Commercial Solar Power: Independent Advice & Market Transparency
For over 16 years, Solar Choice has been the trusted leader in commercial solar power solutions across Australia. We’ve carefully vetted thousands of solar companies to build a network of the best commercial solar installers in the country. With our proprietary tender management platform, you gain access to live pricing from over 400 trusted installers—covering projects from 10kW to 10MW, ensuring you find the most efficient and cost-effective solution tailored to your business needs.
What sets us apart? Our services come at no cost to you. That’s because our fees are covered by the installers in our network. This allows us to offer unbiased recommendations—we have no preference for which installer or product you choose, ensuring the best outcome for your project.
Start your journey with a free, no-obligation solar business case. We’ll help you determine the optimal system size based on your energy consumption and roof space, provide potential cost and financing options, and offer a detailed cash flow summary for the next 20 years.
Get a Free, No Obligations Solar Business Case Now
Why Engage Solar Choice?
Our service starts with a free, no-obligation Solar Business Case – our commercial team will analyse your electricity bills and make a recommendation on the size of solar system most appropriate for your circumstances
Solar Choice is agnostic to all products, installers and financial arrangements
We broker the best value offers on commercial solar energy systems, facilitating “apples with apples” comparisons, so that our clients make an educated decision based on real choice rather than irrelevant variations and disparity
Our network includes Australia’s most proficient, prominent and competitive solar companies with sufficient resources and experience to meet any large-scale commercial solar energy installation
Solar Choice has developed its own Tender Management Platform to streamline the handling of commercial tenders and a central point of information
Solar Choice’s commercial team is comprised of highly experienced consultants with diverse backgrounds in renewable energy, engineering, environmental science, finance, law and architecture
We remain on hand for our clients during and after installation, acting as their third party advocate and information provider
What is a commercial solar system?
A commercial solar system, also known as a solar array, is designed to generate renewable energy for businesses, industrial facilities, and large-scale operations. These systems can significantly lower electricity costs and reduce reliance on traditional power sources. Additionally, businesses can benefit from government incentives, making commercial solar systems a cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice.
How Much Do Commercial Solar Panels Cost?
Solar Choice manages tenders for commercial solar projects of all sizes and scales across the country. We hold data on solar system pricing from over 400 solar installers. We publish average pricing every 3 months in the Commercial Solar Choice Price Index.
This data shows that the average pricing for commercial solar projects under 100kW in capacity will be around $1 per watt of solar capacity installed. Above 100kW pricing (on per watt basis) increases as the STC rebate no longer applies.
If you would like to confirm pricing for your project, or access competitive quotes from pre-vetted installers in Solar Choice’s network, talk to one of our experienced consultants.
Which type of solar panel is best for commercial use?
Monocrystalline commercial solar panels, with efficiency ratings typically ranging from 17% to 23%, are generally speaking the best choice for commercial use due to their high efficiency and durability. These panels are designed to optimize energy output, especially in space-constrained industrial settings, offering better performance compared to many residential installations.
Are Commercial Solar Panels Worth It?
With the escalation of electricity prices accompanied by the continued fall in solar panel prices, the return of investment for commercial solar panel projects has become increasingly attractive.
In a recent Solar Choice study across over 300 solar business cases we found that the payback period for a commercial solar project was typically between 2 years to 5 years. This depends on key factors like location, electricity prices and installation requirements.
There are a number of different ways in which a solar project can be financed. Typically financed solar projects are cash flow positive, which means the repayments on the finance agreement are less than the savings you make on your electricity bills. This means your better off from day one, with no upfront costs required.
Some of the more popular financed options include a solar power purchase agreement, a lease to own agreement or a chattel mortgage. Read through our commercial solar finance guide which covers the pros and cons of each financing option.
Solar Choice Commercial Solar Case Studies
Charles Sturt University 4.4MW Multi-site Rollout
The installation deployed a total of 62 Fronius inverters of differing sizes, and over 6,000 Canadian Solar modules. The system generated more than 2,600,000 kWh (2,600MWh or 2.6GWh) in the first year of operation.
The installation was completed by a commercial PV specialist installer using Canadian Solar 310W modules and SMA 25,000TL inverters. At 600kW the project will comfortably be the largest roof-top array in ACT, and approximately 2.5 times larger than the next biggest school PV installation in Australia.
The Mount Majura Solar Farm north of Canberra Airport was proud host last weekend to an engaging and talented performance by five artists from the ACT based Australian Dance Party.
Solar Choice Commercial has brokered a total of 1.2MW of solar for Doug Hall Poultry across multiple sites including a large-scale ground mounted system. The company also has two 100kW solar PV systems at the company’s Ellerslie location, and the first 100kW system for their Millmerran location
Primo Smallgoods – Australia’s largest manufacturer of ham, bacon, salami and deli meats – continues to lead the food industry with its procurement of the single largest rooftop solar installation in Australia, at 3.2 megawatts (MW).
Yes, commercial solar systems are worth it. With rising electricity prices and decreasing solar panel costs, businesses can see a return on investment within 2-5 years. The long-term savings on energy bills and positive environmental impact make them a smart, sustainable choice.
What's the difference between commercial & residential solar panels?
Commercial solar panels typically have 72 cells compared to 60 that you normally see in residential panels. This higher cell count makes commercial panels larger and more efficient, ideal for meeting the higher energy demands of businesses.
What are Commercial solar rebates?
Commercial solar rebates, such as Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) for systems under 100kW and Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) for systems over 100kW, reduce installation costs and incentivize solar adoption. These rebates enhance the financial viability of commercial solar projects, offering substantial savings and quicker return on investment.
How much do commercial solar panels cost?
Our data shows that the average pricing for commercial solar projects under 100kW in capacity will be around $1 per watt of solar capacity installed. Above 100kW pricing (on per watt basis) increases as the STC rebate no longer applies.
What are the financing options for commercial solar?
Financing options for commercial solar include solar power purchase agreements (PPAs), a lease to own agreement or chattel mortgages. Each option has its pros and cons, and businesses should consult with a Solar Choice expert to determine the best choice for their financial situation.
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