Commercial solar feasibility: the information that turns an idea into a decision.
A practical starting guide for Australian commercial and industrial sites considering solar, storage, a microgrid or a Power Purchase Agreement.
A feasibility assessment should do more than estimate how many panels fit on a roof. It should connect the site’s electricity use, tariffs, operating hours, physical constraints and commercial objectives to a realistic project pathway.
Start with electricity data
A recent electricity bill is enough for an initial conversation. A stronger assessment normally uses twelve months of interval data so demand can be mapped across days, seasons and operating periods.
Useful information to gather
- Recent electricity bills and, where available, 12 months of interval data.
- Operating hours, shutdown periods and expected changes in production.
- Roof plans, available land and any known structural constraints.
- Existing solar, generators, batteries or power-quality equipment.
- Critical loads and the operational consequence of an outage.
- Lease term, ownership structure and preferred investment horizon.
What a credible assessment should test
Load alignment
Solar has the strongest direct value when generation overlaps with onsite consumption. Export assumptions, demand charges and evening operations should be assessed separately rather than hidden inside one annual estimate.
Storage duration and use case
A battery should be selected for the job it must perform: solar shifting, peak reduction, resilience, power quality or a combination. Long-duration requirements may lead to a different technology and system design from short-duration peak support.
Connection and physical constraints
Network export limits, switchboard capacity, transformer ratings, fire and access requirements, roof condition and future site works can materially affect scope, timing and cost.
Commercial structure
Customer ownership, finance and an onsite PPA allocate capital, risk, maintenance and long-term value differently. The cheapest-looking headline rate is not automatically the best whole-of-term outcome.
Questions to ask before approving a project
- Which assumptions have the greatest effect on the result?
- How much generated energy is expected to be used onsite?
- What happens if operations or tariffs change?
- Who carries performance, maintenance and replacement risk?
- How are network constraints and approval timing treated?
- Are savings quoted before or after operating costs and escalation?
What Green Grid Australia needs for a first conversation
Send a recent electricity bill, the site location and a short description of operating hours and objectives. If the opportunity appears suitable, interval data and site information can support a more detailed technical and commercial assessment.
Start with your electricity data.
Book a short feasibility discussion. It is an initial assessment, not a commitment to proceed.
Book a feasibility call