NCC 2025 – Key Electrical and Solar Provisions

The National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 introduces important updates that will impact the electrical and solar requirements for new buildings. These changes come into effect on 1 October 2025 and are designed to support the transition to full building electrification and increase renewable energy adoption.

Key Changes:

1. Mandatory Solar PV Installation
   • New commercial buildings must install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.
   • Coverage must include 100% of the available roof space (excluding areas such as trafficable zones and plant spaces).
   • Alternatively, compliance can be met by achieving the minimum output rating per square meter of conditioned space.
   • Reference: NCC 2025, Volume One, Section J (Energy Efficiency).

2. Provisions for Full Electrification
   • Buildings must be designed to support future full electrification, allowing for the transition from gas-powered systems.
   • Electrical switchboards must include reserved circuit breaker slots and DIN rail spaces to accommodate future battery storage and system expansions.
   • Reference: NCC 2025, Volume One, Part J6 (Electrical Energy Efficiency).

3. EV Charging Infrastructure
   • New developments must provide wiring and electrical capacity to support future electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
   • Reference: NCC 2025, Volume One, Part J9 (Electric Vehicle Readiness).

4. Power Quality and Load Management
   • Buildings must implement load balancing and power quality measures to avoid circuit overloading and ensure stable electrical distribution.
   • Reference: NCC 2025, Volume One, Part J8 (Electrical Load Management).

5. Emergency Backup and Resilience
   • Provisions for backup power, such as battery storage or generators, should be included to maintain essential services during grid outages.
   • Reference: NCC 2025, Volume One, Part J7 (Emergency Power and Resilience).

What This Means in Practice:

• Larger Electrical Supply Infrastructure: Builders and developers may need to install larger electrical supply capacity to accommodate traditional gas-powered services such as hot water, cooktops, and heating. This ensures that if gas is disconnected in the future, the building can function entirely on electricity without major retrofits.

• Future-Proofing for Energy Storage: Ensuring adequate space in electrical switchboards and circuit designs will allow seamless integration of battery storage and additional electric loads.

• Consideration of Peak Load Management: With increased electrical demand, load management strategies may need to be incorporated to optimize energy use and efficiency.

• EV Charging Infrastructure: Provision for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations should be considered in new developments, ensuring that wiring and switchboards are capable of supporting future demand.

• Power Quality and Load Balancing: With greater reliance on electricity, buildings must implement strategies to manage power quality, avoid overloading circuits, and ensure stability in electrical distribution.

• Emergency Backup and Resilience: Given the reliance on electricity for all services, provisions for backup power, such as battery storage or generators, should be included to maintain essential operations during grid outages.

Compliance Timeline:

• Immediate: Builders and developers should begin planning for these changes to ensure smooth compliance by the enforcement date.
• 1 October 2025: New projects must adhere to these requirements.

For more details, refer to the full NCC 2025 documentation or consult industry professionals for guidance on meeting these new standards.

Stay ahead of the changes – ensure your projects comply with NCC 2025 requirements.