Commercial Solar Power System

Solar is right for a whole range of businesses, from manufacturing through to hospitality. If you’ve got a site with a roof, and you run a business that uses electrical power, it’s likely an option for you. To find out, book a solar feasibility assessment, which can often be remotely done to ensure minimum disruption to your day.

The majority of businesses install solar with less than $5,000 in upfront costs.

The total cost of commercial solar panels dependent largely on a range of factors, including:

• The size of the system in kW, which dictates how many panels are required
• Your energy usage and requirements
• Whether or not you opt for battery storage

As your system size is dictated by your commercial needs, your system price is completely bespoke, and will be accurately quoted after we touch base with you and have a solar feasibility assessment done. Unlike many other solar providers, we’ll check what you use and the size of feasible roof space to make an assessment on what you truly need.

Price is also impacted by your ability to claim rebates and initiatives from local and federal government (Australia only). We’ve had clients able to claim tens of thousands with these initiatives, which we organise on your behalf to ensure you are getting the maximum saving. Book your assessment here.

The Federal and State governments financially reward businesses who make the switch to renewable energy which mean your business may likely be eligible for rebates to help put towards the cost of a solar system.

If you would like to find out your eligibility please contact our specialist solar team here.

As technology has improved, solar panels have become more efficient.

Unless you have a battery installed and are completely “off the grid”, remaining connected to grid energy is essential for ensuring your business can rely on power on demand, no matter the circumstances.

While your solar system will do the heavy lifting for you during daytime hours, there may be times when you require the grid as your back up.

For example:

• Unexpected up-turns in energy requirements may see you need more energy than what your panels can provide.

• Poor weather conditions may reduce your solar system’s output in comparison to your needs.

• A fault or issues with the solar system would leave you without access to power

• You may require energy during the night, for night shifts or security and lighting.

• There are elements to your gas and electricity bills that reflect connection charges to your account, that do not correlate to your charge. Meaning, even if you do not utilise grid energy in that period, you are still subject to some fees.

With the average commercial system reducing energy bills by an average of 40 - 70%, solar is a feasible and cash flow positive option for many businesses that is a great benefit in conjunction with other energy management services.

There are a few crucial steps in ensuring commercial solar systems are connected legally and properly.

Part of the solar system installation is getting the correct grid approval from your energy network provider to undertake an install, which is usually the most time consuming part, and can range from instant to a few weeks or even months, depending on your location and the size of your system.

Either way, we keep you abreast of how your installation is travelling, and ensure you are notified of times that work for you when it comes to installing.

Our expert installers will give you an estimated timeline for the installation, and offer minimal interference from your usual business.

We’ve helped over 8,000 businesses across Australia and New Zealand take control of their energy bills and invest in clean and renewable solar. You can see just some of our clients on our customers page here.

For systems under 100kW, businesses qualify for the STC scheme.

When purchasing a solar PV system, your solar company will offer an upfront 'STC Discount' in exchange for assigning these STC's to them.

The larger the solar system, the more STCs a customer is entitled to, and so greater the rebate. However, Choice Energy does not believe in oversizing solar systems and instead works with your specific energy profile to determine the best size and what's going to give you maximum financial benefit.

For systems over 100kW in capacity, businesses will qualify to recoup LGCs.

These large-scale generation certificates are redeemable for every megawatt-hour of electricity produced until the year 2030. LGCs are typically traded for cash directly to the entity which purchased the solar system.

Commercial solar panels through Choice Energy are warrantied to last up to 25 years with the manufacturer.

For any warranty claims, Choice Energy are on hand to directly assist in a full replacement.

Like shares, STCs have a trading value and every year on the 1st of January, the quantity of STCs redeemable decreases meaning the overall rebate decreases

The STC Federal rebates for commercial solar commenced in 2011 and are expected to end in 2030.

Like STCs, LGCs are redeemable until the year 2030. They can be traded either quarterly, half yearly, or annually depending on the market value of the certificates.