The direct answer
There is no universal “best” solar model for an apartment building. The Australian Government identifies four materially different paths: common-property solar, individual unit systems, shared solar in an embedded network, and shared solar technology that distributes generation between dwellings separately from the distribution network.[1]
For NSW committees, the right first question is not which panel? It is who will own, pay for, use and maintain the infrastructure—and what evidence will the owners corporation need to approve it?
The four models a committee should compare
| Model | Where solar benefit goes | When it can be practical | Key questions before a quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common-area solar | Lifts, lighting, pumps, access control and other common loads | A practical starting point to assess for many buildings | Is there sufficient daytime common load? Who owns the roof and system? |
| Individual-unit solar | One lot only | Some townhouses or low-rise layouts | Is the roof area allocated or common property? What approval is needed? |
| Embedded-network solar | Participating lots through an existing private network | Schemes that already have an embedded-network arrangement | Who owns/operates the network and what consumer/regulatory rules apply? |
| Shared solar technology | Participating apartments and potentially common areas | Low- and medium-rise buildings where a technical assessment supports it | How will allocation, metering interfaces, equipment location and maintenance work? |
The Commonwealth Solar Consumer Guide notes that converting a building to an embedded network can carry regulatory challenges. It separately identifies solar-sharing technology as an option that distributes solar between dwellings outside the distribution network.[1]
Where SolShare fits
Allume’s SolShare is a manufacturer-specific shared-solar product. Allume describes it as hardware that connects a single rooftop system to multiple apartments and dynamically allocates solar among participating apartments and common areas. That makes it a solution to assess—not a substitute for site, strata, metering, electrical, legal or funding due diligence.[2]
Cable Co can prepare a strata-ready engineering proposal that defines the decision path: site data required, roof and switchboard observations, preliminary model options, allocation and ownership questions, evidence checklist and approval dependencies. SolShare selection, installation-partner status, product suitability and incentive eligibility must be confirmed for the specific project.
Important: Cable Co does not represent itself as an exclusive SolShare provider or certified SolShare installer through this guide. Ask for current manufacturer, installer and project documentation before contracting.
The owners corporation approval lens
NSW Fair Trading includes energy-efficiency and greenhouse-gas-reduction works within sustainability infrastructure. Before approving a sustainability infrastructure resolution, the association must consider the cost—including expected running and maintenance costs—who will own, install and maintain the infrastructure, and whether it will be available to all or only some lots.[3]
That means a credible proposal should describe more than a system size and price. It should make ownership, operating responsibility, participant eligibility, maintenance and the committee decision record clear.
A committee-ready proposal brief
Ask proponents to answer the following in writing:
- Building baseline: roof plan, shading constraints, main switchboard condition, common-area interval bills and metering arrangement.
- Benefit model: common-property only, lot-specific, shared allocation or a staged hybrid—and who participates.
- Technical architecture: PV, inverter, switchboard works, cable routes, fire/access constraints, monitoring and future battery/EV interfaces.
- Governance: asset owner, maintenance role, funding mechanism, by-law/legal advice triggers and decision pathway.
- Financial disclosure: itemised cost, assumptions, exclusions, funding status, tariff/export assumptions and sensitivity to actual usage.
- Compliance evidence: electrical licence, applicable accreditation status, product eligibility, network connection steps and warranties.
What Cable Co can do next
Start with the NSW Strata EV Approval Toolkit if the committee also needs to map electrical capacity and governance. For a strata solar or shared-energy proposal, use the Renewables enquiry path and request a strata-ready engineering proposal. For a commercial precinct or mixed-use portfolio, begin with the Commercial C.A.B.L.E. assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Does every apartment building need SolShare to share solar?
No. The appropriate model depends on building form, roof area, common loads, metering and governance. The Australian Government describes several pathways, including common-area solar, individual systems, embedded-network options and solar-sharing technology.[1]
Can an owners corporation install solar without considering maintenance and access?
No. NSW Fair Trading says associations considering sustainability infrastructure must consider expected running/maintenance cost, ownership/installation/maintenance responsibility and access for all or some lots.[3]
Is SolShare automatically suitable for every NSW apartment complex?
No. It is a product to assess against the building’s electrical, roof, metering, approval and participant circumstances. Manufacturer and partner information should be confirmed for the project.
Can Cable Co prepare a strata solar proposal?
Cable Co can prepare an engineering-led, strata-ready proposal subject to site assessment. It should document assumptions, approvals, design dependencies, project evidence and any pathway that needs third-party verification.