Commercial Solar · Pricing & Payback
Commercial solar is priced per system, not off a shelf — but there are clear benchmarks. Here's what drives the cost, indicative price ranges by system size, the rebates that bring it down, and the payback you can expect. For the only number that really matters — yours — we model it exactly for your site.
Commercial systems are quoted per watt (per kW), and the rate falls as the system gets bigger because fixed costs — design, grid connection, mobilisation — spread across more panels. The ranges below are typical installed costs after STC rebates for a standard commercial rooftop in 2026. Ground-mounts, heavy switchboard or grid works, difficult access and batteries sit above these.
| System size | Indicative installed cost (after STCs) | Indicative total | Typical payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 – 100 kW | ~$0.95 – $1.40 / W | ~$30k – $130k | 3 – 5 yrs |
| 100 – 250 kW | ~$0.80 – $1.20 / W | ~$90k – $280k | 3 – 6 yrs |
| 250 kW – 1 MW | ~$0.70 – $1.05 / W | ~$200k – $900k | 4 – 6 yrs |
| 1 MW + | ~$0.65 – $0.95 / W | $650k + | 4 – 7 yrs |
Indicative ranges only — a site-specific quote is the real number. We never quote a price or rebate figure we can't back up for your roof, switchboard and tariff.
Two identical-sized systems can quote very differently. The main cost drivers are:
Commercial solar is still well supported in Australia. Depending on your system size and state:
We handle the certificate paperwork as part of the install and confirm the current certificate value in writing at quote.
Upfront price is only half the picture. Commercial solar turns a rising operating cost into a fixed asset: once it's paid back — typically in three to six years for a well-sized, mostly self-consumed system — the generation is effectively free for the 25-year-plus life of the panels. Payback is fastest when your business:
That's why we size to your interval data and tariff, not just your roof — so the system pays back as fast as the site allows.
A sample of commercial systems our in-house team has designed and installed:
There's no single price — commercial solar is priced per system, not off a shelf. As a guide, installed cost after STCs typically runs from around $0.95/W for a small commercial rooftop (30–100kW) down to roughly $0.65–$0.90/W at MW scale, because larger systems spread fixed costs further. A 100kW system is therefore often in the order of $95,000–$130,000 installed, and a 300kW system around $220,000–$320,000 — but the only figure that matters is the one in a site-specific quote.
For a well-sized system that's mostly self-consumed on site, payback is typically three to six years, after which generation is effectively free for the 25-year-plus life of the panels. Payback is fastest where a business uses most of its power during daylight and carries high network or peak-demand charges.
Federal STCs discount the upfront cost of systems up to 100kW; systems above 100kW earn LGCs over time instead. NSW schemes (PDRS and ESS) can also reward battery storage and efficiency upgrades. We handle the certificate paperwork and confirm current values at quote.
For most businesses with a reasonable roof and daytime load, yes — it converts a rising operating cost into a fixed asset with a few-year payback. It comes down to your consumption profile and tariff, which is exactly what we assess in a free site review before recommending anything.
A battery adds to the upfront cost but can pay for itself where a site has high evening demand or time-of-use and demand tariffs — by shifting solar into the peak and, where the tariff suits, trading price swings (energy arbitrage). We only recommend storage where the numbers stack up.
Book a free site review — we'll model your real load and tariff and show you exactly what a commercial solar (and battery) system would cost, generate, save and pay back for your business. No obligation, no sales pressure.