Turn your roof into a 3-to-5 year return.
A straight-talking guide to commercial solar power for Australian businesses — what commercial solar really costs, how the payback works, the rebates you can claim, and how to compare quotes without getting burned.
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Is commercial solar power worth it for your business?
The short version, then the detail behind it.
For most businesses that use a lot of electricity during daylight hours, commercial solar power is worth it. A well-sized system usually pays for itself in 3 to 5 years and then supplies low-cost power for 20+ years. The size of the return comes down to how much energy you use on-site during the day, your tariff and demand charges, and getting the system sized correctly for your load.
The single biggest driver of your return is self-consumption — the share of solar you use on-site instead of exporting. A business running machinery, refrigeration or air-conditioning through the day will see a far faster payback than one that’s mostly empty at midday. Map your usage in half-hour blocks before sizing anything.
How much does a commercial solar power system cost?
Indicative installed prices by system size, before rebates. Use them to sanity-check quotes — not as a substitute for a site-specific assessment.
As a rough guide, expect around $30,000–$45,000 for a 30kW system, $90,000–$140,000 for 100kW, and proportionally more above that. Roof type, switchboard and cabling work, and grid-connection requirements move the final figure, which is why itemised quotes matter.
| System size | Indicative installed cost* | Rough roof area | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kW | $11,000 – $16,000 | ~55 m² | Small offices, cafes, clinics |
| 30 kW | $30,000 – $45,000 | ~160 m² | Retail, workshops, small warehouses |
| 50 kW | $48,000 – $70,000 | ~270 m² | Manufacturing, larger retail |
| 100 kW | $90,000 – $140,000 | ~550 m² | Factories, cold storage, agribusiness |
| 250 kW+ | $210,000+ | 1,400 m²+ | Large industrial sites, solar farms |
*Indicative ranges only, before incentives. Updated June 2026 — final pricing depends on your site. Compare itemised quotes for an accurate figure.
How is commercial solar payback calculated?
Commercial returns are more involved than residential because your bill has more moving parts. Three savings streams combine to repay the system.
What a typical payback timeline looks like
Illustrative — your figure depends on usage, tariff and system size.
Paid off · yr 3–5
Net return · yr 5–25+
Beware quotes that headline a payback under two years or model 100% self-consumption — both usually mean optimistic assumptions. A credible installer shows their workings: your interval (NEM12) data, a realistic self-consumption rate, and conservative tariff figures.
Commercial solar rebates: what your business can claim
Commercial incentives work differently depending on system size — and there are tax levers on top.
STCs — under 100kW
Systems below 100kW earn upfront Small-scale Technology Certificates, usually applied as a point-of-sale discount. The amount scales with system size and your STC zone.
LGCs & the LRET — 100kW+
Systems of 100kW and over generate Large-scale Generation Certificates over time under the LRET, rather than an upfront discount — an ongoing revenue stream.
Tax: write-off & depreciation
Businesses may be able to use the instant asset write-off or depreciate the system, improving after-tax returns. Check current ATO thresholds with your accountant.
On top of the federal schemes, several states run their own business energy or battery incentives, and feed-in tariffs differ by network. Tell us your location and we’ll match you with installers who quote the incentives that actually apply where you are.
Solar by business type
Daytime load shape is everything. These sectors tend to see the strongest returns.
Warehousing & logistics
Huge roof area and daytime operation — often the fastest payback of any sector.
Manufacturing
Constant daytime machine load means very high self-consumption.
Agriculture
Irrigation, pumping and cold rooms pair well with solar and battery.
Cold storage
Refrigeration runs all day — ideal for high solar offset.
Retail & hospitality
Lighting, HVAC and equipment loads through trading hours.
Offices
Air-conditioning and equipment loads that peak with the sun.
Buy, finance, or PPA?
Three ways to fund a commercial system, with different effects on cash flow and lifetime return.
| Option | Upfront cost | Who owns it | Lifetime return | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy outright | Full | You | Highest | You have capital and want maximum return |
| Finance / loan | Low / nil | You | High | You want the asset and incentives, spread the cost |
| PPA | $0 | Provider | Lower | No capital outlay; you simply buy cheaper power |
A PPA (power purchase agreement) means a third party owns and maintains the system on your roof and you buy the electricity it produces, typically below grid rates.
How to compare commercial solar power quotes
The cheapest quote rarely wins on a 25-year asset. Pressure-test every proposal against these.
- Sizing is based on your data. The installer used your interval (NEM12) data, not a guess, to size the system to your real load.
- The ROI assumptions are conservative. Realistic self-consumption, honest tariffs, and demand-charge savings shown separately.
- Components are named, not vague. Specific panel and inverter models with Australian warranty support — not just “tier 1”.
- Grid approval is accounted for. Export limits and network approval for your size are addressed up front, not after you sign.
- The installer is CEC-accredited and has commercial projects of similar scale you can verify.
How Solar Proof works
We’re a free comparison service — we match you to vetted installers and stay neutral.
Tell us about your site
Two minutes: your location, business type, roof and rough energy use. No obligation.
We match vetted installers
Up to three CEC-accredited installers with commercial experience in your area quote your project.
Compare and decide
You compare itemised quotes side by side and choose — or walk away. The choice is always yours.
Commercial solar questions, answered
Is commercial solar worth it in Australia? +
How much does a commercial solar system cost? +
What rebates can a business claim? +
How long does a commercial install take? +
Should we buy, finance, or use a PPA? +
See what solar would do for your business
Get up to three free, no-obligation quotes from CEC-accredited installers who know commercial projects. Two minutes to start.
Hello am asking what are good type of solar used commercially and also kindly advise me how many panels are needed to make 11kw
I will be thankful if am advised thanks