Small Business Solar
Melbourne
Supply Solar designs and installs 20-50kW solar systems for Melbourne cafes, retail stores, medical centres, offices and trade businesses — sized to your actual daytime consumption, with the STC discount applied upfront and simple network approval in most cases.
Free Small Business Assessment
Bill analysis · Sizing · Fixed-price proposal
No obligation · Fixed-price proposal
How Big a Solar System Does My Small Business Need?
| System size | Annual generation (Melbourne) | Annual bill saving est. | Roof space required | Grid approval | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–20 kWMicro commercial | 13,000–26,000 kWh/yr | $3,000–$9,000/yr | ~60–120 m² | Simple — under 30kW | Small cafes, boutique retail, single-office sites |
| 20–30 kWSmall commercial | 26,000–40,000 kWh/yr | $6,500–$14,000/yr | ~120–180 m² | Simple — under 30kW | Cafes, retail, medical, small office |
| 30–50 kWSmall–medium | 40,000–67,000 kWh/yr | $10,000–$24,000/yr | ~180–300 m² | Standard assessment — 3-10 days | Larger retail, trade businesses, showrooms |
Estimates based on Melbourne solar irradiance (~4.4 peak sun hours/day, north-facing roof) and commercial grid tariffs of $0.25–$0.35/kWh. Actual results vary by site. All figures before STC incentives.
Sized Right for Your Type of Business
Different small businesses have different daytime load profiles. Here's how we typically size and design for each.
Cafes & Hospitality
Refrigeration, espresso machines and ovens create steady daytime load — ideal for solar self-consumption. Most cafes suit a 15-25kW system.
- 15-25kW typical
- High daytime load
- Fast payback
Retail Stores
Lighting, HVAC and refrigeration running through trading hours. Roof space and shopfront orientation are key design factors.
- 20-40kW typical
- Lighting & HVAC offset
- Multi-tenancy options
Medical & Allied Health
Equipment, sterilisation and climate control need reliable daytime power. Backup-ready designs available for critical equipment.
- 20-35kW typical
- Equipment-critical loads
- Battery-ready design
Offices & Professional Services
Computers, lighting and climate control across standard business hours. Predictable, steady load makes for straightforward sizing.
- 15-30kW typical
- Predictable daytime load
- Tenancy considerations
Trade & Workshops
Power tools, compressors and machinery draw more per-appliance than office loads. Three-phase is common, supporting larger systems.
- 25-50kW typical
- Machinery loads
- Three-phase common
Need 100kW+?
Larger factories, warehouses and logistics sites suit Industrial Solar, which qualifies for ongoing LGC revenue instead of the upfront STC discount.
Industrial solar guideSmall Business Solar Incentives — STC, Tax & Grid Approval
Three things matter most for a small business system under 50kW. Supply Solar confirms and handles all of them in your proposal.
| Incentive / factor | System size | Value | How received | Who applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) | All small business systems (under 100kW) | Upfront discount at point-of-sale — typically several thousand dollars on a 20-30kW system | Applied as a discount off your system price on the day of installation. No separate claim. | Supply Solar applies automatically |
| Simplified Grid Approval | Three-phase, under 30kW | No dollar value, but saves weeks — standard pre-approval typically clears in 3-10 business days | Application lodged with your DNSP before installation. | Supply Solar lodges on your behalf |
| Instant Asset Write-Off / Depreciation | Systems under $20,000 (net of STCs) — for now | Full deduction in the year of purchase at your company tax rate. The $20,000 threshold is legislated to drop to just $1,000 from 1 July 2026. | Claimed in your business tax return. Consult your accountant for eligibility under current ATO rules. | Your accountant |
| Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) — LED Lighting | LED lighting upgrades (not solar directly) | Point-of-sale discount on commercial LED lighting upgrades via accredited providers — often bundled with a solar install | Applied at invoice through Supply Solar as an accredited VEU provider. | Supply Solar (LED upgrades) |
Tax incentive eligibility varies — consult your accountant. Supply Solar provides a full incentive summary in every small business solar proposal.
What a 25kW Small Business System Delivers — Melbourne
A 25kW rooftop system is a common fit for cafes, retail stores and small offices — comfortably under the 30kW simple-approval threshold, with the full STC discount applied upfront. Here's what the economics typically look like.
Actual results vary by roof orientation, shading, tariff structure and self-consumption rate. Supply Solar models your specific site in every proposal.
Get a Small Business QuoteSix Reasons It Makes Sense in 2026
Generate power at $0.05–0.10/kWh
Solar replaces grid electricity that costs Melbourne businesses $0.25–$0.40/kWh with energy at approximately $0.05–$0.10/kWh over the system's 25-year life — a locked-in, inflation-proof energy cost.
2–4 year payback for daytime traders
Businesses that operate mostly during daylight hours — cafes, retail, offices, trade — get the fastest returns because they self-consume most of what they generate, rather than exporting it at low feed-in rates.
STCs reduce the upfront cost immediately
Every small business system qualifies for Small-scale Technology Certificates — applied as a point-of-sale discount, reducing your invoice the day of installation, with no claim required from your business.
Instant asset write-off — while it lasts
Most small business systems under about 15kW currently qualify for a full tax deduction in the year of purchase. That threshold shrinks significantly from 1 July 2026, so timing your install matters.
Simple grid approval under 30kW
Most small business systems stay under the 30kW threshold for standard network pre-approval — meaning less red tape and a faster path from quote to switch-on.
Predictable costs, protected margins
Locking in a portion of your energy cost removes exposure to future grid price rises — a meaningful edge for small businesses running on tighter margins than larger operators.
How a Small Business Solar Project Works
Site assessment
We review your electricity bills, roof structure, orientation, and power connection (single or three-phase), and identify all applicable incentives.
System design & proposal
You receive a detailed proposal: system size, expected generation, annual saving, payback period, and the STC discount already applied.
Grid approval
We lodge network pre-approval on your behalf — typically 3-10 business days for systems under 30kW, no paperwork burden on your team.
Installation & commissioning
Our CEC-accredited team installs on schedule, commissions the system and monitoring, and hands you a complete handover pack.
Accredited, Award-Winning & Fully In-House
CEC-accredited — required for STC eligibility
STC eligibility requires a CEC-accredited installer. Every Supply Solar small business installation is completed by our own accredited team — protecting your discount, warranties and grid approval.
2023 CEC Award & 2024 EUPD Award
Independent industry recognition of installation quality and customer experience — the benchmarks that matter to a business making a 25-year capital investment.
Incentives handled — not just mentioned
STC discount applied at point of sale, tax deduction guidance, and full incentive documentation in every proposal. We don't list rebates and leave the paperwork to you.
No minimum job size, no lower priority
A 20kW cafe system gets the same design rigour and CEC-accredited install as a 100kW warehouse. Small business is a core part of what we do, not an afterthought.
Small Business Solar Near You
Supply Solar installs and services small business solar systems across greater Melbourne and regional Victoria.
What Melbourne Small Businesses Say
"22kW on our cafe roof, done in a day and a half. Our fridges and espresso machine run through daylight hours so we're self-consuming most of it. Bill dropped noticeably from the first month."
"We had a 35kW system installed for our medical centre. The proposal was detailed — actual savings projections, payback period, STC discount shown clearly. Professional from start to finish."
"40kW on the workshop, three-phase so approval was quick. Compressors and welders draw a lot during the day — solar's covering a good chunk of that now. Straightforward process, no surprises."
Small Business Solar FAQs
How much does a small business solar system cost?
What size solar system does my small business need?
Do small business solar systems need council or network approval?
Can a single-phase small business get solar?
How quickly does small business solar pay for itself?
What is the STC discount worth for a small business system?
Can I claim small business solar on tax?
Related Commercial Services
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Ready to Cut Your Business Energy Bill?
Book a free, no-obligation small business solar assessment. Supply Solar analyses your bills, models your payback, and delivers a fixed-price proposal with the STC discount already applied.
No obligation · STC discount & write-off guidance handled · CEC-accredited · Melbourne & Regional Victoria