includes the required backbone electrical upgrades (distribution boards) to support scaled charging without requiring massive upfront grid upgrades. However, the strata scheme needs to supply its own house Wi-Fi network.

Benefits for Strata Communities

Lower Barrier to Entry: The subsidy and the Level 1 setup significantly reduce the upfront financial and technical burden on the building.
Future-Proofing: Recent reporting shows nearly 70% of early installations were taken up by non-EV drivers looking to increase the rentability and resale value of their properties.

How to Apply
To get your building involved in the rollout, you can submit an application directly through the NOX Energy website. To be considered, buildings must meet the following criteria:

Install a minimum of 5 low power QR code activated general power outlet devices.
Have sign-off and approval from the strata/building committee.
Allow for behavioural testing to incentivize charging during off-peak or high-solar generation periods.
Provide a named reference from the committee and agree to share anonymized charging data for research. There will be four surveys done of all residents in the building on their attitudes to EV charging over a 12 month period, facilitated by the Electric Vehicle Council.

or research purposes
Get started here.

5) ARENA Ready Steady Plug Low Power EV Charging for 428 residential strata carspaces
In April 2026, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) awarded a $1.51 million grant to Sydney-based EV charging company ReadySteadyPlug under the Driving the Nation Program. The overall $3.49 million initiative funds a "Charging-as-a-Service" (CaaS) rollout designed to bring scalable, low-cost electric vehicle charging to apartment and strata buildings across Australia.
The project aims to install up to 428 initial EV charge points and the baseline infrastructure necessary to support up to 2,000 charge points by 2029.

How the Subsidy and CaaS Model Work

Low Upfront Capital: The subsidy minimizes the initial installation and infrastructure costs typically required from an Owners Corporation.
Level 1 Charging: The system deploys proprietary Level 1 charging infrastructure utilizing standard general purpose outlets (GPOs) in individual car spaces, removing the need for massive, immediate switchboard upgrades. Note: these are standard GPO's not QR code activated GPO's.
User-Pays Billing: Energy costs are tracked via smartphone access control and cloud-based metering. EV owners pay for what they use through a mobile app, and the Owners Corporation is fully reimbursed quarterly for the electricity.
Dynamic Load Management: The system integrates smart load balancing to ensure the vehicle charging does not exceed the building's maximum electricity supply.
Equity for Non-EV Owners: Residents who do not own an EV pay nothing toward the ongoing charging infrastructure or other people's electricity.
Deployment Scope. Over a three-year period, ReadySteadyPlug will deploy this infrastructure across at least 64 apartment sites nationally.

Get started here.

Recapping Federal Government Sustainability Assistance for NSW Strata Schemes:

Who funds it	How do you get the funding	What does it cover	When does it end?
Clean Energy Regulator	Via installer	Solar Panels Heat Pumps Wind Turbines	2030
Clean Energy Regulator	Via installer	Batteries	When $7.2 billion is exhausted or 4 years, which ever occurs earlier
ARENA	Origin Energy	50% of the cost of Level 2 EV charging Backbone Infrastructure	When 16 EV charging backbones nationwide are installed
ARENA	NOX Energy	Level 1 "low power" QR code activated general power outlets for EV charging (5 minimum)	When 2,000 residential strata carspaces nationwide are installed
ARENA	ReadySteadyPlug	Smart Distribution board for Level 1 'low power" general power outlets (5 minimum)	When 428 residential carspaces nationwide are installed and capacity for up to 2,000 to be installed is made available

SECTION 2 - STATE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STRATA SCHEME SUSTAINABILITY

1) NSW Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) Rebate - 50% co-funding
This initiative offers a 50% co-funded grant, capped at $150,000 per building, to install shared solar systems in strata-titled buildings of 3 to 55 units. Running until 4th December 2026, the program requires applications from Owners Corporations to fund solar and smart meters, delivering average savings of over $1,000 per household annually. This rebate only applies to solar systems and NOT to batteries.

Read Wattblock's article as this grant has a lot of conditions. The recipients of NSW Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate are summarised here. At June 2026, 165 NSW strata schemes had received co-funding totalling $7.8 million. $25 million is allocated to this program overall.

Some worked examples to assist with completing a Stage 2 application are here.

For complete program guidelines, visit NSW Climate and Energy Action.

2) Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) – Boost - 80% funding in specific NSW suburbs
This is an expanded $5 million funding tier under the NSW Government’s Solar for Apartment Residents program. It opened on 30th March 2026 and the Boost grant increases maximum funding up to $200,000 (excluding GST) per building. The program provides targeted financial assistance to help strata-titled complexes overcome the traditional cost barriers of shared rooftop solar in lower income suburbs/postcodes.

Funding Architecture

Up to 80% Cost Coverage: While the standard SoAR grant matches up to 50% of costs (capped at $150,000), the Boost initiative covers up to 80% of eligible system and installation costs, requiring only a minimum 20% co-contribution from the strata scheme.
Targeted Geographic Eligibility: The funding is specifically reserved for apartment buildings located in selected NSW suburbs. These locations are identified by the government as areas with lower historic solar uptake or lower socio-economic deciles. Owners Corporations can look up their specific suburb on the NSW Climate and Energy Action portal to see whether they qualify for standard or Boost funding.

More information is at SoAR - Boost

3) NSW Government Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) - Battery Rebate - from 1st September 2026
The Site must be an apartment building with at least 4 dwellings.
• No existing battery on site.

• Incentives can be stacked with Federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate up to 100kWh.
• Clean Energy Council listed battery and inverters.
• 20kWh < Usable Battery Capacity ≤200kWh.
• Battery duration must not exceed 6 hours
• The system must be installed outdoors by an Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer in accordance with AS/NZS 5139.
• Must obtain required planning approval.

• Higher incentive where new solar PV is installed.
• Certificates are capped at 5kWh per dwelling.
Certificates are capped at 4hr x battery inverter capacity.
• Usable battery capacity is calculated as 90% of nominal battery capacity.
A calculator provided by amperage.app which allows you to estimate this rebate is here.

4) NSW Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Incentive for batteries connected to common area solar systems
This incentive, delivered under the state’s Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS), rewards strata schemes with a one-off financial payment for connecting an eligible solar battery to a VPP. The program does not fund the physical purchase of a battery; instead, it provides financial compensation for allowing the VPP to occasionally draw on stored energy to support the wider NSW electricity grid during peak demand events. A Wattblock video on Virtual Power Plants is here.

How the Subsidy Mechanism Works

Certificate-Based System: When a battery connects to an approved VPP, an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP) generates Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs) based on the battery’s capacity.
Financial Value: The gross value of the certificates is up to $1,500 for a maximum-cap battery. Because ACP's retain a percentage for administrative processing, strata schemes typically receive a net payout between $500 and $1,100 depending on the battery size and provider terms.
Payment Delivery: The incentive is paid out as a one-off upfront benefit. VPP operators or electricity retailers pass this value directly to the consumer via a direct cash-back payment, a point-of-sale discount, or a upfront credit on their electricity bill.
Layered Incentives: This PDRS payout operates entirely in addition to any ongoing grid-export credits, competitive VPP feed-in tariffs, or monthly bill credits offered independently by your chosen VPP provider.

Eligibility Criteria
To claim the PDRS VPP incentive, your setup must satisfy the following parameters:

Common Area Batteries Only: This is ONLY applicable to batteries connected to common area solar systems and is NOT available for batteries which are shared across multiple apartments using Allume Energy's Solshare system.
Capacity Bounds: The battery must have a usable storage capacity between 2 kWh and 28 kWh.
Existing Infrastructure: The property must have an operational solar PV system installed and remain actively connected to the main electricity grid.
Hardware Compliance: The physical unit must be listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) Approved Battery List. If connecting an existing battery to a VPP, it must carry a minimum of 6 years of remaining warranty.
Exclusions: This isn't applicable to batteries connected to apartments housing residents using critical medical life support equipment. Additionally, the specific battery cannot have previously claimed any prior NSW government battery deployment or VPP installation incentives.

Steps to Activate the Rebate

Source a VPP Retailer: Review and compare energy providers offering compliant PDRS-linked plans to find the best underlying tariff structure.
Submit via an Accredited Agent: Most VPP providers manage the application automatically at enrollment or partner with certified brokers to process the certificates on your behalf.
Double-Dip with Federal Rebates: If your strata scheme does not yet own a battery, you can bundle this state-level PDRS flexibility payment with point-of-sale hardware discounts from the Australian Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program to minimize total out-of-pocket setup costs.

More information is here.

5) Sydney Water - Waterfix for Strata
WaterFix Strata is a water conservation initiative by Sydney Water that helps apartment buildings minimize wasted water, reduce water usage, and lower utility bills. The program identifies and repairs hidden leaks, while upgrading inefficient taps, showerheads, and toilets in both individual lots and common areas for a flat fee of $44 per lot.

How the Program Works

Free Assessment: The process starts with a obligation-free desktop assessment to benchmark your building’s water usage against industry standards.
On-site Audit: If usage is high, a team of licensed plumbers will conduct a physical inspection to pinpoint exact leaks and inefficient fixtures.
Repairs & Upgrades: Plumbers then fix the issues and replace old fixtures, e.g. swapping single-flush toilets for 4-star dual-flush models.

Key Benefits

No Upfront Costs: Eligible strata buildings can use a performance-based payment plan. This means the upgrades are paid for over time using the money saved on water bills, often resulting in no out-of-pocket expenses.
Lower Strata Levies: Less water wastage directly reduces overall building utility costs, contributing to reduced strata levies for owners.
Leak Reduction: The program helps track down hidden, concealed leaks. Smart meters are also often installed to help building and strata managers monitor consumption weekly.

This applies to strata buildings where there is one Sydney Water head meter for the entire building and there aren't separate cold water meters for individual lots, i.e. most strata buildings constructed prior to 2016.
More information is here.

6) NSW Climate and Energy Action - Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) - Commercial Lighting Formula - Closed On 31st March 2026
For over a decade, NSW strata schemes were claiming Energy Saving Certificates (ESCs) from the NSW government under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme. Many strata schemes had used this to upgrade carpark, firestairs, foyer lighting and outdoor lighting. The NSW government shifted the scheme's funding priorities away from lighting toward higher-impact, less mature technologies such as:

carpark ventilation systems.
heat pumps for domestic hot water.

It is still possible to get NSW Energy Savings Certificates as a rebate for carpark ventilation systems or heat pumps. It is important that you use an installer who has a relationship with an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP) to process the rebates for your strata scheme. It isn't possible to install the equipment such as carpark ventilation systems or heat pumps and then apply for the rebate. The preparation to get the rebate must be done in advance of installation.

7) NSW Climate and Energy Action EV Charging Infrastructure Co-funding for Strata Schemes - CLOSED in June 2025
$10m funding was allocated towards EV charging feasibility studies and EV charging infrastructure implementations in 2023. Up to $80,000 per strata building was available. Approximately 100 strata schemes in NSW received the following:

EV charging feasibility study (>$2,000 ex GST) from an independent consultant.
Co-funding of EV charging infrastructure costs up to 80% of the total cost and up to $80,000 ex GST.

To be eligible, a strata building of 40 units or less should have less than four EV chargepoints already installed, or an apartment building with over 40 units should have less than 10% of carspaces enabled for EV charging. Read the funding guidelines here.

Co-funding 50% of ongoing EV charging software subscriptions costs for 2 years capped at $1,200 per year (in return for sharing data with the NSW government on the number of EV charging sessions in your building) .

The grant application guidelines can still be found here.
An enquiry was made of the NSW government in a public setting in July 2025 if this would open for a further round and the NSW government said there are no plans to re-open it. However, the NSW government distributed some funds out to local councils to subsidize low power EV charging in strata (Waverley/Woollahra/Randwick), which allows double dipping with the federal ARENA subsidies for low power EV charging.

Recapping State Government Financial Assistance for NSW Strata Schemes:

Who funds it?	How do you get the funding?	What does it cover?	When does it end?
NSW Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) 50% rebate	NSW Government 2 Step online application process	3-55 lots only up to a maximum of $150,000 rebate: -Individual solar systems for all residential lots -Shared solar systems for all residential lots (e.g. Allume Energy Solshare, Zeco Marshall) -Embedded network solar systems for all residential lots	4th December 2026
NSW Solar for Apartment Residents - Solar Boost	NSW Government 2 Step application process	80% co-funding for stratas in specific suburbs/postcodes up to a maximum of $200,000 rebate: -Individual solar systems for all residential lots -Shared solar systems for all residential lots, e.g. Allume Energy Solshare, Zeco Marshall -Embedded network solar systems for all residential lots	4th December 2026
NSW Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Incentive	Via solar installer at time of install or via accredited certificate provider (ACP) after battery install	Batteries connected to common area solar systems only (not batteries connected to solar sharing systems). One time payout of up to $1,500 for connecting to a VPP	Ongoing
Sydney Water WaterFix	Apply via Sydney Water directly or indirectly through local council program, e.g. City of Sydney Smart Green Apartments	Repairs hidden leaks, while upgrading inefficient taps, showerheads, and toilets in both individual lots and common areas.	Ongoing
NSW Climate and Energy Action - Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) - Retrofit CO Sensor to Carpark Ventilation	Via carpark ventilation CO Sensor retrofit company	Reduction in the purchase price of carpark ventilation	Ongoing
NSW Climate and Energy Action - Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) - Heat Pumps for Domestic Hot Water	Via plumber or accredited certificate providers (ACP)	Reduction in purchase price of domestic hot water heat pump system, if the brand/model of heat pump is accredited	Ongoing
NSW Battery Incentive for Apartment Buildings with 4 or more apartments	Via solar installer at the time of install	Reduction in price of the battery if no battery has been installed at the site. Reduction is larger if solar is also installed.	Ongoing from 1st September 2026

SECTION 3 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABILITY ASSISTANCE FOR NSW STRATA SCHEMES

1) City of Sydney
The City of Sydney offers:

Green Building Grants supports environmental upgrades to existing buildings more than 10 years old. Funding is to reduce emissions, waste and water use through ratings, assessments and upgrade support. Cash funding of up to $50,000 is available for each project up to one year. Multi-year funding (up to 3 years) is also available. Support can include up to $10,000 for capital expenditure.
Eligibility Criteria
- Environmental Impact. Assessors will consider the positive environmental impact of your project, including how it addresses key challenges and improves sustainability or resilience through measurable outcomes. They may also look for long-term benefits such as reduced waste or emissions.
- Community Benefit. Assessors will consider how your proposal benefits the community, supports inclusive participation and shows local support and partnerships. They will also look at how people from priority communities are engaged and involved in project leadership or key roles.
- Capacity & Experience. Assessors will consider if your proposal shows appropriate planning and resources. This may include the skills and experience of key people involved, a realistic budget and a clear, achievable timeline.
- Meets Funding Priorities. Assessors will consider how your proposal clearly addresses a funding priority or priorities.
- Financial Sustainability. For projects requesting more than $25,000, you’ll need to provide further information which will include how your proposal shows strong partnerships, identifies and mitigates risk and plans for future financial sustainability.
For building related projects, some of the benefits your project could produce include:
- helping reduce climate change impacts
- using water more efficiently and coping better with drought
- improving how the building performs, including energy use, comfort and people’s wellbeing
- creating jobs or supporting the local economy.
- These benefits may be experienced by people who live in the building. This includes occupants, tenants, workers and visitors, as well as contractors, suppliers and people in nearby buildings.
  
  Applications open Tuesday 21 July
  Applications close 4pm, Tuesday 1 September
  Applicants notified of the outcome of their application in November
  Projects can start from 1 January 2027

Futureproofing Apartments Program where a strata scheme can receive a council funded sustainability report. Assisted over 300 strata buildings with sustainability assessments over six years. A strata manager or strata committee member can register their apartment building here.
Smart Strata Program where strata dwellers can participate in face to face workshops.
Rebates of up to $5,000 for strata sustainability
- Solar: 20% up to $5,000
- Solar healthcheck (for existing solar systems): 50% up to $200 by licensed electrician
- Battery: 20% up to $5,000
- Shared EV charger: 25% up to $5,000
- Hot water heat pumps: 25% up to $5,000
- Insulation: 25% up to $2,000
- Rainwater tank: 25% up to $2,000
- Sydney Water WaterFiix: 25% up to $2,000
- Lighting: 25% up to $5,000 (which is great now that you can't get the NSW ESS for lighting upgrades)
- Pool pump: 50% up to $250
- Switchboard or meterboard upgrade in strata up to 20 lots to support solar or EV charging: 20% up to $5,000
- Energy efficient windows: 20% up to $5,000

3) Lane Cove Council
Lane Cove Council offers:

Greener Apartments Program where a strata scheme can receive a council-funded sustainability report. This program has assisted over 40 strata buildings with sustainability assessments over six years. A strata manager or strata committee member can register their apartment building here.
Ask a Sustainability Expert which are 30 minute sessions booked with a strata sustainability expert, funded by council.
Rebates
- Solar
  • Unit (lot): 25% up to $1,000
  • Unit (common area): 25% up to $5,000
  • Business: 25% up to $1,000
- Solar battery
  • Unit (lot or common area): 10% up to $1,000. Note: this is for a battery which is connected to a solar system only.
- Electric vehicle chargers
  • Unit (lot): 25% up to $500
  • Unit (common area): 25% up to $4,000
- Rainwater tanks
  • Units (common area): 25% up to $2,000

4) Mosman Council
Mosman Council offers participation in the Apartment & Strata Savings Program where the strata scheme receives a council-funded sustainability report. Over 30 strata schemes have participated in this program. A strata committee member or strata manager can register their strata scheme here.

5) City of Canada Bay - CLOSED
City of Canada Bay offers Strata Energy Audits. More information is here.
An Owner's Corporation commits to spending between $1,000-$4,000 on energy saving upgrades to match the price of a solar feasibility study or energy audit 100%, which is funded 100% by council, within 12 months. They also commit to participating in a case study.
Subscribe to the Sustainable Living Newsletter to find out when the next round opens here.

City of Canada Bay is the first council in Australia to complete a "Solar for Strata Audit" for every residential strata scheme in their LGA. This includes an estimate of the best type of solar install for that strata property, estimated cost, savings, payback and CO2 emissions reduction. A blog on Solar for Strata Audits is here.

6) Ku-ring-gai Council
Kur-ring-gai council provides Smart Unit Rebates.
Rebates up to $6,000 per apartment building are available and can include:

50% co-funding up to $2,000 for shared EV chargepoint.
50% co-funding up to $4000 for solar connected to minimum of 8 units.
50% co-funding up to $2,000 for replacing centralised gas hot water plant with heat pump.
50% co-funding up to $4,000 in a strata of 20+ units for LED lighting, ventilation, pool pump, solar PV, etc.

7) Willoughby City Council
Willoughby City Council provides free level 1 energy audits for apartment buildings, conducted by independent consultants. These audits provide information on potential energy efficiency measures, lighting, solar panel installation, battery storage, EV charging and payback periods.
More information is here.

8) Woollahra Council
Woollahra Council offers:

Smart Plugs Program
- Any Woollahra Council stratas may receive 50% local council rebate on Level 1 EV charging solutions, e.g. Nox Energy, Alchemy Charge, ReadySteadyPlug, Combined Energy up to a maximum of $10,000. A case study of Yarranabbe Gardens is here.
  • There is at least 1 electric vehicle owned (or on order) by a resident in the apartment block.
  • Minimum of 2 ‘smart plugs’ must be installed.
  • Must have Owners Corporation approval.
  • Installation must be undertaken by licenced electrician .
  • Level 1 EV charger only with power connected to common power / common meter.
  • Rebate can be used for smart plug supply, installation and signage.
  • Rebate is provided to the Owners Corporation directly, once the unit is installed.
Apartment Sustainability & Energy Savings Program - ON HOLD
- Assisted over 35 strata buildings over 3 rounds with a council funded sustainability report or solar feasibility study.
- Register interest in participating in a future round here.
Eastern Suburbs Stratasphere Program - TRIAL CLOSED
- Participants in the program may also qualify for a free energy tariff check.
- Participants may also qualify for 2 hours of free advice for a structural project, e.g. roof repair.
- Participants in the program may also receive a free solar health check for an existing solar system.
- Trial registrations were to receive a council funded sustainability report and handholding through quote comparison.

9) Waverley Council
Waverley Council offers:

Smart Plugs Program
- Any Waverley Council stratas may receive 50% local council rebate on Level 1 EV charging solutions, e.g. Nox Energy, Alchemy Charge, ReadySteadyPlug, Combined Energy up to a maximum of $10,000.
  • There is at least 1 electric vehicle owned (or on order) by a resident in the apartment block.
  • Minimum of 2 ‘smart plugs’ must be installed.
  • Must have Owners Corporation approval.
  • Installation must be undertaken by licenced electrician .
  • Level 1 EV charger only with power connected to common power / common meter.
  • Rebate can be used for smart plug supply, installation and signage.
  • Rebate is provided to the Owners Corporation directly, once the unit is installed.
Building Futures Program
- Assisted over 40 strata buildings which are 25 lots or greater with Type 2 energy audits.
- Participating buildings are asked to commit a minimum of $1,000 to implement a cost-effective energy saving measure, within a year of joining the program.
- Register interest in participating in the 2025/2026 round here.
Eastern Suburbs Stratasphere Program - TRIAL CLOSED
- Trial registrations were to receive a council funded sustainability report and handholding through quote comparison.
- Participants in the program may also receive a free solar health check for an existing solar system.
- Participants may also qualify for 2 hours of free advice for a structural project, e.g. roof repair.
- Participants in the program may also qualify for a free energy tariff check.
Strata Rebates Program - CLOSED

10) Randwick Council
Randwick Council offers:

Smart Plugs Program
- Any Waverley Council stratas may receive 50% local council rebate on Level 1 EV charging solutions, e.g. Nox Energy, Alchemy Charge, ReadySteadyPlug, Combined Energy up to a maximum of $10,000.
  • There is at least 1 electric vehicle owned (or on order) by a resident in the apartment block.
  • Minimum of 2 ‘smart plugs’ must be installed.
  • Must have owners corporation approval.
  • Installation must be undertaken by licenced electrician.
  • Level 1 Electric Vehicle charger only with power connected to common power / common meter.
  • Rebate can be used for smart plug supply, installation and signage.
  • Rebate is provided to the owners corporation directly, once the unit is installed.
- It is possible to 'double dip' the Smart Plugs rebate with the 25% up to $5,000 rebate on 'Apartment Block EV charger' claimed through Sustainability Rebates below.
Sustainability Rebates
- Apartment block EV charger: 25% up to $5,000.
- Energy assessment: 50% up to $1,000.
- Heat pump: 25% up to $5,000.
- Insulation: 25% up to $2,000.
- Lighting: 25% up to $5,000.
- Pool pump: 50% up to $250.
- Rainwater tank: 25% up to $2,000.
- Solar PV: 10% up to $5,000.
- Battery: 10% up to $2,000.
- Solar health check: 50% up to $100.
- Sydney Water WaterFiix: 25% up to $2,000.

11) Northern Beaches Council
Northern Beaches council offers an Energy and Solar Expert Advisory Service, which involves a free 20 minute conversation.

12) Inner West Council
Inner West Council offers:

A free energy advice program for local residents here. Caution: the free energy advice program funnels participants towards a 'favoured' list of installers for things like solar, batteries, heat pumps, EV charging, etc. To perform unbiased self-directed research on installers, you may want to try these Wattblock lists:
Go Solar for Strata - CLOSED
Assisted 75 strata buildings with custom solar feasibility studies over 2 rounds.
Wattblock identified over 200 strata buildings which are top solar Candidates for Inner West council. The map, which has had 28,000 views is here.
This program included a solar feasibility study for the first Recipient of a NSW Solar for Apartment Buildings rebate and the video of the journey of 6-8 Albert Ave Newtown is here.

13) Parramatta Council
Parramatta Council offers a free energy advice service.

14) Hunter Regional Household Electrification Program
Cessnock, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter Councils offer a free energy advice service.

Prepared by:
Brent Clark BSc LLB, Grad. Dip Applied Finance & Investment, MBA (AGSM)
CEO and founder, Wattblock

Note: Information is compiled by Wattblock and no liability is taken for accuracy or correctness or currency of information provided. If your organisation is listed above and you would like to update your information, please contact Wattblock.

Grants and Rebates for Strata
North Sydney Council hosted a webinar on all the grants and rebates for strata in August 2025.
Download the presentation pack here.

Grants and Rebates for NSW Strata Schemes

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