Solar for small to medium businesses

Many Queensland businesses are enjoying the benefits of solar, after choosing to install a solar photovoltaics system (solar system). Benefits of installing a solar system, and generating your own renewable energy, include:

  • reduced electricity costs and increased bottom line
  • hedging against future electricity price rises – using the energy you are generating
  • reduced environmental footprint – generating your own renewable energy while the sun is shining
  • possible marketing advantages – increased business use of renewable energy.

Assess your requirements

Register for the Business Chamber Queensland ecoBiz program to access a free on-site one-on-one coaching session with a sustainability expert, who can provide you with tailored advice on choosing the right solar for your business.

Video: Kith and Kin switch to solar

Townsville-based disability service provider Kith and Kin shows how business choices, such as switching to solar, is one of the ways they’ve reduced their carbon footprint.

Learn how Queensland businesses take climate action.

  • [Lauren Shuman - Sustainability lead and facilitator, Kith and Kin]

    Climate action means to make a change, make a difference towards reducing our carbon footprint and reducing our impact on the Earth.

    [Alfred Wimblett - CEO, Kith and Kin]

    To me, the key word is action, is to take action. The world's changing, so I think it's important that everybody jump on board and not get left behind.

    Kith and Kin's a disability service, and we operate a learning centre here, and we also provide outreach services in people's homes, and we basically help people with disabilities to get out into their communities and do the things that they want to do.

    [Lauren Shuman]

    One of the original board members was really passionate about climate change and wanted to make a difference as well as assist Kith and Kin to save money and make changes for us to be sustainable long term.

    [Alfred Wimblett]

    We've transitioned 50% of our fleet to hybrid. As the technology becomes available with hybrid and electric, and down the track, possibly hydrogen, we'll transition our whole fleet to being more sustainable.

    This building for instance has got 120 solar panels and we'd like to put more up, in the future, we're looking at batteries within the next 12 months, so that we can capture more savings and spread that energy usage out.

    [Lauren Shuman]

    It directly helps us do activities with our participants, they get really excited and into the recycling and the gardening group and growing their own vegetables and their own plants and showing each other basically what they have made and what they've done.

    And that really translates into us as a whole, being able to show everyone what we're doing and what we've done and how it benefits not only us, but also the participants, and then, obviously, the world.

    [Alfred Wimblett]

    If you've got capital and you invest it, it's certainly worthwhile in terms of having great returns on not only financially, but socially, and the community organisations that maybe don't have the capital, then certainly, seek out some grants, participate in being more sustainable, it's something that we can all do.

    [Lauren Shuman - Sustainability lead and facilitator, Kith and Kin]

    Start small, it doesn't have to be big changes first, you can start small and work your way forward.

    Watch the Kith and Kin climate action case study video.

Buying and installing a solar system

If you're considering installing a solar system, the Clean Energy Council's Guide to installing solar PV for business and industry (PDF, 1.7MB) is a great place to start as there's more to solar systems than just purchase and installation. The Australian Government’s Solar consumer guide also offers helpful information about the steps involved in installing rooftop solar.

Like any business investment, it is a good idea to talk to several accredited installers about your specific needs and get several quotes before purchasing or installing a solar system. Your chosen installer may offer alternatives to paying up-front for your new solar system. You may wish to consider the following before installing a solar system:

  • Electricity use during the day – businesses that use most of their electricity during daylight hours (when solar panels generate electricity) are more likely to get the best value from solar.
  • Your electricity bill – knowing how much electricity your business uses will help you work out what size system is best for you so that you get the most from your investment.
  • Your electricity tariff – in Queensland, small to medium businesses are generally charged for their electricity in one of two ways (based on annual electricity usage):
    • A flat rate tariff is usual for businesses consuming less than 100 megawatt hours (MWh) per year. Your business is charged based on the amount of energy used (measured in cents per kilowatt hour). You may be charged either at 1 flat rate all day, or 2 flat rates: 1 for the day and 1 for nights and weekends.
    • A demand tariff (or capacity tariff) is usual for businesses consuming more than 100MWh per year. Your business is charged based on the maximum amount of power used at any one moment (charged in kilowatts or kilovolt-amperes, also known as your peak demand).
  • Connecting to the grid – you need your distributor's approval to connect your system to the grid before installation. The connection process may differ depending on the size of your system and whether you want to export electricity to the grid.
  • Feed-in-tariffs – you may be able to sell excess electricity that your solar system produces back to the grid, but you need to weigh up the financial benefits. The main value of solar for a small to medium business is generally in using as much of the solar power generated as possible.
  • Premises ownership – many small to medium businesses lease their premises. Because installing a solar system can involve building alterations, make sure you talk to your body corporate or landlord first.

Read the Clean Energy Council's Guide to installing solar PV for business and industry (PDF, 1.7MB) or the Australian Government's Solar Consumer Guide for further advice about how to decide if a solar system is right for your small to medium business.

Requirements for large solar and battery systems

All new or replacement rooftop solar PV and battery storage systems of 10 kilovolt amperes or greater are required to install a generation signalling device.

Read more about how Queensland's emergency backstop mechanism will safeguard the stability of the grid and support the continued uptake of renewables across the state.