Commercial & Industrial Solar Solutions
C&I Solar Solutions refer to tailored solar energy systems designed to meet the unique energy needs of commercial and industrial businesses. These systems are scalable, efficient, and optimized to reduce energy costs, enhance sustainability, and provide long-term energy security for businesses of all sizes.
C&I solar installations typically involve rooftop solar panels, ground-mounted systems, or solar carports, depending on the available space and energy requirements. Advanced technologies like battery storage and energy management systems can further enhance efficiency, allowing businesses to store excess energy and use it during peak hours.
Benefits of Installing Solar for C&I
Cost Savings
Tax Incentives and Rebates
Sustainability Goals
Energy Independence
Increased Property Value
The Solar Revolution Process
- Energy Assessment An in-depth evaluation of your business’s energy usage, costs, and future energy demands to determine the ideal solar solution.
- Customized Design Engineering a solar system tailored to your facility’s unique energy needs, space, and operational goals.
- Installation Efficient and professional installation of solar panels, inverters, and other components, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
- Monitoring & Maintenance Ongoing monitoring and maintenance services to ensure optimal performance, longevity, and maximum energy savings.
- Integration of Advanced Solutions Incorporating battery storage and smart energy management systems for enhanced control and resilience.
Our Aim for Installing Solar for Your Business
Our mission is to empower businesses to embrace renewable energy, reduce operational costs, and achieve sustainability goals. By offering state-of-the-art solar solutions, we aim to:
Enhance your energy efficiency and reduce your environmental impact.
Help you save money while securing a stable and reliable energy source.
Drive the transition to a cleaner, greener future for businesses.
Switch to Clean, Reliable, and Cost-Effective Solar Solutions for Your Business
FAQs
As electricity prices continue to rise, all businesses should be looking to reduce their energy consumption and electricity spend wherever they can. A commercial solar system is a great way to do this in an economical way, without having to change the way your business operates. Stakeholder expectations have also changed, and embracing renewable energy is a fantastic way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability while modernising your business.
On average, our clients save 30% on their energy bills in the first 12 months after installation. Factors that influence the total savings achievable include
whether battery storage is installed,
the energy rate the business is paying to their retailer,
the location i.e. available sunlight,
the quality and condition of the equipment i.e. panel efficiency, proper cable sizing, how well maintained they are.
whether battery storage is installed,
the energy rate the business is paying to their retailer,
the location i.e. available sunlight,
the quality and condition of the equipment i.e. panel efficiency, proper cable sizing, how well maintained they are.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solar system that will suit all businesses. Getting the most out of your commercial solar system requires careful consideration of your premises and some creative thinking to take advantage of your physical space. There are multiple options to suit varying circumstances:
Rooftop: Rooftop solar systems are some of the most popular solar PV systems because they’re safe to install, easy to maintain and cause minimal disruption to operations during installation.
Ground Mount: Ground mount solar systems are a great way to turn unusable pieces of land into productive energy sources, especially if your roof structure is unsuitable for a rooftop system. Ground mount systems are also easy to operate and maintain.
Solar Car Shades: Solar car shades are an intelligent use of space that can deliver multiple benefits in a single form, including providing clean energy to adjacent buildings. These systems can also be modular and adaptable to suit any car park size.
Building Integrated: Building-integrated solar systems take this intelligent design approach to the next level, incorporating solar into the architectural structure such as replacement roofs.
Rooftop: Rooftop solar systems are some of the most popular solar PV systems because they’re safe to install, easy to maintain and cause minimal disruption to operations during installation.
Ground Mount: Ground mount solar systems are a great way to turn unusable pieces of land into productive energy sources, especially if your roof structure is unsuitable for a rooftop system. Ground mount systems are also easy to operate and maintain.
Solar Car Shades: Solar car shades are an intelligent use of space that can deliver multiple benefits in a single form, including providing clean energy to adjacent buildings. These systems can also be modular and adaptable to suit any car park size.
Building Integrated: Building-integrated solar systems take this intelligent design approach to the next level, incorporating solar into the architectural structure such as replacement roofs.
Generally, solar panels last 25 to 30 years as an industry standard. Reputable manufacturers typically offer production warranties for 25 years or more. Consistent, professional maintenance is key to ensuring you get the most out of your panels for longer.
In short, yes. However, using real-time monitoring of solar systems located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, a study by monitoring firm Solar Analytics concluded that different cloud levels decreased output at the following rates:
High level cloud: Solar output largely unaffected
Overcast conditions: 50% reduction in output
Low-level dark cloud: Solar output reduces by 70 – 90%
Battery storage mitigates this issue by storing energy generated while the sun is shining and releasing it on low-output (i.e., cloudy) days.
High level cloud: Solar output largely unaffected
Overcast conditions: 50% reduction in output
Low-level dark cloud: Solar output reduces by 70 – 90%
Battery storage mitigates this issue by storing energy generated while the sun is shining and releasing it on low-output (i.e., cloudy) days.
To get the most value for your money, you should aim to consume all the power that your solar system generates, which will save you from exporting excess power to the grid. A common way to calculate how much solar energy your business will need is to average your minimum daily load over seven days. This table gives a rough guide to calculating your solar system size based on your annual commercial energy costs:
Solar Systems under 30kW: the smallest tier of commercial installation, these systems can generate around 120 kWh of power daily and do not require the installation of a Grid Protection Unit, representing a significant saving.
Solar Systems between 30kW-100kW: mid-sized installations that are often seen on medium-sized offices, clubs, and stores. Unlike systems 30 kW and under, these mid-sized systems need a commercial solar specialist and extra components required by the network.
Solar Systems over 100kW: larger office buildings, mid-sized factories and hotels are common beneficiaries of solar systems over 100 kW. These larger systems require special meters to claim LGC rebates and come with added complexities.
Solar Systems over 250kW: substantial projects, such as large solar farms, shopping centres and large factories. At Smart, our typical installation falls into this category, and can even be as large as 15 MW+.
Solar Systems between 30kW-100kW: mid-sized installations that are often seen on medium-sized offices, clubs, and stores. Unlike systems 30 kW and under, these mid-sized systems need a commercial solar specialist and extra components required by the network.
Solar Systems over 100kW: larger office buildings, mid-sized factories and hotels are common beneficiaries of solar systems over 100 kW. These larger systems require special meters to claim LGC rebates and come with added complexities.
Solar Systems over 250kW: substantial projects, such as large solar farms, shopping centres and large factories. At Smart, our typical installation falls into this category, and can even be as large as 15 MW+.
The capital cost of solar will vary depending on whether it’s a rooftop, ground-mount or car-shade solar solution. The complexity of the integration into your commercial site and your chosen procurement method will also influence the capital cost. For example;
Yes, you can upgrade your existing solar system if necessary. If your energy requirements have increased and your current system no longer meets your demand, consider upgrading your existing solar array. Upgrades may include adding additional panels, replacing existing equipment with more efficient models, or even expanding your system by adding additional technologies such as battery storage. Note that any upgrades must meet standards outlined by the policies of your state and network provider. The additions should work seamlessly with the existing panels, inverters, or battery storage.
Yes, you can still get solar for your business if you're a tenant. In fact, the majority of our projects have been delivered for organisations who lease their premises, including My Muscle Chef, KFC and Officeworks.
For landlord's, there are benefits to having solar installed on their property, whether roof or ground mounted. These include:
Installing commercial solar on your building can help make lease agreements more attractive and encourage tenants to stay longer.
Buildings may see lower costs of capital and higher market value because of this reduced risk.
Many businesses now have sustainability goals which encourages them to seek buildings with lower energy demands. This means you can potentially gain a higher rent in the future.
The current tenant who purchases the system will be invested in the property and would not likely move quickly.
For landlord's, there are benefits to having solar installed on their property, whether roof or ground mounted. These include:
Installing commercial solar on your building can help make lease agreements more attractive and encourage tenants to stay longer.
Buildings may see lower costs of capital and higher market value because of this reduced risk.
Many businesses now have sustainability goals which encourages them to seek buildings with lower energy demands. This means you can potentially gain a higher rent in the future.
The current tenant who purchases the system will be invested in the property and would not likely move quickly.