Five New Commercial Solar & Battery Statistics That Might Surprise You

We’ve crunched the numbers on hundreds of commercial solar projects delivered by Smart Commercial Energy to uncover some interesting trends in how Australian businesses are approaching their energy investments.

From a tripling in battery uptake to the enduring influence of system size and customer relationships, here are five new 2026 insights revealed by our own project data. 

1. Commercial battery attachment has tripled

The share of commercial solar projects including battery storage has tripled for Smart since 2021.

Of all commercial solar projects installed across 2024 and 2025, 11.7% of projects featured a battery while only 3.5% did so in 2021.

Why? Government incentives are helping make commercial battery storage more attractive, particularly in NSW, where schemes such as the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) and the Community and Household Benefits Program (CHBP) can help reduce upfront costs for eligible projects.

Battery prices have also fallen by around 25% over the past two years in our estimate, improving the business case for storage. Together, lower equipment costs and financial incentives are making batteries a more viable option for businesses looking to manage their energy costs. 

2. The 100kW cliff is real

Nearly one in four commercial solar systems installed since 2021 (23.7% to be exact!) were sized at 95 to 100kW, and many of those at exactly 100kW. For every project sized we've installed just above 100kW, we've installed 16 sized right on 100kW.

Why? The 100kW threshold has historically been a sweet spot for commercial solar, largely because of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which provides upfront incentives called STCs for eligible systems up to 100kW.

Going over that limit meant missing out on those incentives, making it financially attractive for many businesses to keep their systems at or below 100kW. From 1 October 2026, that threshold has expanded to 1MW, which will change the way businesses size their solar systems. 

3. The bigger the system, the longer the decision

The typical commercial solar project takes around four months from first energy data to signed contract, and systems over 100kW take twice as long as smaller ones.

Systems up to 100kW typically close in about three months; systems over 100kW take around six. The bigger the system, the longer the decision: projects of 500kW and above take a median of six and a half months to sign.

Why? Larger commercial solar projects generally involve more moving parts, from detailed energy modelling and engineering through to network approvals, capital allocation and internal sign-off. For businesses investing in hundreds of kilowatts or megawatts of solar, the decision often involves several stakeholders and a more detailed assessment of costs, risks and returns. 

4. Some sectors have moved faster

Retail is Smart's largest sector, accounting for one in every five kilowatts installed since 2021, while food and beverage producers install the largest systems of any sector.

In fact, food and beverage producers account for 17% of all commercial solar capacity we've installed since 2021. Hospitality venues and clubs install as many systems as food and beverage producers, but food and beverage systems are three times the size.

Why? Not all industries have the same energy needs, which has a big influence on the size and economics of a solar installation. Retail businesses can have large roof areas spread across multiple sites, while food and beverage manufacturers often have energy-intensive production processes and substantial electricity demand. Hospitality venues, meanwhile, can have significant consumption but less available roof space relative to their total energy use. 

5. Half of our projects are for existing customers

Half of all commercial solar projects Smart has delivered since 2021 have been for existing customers, rising to almost two in three in 2025.

One in five of our clients has come back to sign a new project in a later year. Our longest-running client relationship - with Bunnings - spans 11 years (from 2015 to 2026) and is still going strong!

Why? For businesses with multiple sites, solar is rarely a one-off decision. Energy use changes as operations grow, new facilities open, equipment is upgraded and electricity prices shift.

Once a business has established a relationship with a provider that understands its operations and can deliver across its portfolio, returning for another project can be a natural next step. Repeat business also reflects the importance of long-term relationships in a market where trust, service and consistent delivery matter. 

Methodology

The insights in this article are based on Smart Commercial Energy’s internal Sales and Projects data, covering completed commercial solar and battery projects from January 2021 to October 2026. Each analysis uses the relevant project subset, with residential and other out-of-scope jobs excluded and data checked for consistency where required.