Australia launches major electrification program for student housing
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- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Australia’s student accommodation sector is set for a major clean-energy upgrade, with the Albanese Government and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) backing the country’s biggest apartment-electrification project — and it’s happening across student housing.
Through a $50 million CEFC investment into The Living Company’s Scape Australia Core Fund, up to 20 large student accommodation buildings in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide will transition to fully electric systems. Gas connections will be removed, and new energy-efficient technologies will be installed. The upgrades will benefit more than 17,000 students by improving comfort and cutting emissions.
This marks the first Commonwealth-funded electrification project of this scale for residential apartments — a significant step for both student living and Australia’s broader push toward net zero.
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson said the project delivers the practical climate solutions Australians expect. He highlighted that electric buildings are cheaper to run, better for the environment and more comfortable for residents.
The upgrades support the Government’s Built Environment Sector Plan and national Net Zero strategy. Scape buildings will also receive insulation improvements, advanced metering and trials of “grid-interactive” technology to help shift energy use to times when renewable power is most abundant.
In another milestone, the CEFC has become the first Australian institutional investor to join TLCo.’s $6 billion Scape Australia Core Fund. The fund now has more than $300 million in new equity in just six months, representing the country’s largest institutionally owned residential portfolio and aiming to grow beyond $10 billion in the next five years.
TLCo. leaders say the CEFC partnership reflects growing confidence in Australia’s living-sector platforms and a shared commitment to sustainability and community impact. Scape’s executives say electrification is both a climate responsibility and a long-term advantage for students.
The investment follows strong sustainability results, with TLCo.’s development funds ranked #1 globally for residential sustainability performance and Scape’s Core Program scoring second in its category.
TLCo.’s portfolio is on track to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2030 through electrification, renewable energy and climate-focused design.
CEFC Property Executive Director Michael Di Russo said the project sets a new benchmark for residential climate action and is the largest apartment-electrification initiative the CEFC has supported.
The upgrades will deliver:
Modern, all-electric student apartments
Reduced emissions and lower energy bills
Smarter, more efficient building performance
Housing designed for a net zero future
As demand for sustainable, affordable student housing grows, this nationwide electrification program positions Australia as a global leader in clean, modern student living.
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