Commercial Solar Melbourne
Business systems from 20 kW to 100 kW, designed around your load profile rather than your roof size.
For most businesses, electricity is a fixed cost that only moves one way. Commercial solar turns a large part of that into an asset you own outright, and because daytime generation lines up with trading hours, businesses typically self-consume far more of their output than households do. Smart Solar Energy designs, installs and connects commercial systems across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Why commercial solar stacks up
The economics work differently to a home. Businesses draw most of their power between 8am and 6pm, which is exactly when panels generate. That overlap means less energy gets exported at a low feed-in rate and more gets used at full retail value.
Trading hours align with peak solar output, so most of what you produce gets consumed on site rather than exported.
Larger systems cost less per kW installed. A 40 kW array is considerably cheaper per unit than a residential 6.6 kW.
Once the system is paid off, a significant share of your energy cost is locked in regardless of retail price movements.
Commercial solar is a business asset, so depreciation and any applicable write-off provisions may apply.
Where your tariff includes demand charges, shaving the daytime peak can reduce that component as well as consumption.
Increasingly relevant in tenders and supply chain requirements, particularly for businesses supplying larger corporates.
Commercial system sizes
Sizing starts with your interval data rather than your roof. We look at when you actually draw power across the day, then design an array that covers as much of that load as the site allows.
- Small office or warehouse
- Single or three phase
- Modest roof footprint
- Workshop or light manufacturing
- Three phase supply
- Strong self-consumption
- Larger warehouse or retail
- Refrigeration or machinery load
- Network approval required
- Large industrial site
- Upper limit of the STC scheme
- Detailed grid study needed
Panel counts assume 440–475W modules. Final design depends on roof structure, orientation, shading and your distributor's export limits.
What a commercial system costs
Cost per kilowatt falls as system size rises, though several site factors move the final figure either way.
What drives the price
Roof type and access matter most. A single-storey tin roof with clear access is straightforward, while a multi-level site or a roof needing structural reinforcement adds significantly to labour. Switchboard capacity, cable runs and whether the site is single or three phase all feed into it too.
How the rebate applies
Systems up to 100 kW qualify for STCs under the same small-scale scheme that covers homes, and the value comes off your quoted price upfront. Above 100 kW, systems move into the large-scale scheme, which works differently and involves ongoing certificate generation rather than a single upfront discount.
Commercial solar is treated as a business asset, which means depreciation applies and, depending on the thresholds in force at the time, instant asset write-off provisions may be available.
Thresholds and eligibility rules change between financial years, so confirm your position with your accountant before making the decision on that basis.
Industries we work with
Where a meaningful share of your load falls in the evening or overnight, storage changes the maths considerably. It's worth modelling both options before committing to a system size.
See our battery optionsOur process for commercial sites
Your interval data and bills get reviewed to establish when you actually consume power, not just how much.
Roof condition, structure, access and switchboard capacity are all checked before a design is finalised.
You receive a fixed price, generation modelling and a payback estimate based on your actual tariff.
Larger systems need distributor approval before installation. That application is lodged and managed for you.
Work is scheduled around your operating hours, then the system is tested, commissioned and connected.
Performance monitoring is set up so you can verify output against the modelling, with ongoing support after handover.
Areas we service
Commercial installations run across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including industrial areas in Dandenong, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Clyde and the surrounding south-east. Sites further out are assessed case by case.
Frequently asked questions
Payback, sizing, rebates, tax and disruption.
What is the payback period on commercial solar?
Most commercial systems in Victoria land in a two to three year range, though that depends heavily on your tariff and how much of your load falls during daylight hours. A business running machinery through the day pays a system off faster than one operating mainly in the evening. We model your specific figures rather than quoting an average.
How big a system does my business need?
Sizing starts with your interval data, which shows when you draw power across the day rather than just the monthly total. The aim is to cover as much daytime consumption as possible without generating large volumes you can only export at a low rate. Roof space and your distributor's export limit then set the practical ceiling.
Does commercial solar get a rebate?
Systems up to 100 kW qualify for STCs under the same scheme that applies to homes, with the value deducted from your price before payment. Above 100 kW the system moves into the large-scale scheme, which generates certificates over time rather than as a single upfront discount.
Can I claim solar as a tax deduction?
Commercial solar is a business asset, so depreciation applies and instant asset write-off provisions may be available depending on the thresholds in force. Because those rules shift between financial years, your accountant should confirm the position before you rely on it.
Will installation disrupt our operations?
Most of the work happens on the roof and has little effect on what's happening below. A short outage is needed for the switchboard connection, and that gets scheduled around your quietest period or outside trading hours where the site allows.
Send us a recent bill and we'll model your generation, savings and payback against your actual tariff.
Request an assessment
Frequently asked questions
Payback, sizing, rebates, tax and disruption.
Frequently asked questions
Payback, sizing, rebates, tax and disruption.
What is the payback period on commercial solar?
Most commercial systems in Victoria land in a two to three year range, though that depends heavily on your tariff and how much of your load falls during daylight hours. A business running machinery through the day pays a system off faster than one operating mainly in the evening. We model your specific figures rather than quoting an average.
How big a system does my business need?
Sizing starts with your interval data, which shows when you draw power across the day rather than just the monthly total. The aim is to cover as much daytime consumption as possible without generating large volumes you can only export at a low rate. Roof space and your distributor’s export limit then set the practical ceiling.
Does commercial solar get a rebate?
Systems up to 100 kW qualify for STCs under the same scheme that applies to homes, with the value deducted from your price before payment. Above 100 kW the system moves into the large-scale scheme, which generates certificates over time rather than as a single upfront discount.
Can I claim solar as a tax deduction?
Commercial solar is a business asset, so depreciation applies and instant asset write-off provisions may be available depending on the thresholds in force. Because those rules shift between financial years, your accountant should confirm the position before you rely on it.
Will installation disrupt our operations?
Most of the work happens on the roof and has little effect on what’s happening below. A short outage is needed for the switchboard connection, and that gets scheduled around your quietest period or outside trading hours where the site allows.