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Funding for volume builders

Volume builders (builders or developers who construct more than 20 houses a year) may be eligible for two types of financial assistance under the Solar Water Heating Volume Build Grant Schemes.

There are two options for funding:

the Volume Build Show Home and Grant Scheme, or
the Volume Build Grant Scheme

Volume Build Show Home and Grant Scheme

A grant is available to a volume builder to install a packaged solar water heating system which meets the threshold for financial assistance in a show home for a minimum period of six months. The volume builder must also promote and provide a best endeavours committment to install packaged systems which meet the threshold in at least 20 new homes within 12 calendar months of the show home contract being signed with EECA.

EECA will contribute:

$3,000 at the start of the scheme for a fully functional packaged system to be installed in the volume builder’s show home, that will be open to the public for six months
$500 for each packaged system installed in each of the 20 or more new homes built over the first year of the scheme.

To assist the Volume Builder in promoting solar to their customers, a $1000 grant is also available to the homeowner where they - the homeowner, not the builder - specifiy an eligible system in a custom built house. When this happens, the homeowner would apply for their $1000 grant under the Grants and Loans Scheme.

Volume Build Grant Scheme

This scheme is available to volume builders who do not want to take part in the show home grant scheme above.

Volume builders who provide a best endeavours commitment to promote and install packaged systems which meet the threshold for financial assistance on at least 20 new houses within 12 calendar months from the signing of the contract with EECA may be eligible.

EECA will contribute:

$500 for each packaged system installed in each of the 20 or more new homes built over the first year of the scheme.

Criteria for financial assistance

The solar water heating systems installed must be packaged, meet the threshold for financial assistance and be nominated by participating SIA accredited suppliers.

The full cost of the system, including the installation must not exceed a threshold set by EECA.

Definition of threshold

This is NOT a Recommended or Guaranteed Retail Price

The threshold is the maximum amount an installed solar water heating system may cost to be eligible to apply for government assistance. If the total cost (including installation and building consent) is above the threshold, government assistance is not available.

The threshold for financial assistance is based on the energy performance of the system, the cost of electricity, and other assumptions relating to cost savings over a period of 20 years. The threshold is not a recommended retail price, or a guaranteed price.

Choosing a supplier

Accredited suppliers already participating in the funding schemes for home owners, who have packaged systems with agreed thresholds automatically qualify for participation in the Volume Build Grants Schemes.

Systems from accredited suppliers that are eligible for funding assistance for volume builders

New suppliers who are ready to participate in the Volume Build Grants Schemes will be added as they join the scheme.

Other accredited suppliers who may be interested in working under the Volume Build Schemes. A list of all accredited suppliers are available at the Solar Industries Association website.

Visit Solar Industries Association website