Empowering Apartments with Solar Energy
While individual landed houses benefit from having their own roof space, apartment units share the roof space with other apartment dwellers and cannot install their solar panels. But should this drawback restrict apartment units from enjoying the benefits of solar? Definitely No! solar energy can be a game changer for apartments as much as for individual dwellings in harnessing eco-friendly, sustainable energy solutions.
In this article, let us explore how apartment residents can benefit from solar energy and how the Australian Government is helping apartment owners reap the benefits of renewable solar energy.
Shared solar installation – An Ideal Solution for Apartments
With the concept of a shared solar system for apartments, a single centralized solar system supplies energy to multiple apartment units, thus reducing the cost of installing several solar panels and benefiting several households with a single installation. Multiple apartment units utilizing one solar setup enable cost-effective energy distribution.
Various strategies like community' solar share' models help the collective usage of solar-generated electricity among residents.
A shared solar system is also an excellent step towards providing apartment owners the experience of energy independence, reduced electricity bills, and an opportunity to lower their environmental carbon footprint.
Awareness of Shared solar installations
Unsurprisingly, apartment owners are reluctant and uncertain about installing a shared solar system at their premises. Due to this lack of awareness, they may not take the initial steps towards opting for a shared solar system. Therefore, a thorough understanding of shared solar energy is vital for apartment residents to make informed decisions on moving to solar.
As part of the education and awareness initiatives, apartment residents must be directed to detailed training documents and system operational information available on relevant websites. Residents must also be familiarized with the advantages and financial benefits of moving to solar, specifically how different a Shared Solar Solution is compared to an individual landed house installation.
Finally, when they decide on a shared solar installation, the company assisting them must provide detailed information on installation/maintenance procedures and, most importantly, about ACT's grant program for Shared Solar Solutions.
Benefits of a Shared Solar Solution
In continuation of being aware of the Shared Solar Solution, it is beneficial to understand how the behind-the-meter Shared Solar Solution provides solar power to multi-metered buildings using the existing building infrastructure. As a result, residents save on any extra expenditure required to implement the solar share solution.
A Shared Solar Solution encompasses rooftop solar panels, an inverter, and a shared-solar distribution system that channels solar energy to existing meters of respective individual apartment units. Additionally, just like in any landed house solar installation, the excess solar energy is routed to the grid.
The technology used in the distribution system ensures that solar energy is optimally distributed among apartment units on an on-demand basis, thereby maximizing onsite solar usage. The technology studies the load profile of each apartment unit and distributes energy accordingly.
With such an optimization, 30-35% efficiency in onsite solar energy usage is achieved compared to individual solar installations. In addition, a savings of 40% on electricity bills offers a direct financial benefit for apartment owners, who also get compensated by the Electricity Retailer company for the excess solar energy sent back to the grid.
Another notable benefit that apartment owners can enjoy is the shortened payback time, which is a direct impact due to savings incurred in implementing a Shared Solar Solution.
ACT's Solar for Apartments Program
Now, let us understand how ACT facilitates apartment residents' adoption of solar solutions.
ACT's Solar for Apartments Program introduces shared solar energy to apartment complexes, facilitating sustainable and cost-effective energy for multiple apartment units. Solar for Apartments program is a forward-thinking move from ACT to promote eco-friendly urban living.
Under this program, ACT provides grants and incentive programs to households and businesses to help them make an intelligent decision to move to solar. Through the Solar for Apartments program, ACT offers up to $100,000 in grant funds and a 0% interest loan to eligible apartments to encourage the installation of solar panels on their rooftop.
The owners corporations (or body corporates) who manage the apartment complexes are eligible to apply for the Solar for Apartment program, which provides 50% of the funds as a grant and the remaining 50% as a 0% interest loan that owners corporations must repay.
As part of this solar program — irrespective of whether an owner or tenant is residing in an apartment unit — every house in the apartment must enjoy the convenience of solar energy. See here for details on the eligibility criteria laid out by ACT and also for information on how to apply for the Solar for Apartments Program.
Contact Polygon Energy for Your Shared solar installations
Installing solar panels for apartments is a complex proposition compared to individual residential installations. It requires working with the owners corporation and sorting out other nuances such as metering, monitoring solar equipment costs, etc.
You can safely count on an experienced solar company such as Polygon Energy to design tailored solar solutions for your apartment complex at an affordable rate. Depending on the available roof space in your apartment, energy professionals at Polygon Energy can provide ideal solar solutions so that you get the best value for money.
If you are an apartment resident willing to move to solar, experts at Polygon Energy are just a call or SMS away, ready to help you realize your dreams! Contact them today!