Commercial / Solar & energy
Commercial solar
Turn daytime generation into useful on-site energy. We assess your load profile, roof and electrical infrastructure to design commercial solar.
Local electricians · Clear advice · Ongoing support
Self-consumption is where the value is
Exported power earns a feed-in tariff. Power you consume yourself avoids the retail rate you would otherwise pay, which is several times higher. So the value of a commercial system is driven less by how much it generates and more by how much of that generation lands while you are operating.
A business trading nine to five on weekdays consumes most of its midday generation. One that operates in the evening does not. That is why we look at your load profile before sizing anything.
How we design a system
Every system is designed for the specific building, based on your current energy performance, the results you want from the system, your roof surface area, the direction the roof faces and your budget. No matter what size your premises is, there is a solution available.
- Interval data from your retailer where we can get it, which shows exactly when you use power rather than only how much.
- Roof area, orientation, pitch and sheeting type, plus the structural capacity to carry an array.
- Shading from plant, parapets, neighbouring buildings and vegetation, assessed across the day and the year.
- Your tariff structure, including whether you are billed on peak demand as well as consumption.
- Network export limits, which can cap system size regardless of available roof.
- Your plans. A site about to add plant, refrigeration or EV charging should be designed for that load, not today’s.
Owner-occupier or landlord
Solar benefits both, for different reasons.
If you own and occupy
Solar reduces your operating cost directly. Every kilowatt hour you generate and use is one you do not buy at the retail rate.
If you own and lease
Solar can increase rental yield. It lowers your tenant’s power bill, which makes the tenancy more attractive and more competitive at renewal.
Demand charges
Many commercial tariffs bill on peak demand, measured as the highest interval in the period, as well as on total consumption. Solar reduces consumption reliably, but it only reduces demand charges if your peak happens to fall during daylight. Where it does not, battery storage is the tool that shaves the peak.
Start with a feasibility study. For anything of scale, a proper assessment of your load profile, roof and network constraints is what turns a guess into a business case. See feasibility and site assessment.
Good to know
Your questions, answered.
How big a system should we install?
Large enough to cover your daytime load without generating a lot of exported surplus. That number comes out of your interval data, not from the size of your roof.
What if our roof cannot take it?
We assess the structure as part of the feasibility work. Some older buildings need remedial work, and occasionally ground mount or car park structures are the better answer.
Will it reduce our demand charges?
Only if your demand peak falls in daylight hours. If it does not, battery storage is what addresses it.
How disruptive is the installation?
Most of the work happens on the roof and has little effect on operations. The connection and commissioning need a short outage, which we schedule around you.
Let’s talk about your project.
Tell us your suburb, priorities and the work you have in mind. We’ll help you take the next step.