Smart Commercial Energy

17/06/2026

Australia's C&I solar and storage sector has the potential to be a major driver of the energy transition, but it's consistently been overlooked in favour of residential and utility-scale renewables. For a long time, the barriers holding it back have remained largely unaddressed.

A new IEEFA report hopes to change that. With installed C&I solar capacity at 5.6GW and forecasts pointing to 17-31GW by 2050, the gap between where we are and where we could be is massive. The barriers constraining what should be one of Australia's most accessible renewable energy opportunities include:

- Complex and inconsistent network tariffs
- Slow and unpredictable grid connection processes
- An uneven playing field for DER-provided network services
- Business-level investment barriers

Left unaddressed, these will continue to slow investment and leave the full potential of C&I solar and storage unrealised. We're proud that our own Huon Hoogesteger and Laura Butterworth were among the contributors.

Worth a read!
Unlocking the clean energy potential of Australian business rooftops | IEEFA https://bit.ly/4ejQ3si

Solar and storage at commercial and industrial sites could have significant untapped potential in Australia. Unlocking the C&I solar and storage sector could help accelerate renewable supply and storage additions, serve business energy demand, and reduce energy costs for businesses.

15/06/2026

Turn your club's carpark into a solar asset, and get up to $100,000 in Federal funding to do it!

The “Game On: Teaming Up for Climate Action” grant opens July 1 and will be available to the first 500 clubs to successfully apply.

We’ve partnered with Sunlock to supply and install quality solar car shades for eligible sporting clubs and associations, priced to suit the grant amount.
Get your free, no-obligation quote now, so you're ready to apply on day one! Grant applications close July 28.

https://hubs.la/Q04ll03j0

11/06/2026

If you’re building a Scope 2 reduction strategy, rooftop solar is still one of the strongest tools in the kit. Not flashy, but it works, and the economics have never been more compelling.

We partnered with Lochie Burke, Co-founder & CEO of NetNada, to break down why solar continues to deliver for medium to large Australian businesses, and the factors that make the difference between good and great outcomes.

If you’re the one accountable for the numbers, this one’s for you.

Find out more here: [https://bit.ly/4vhcNAc]

Insights from the industry: how can you reduce your scope 2 emissions - interview insights with CEO and Co-Founder of NetNeda, Lochie Bourke

08/06/2026

In Q1 2026, batteries set electricity prices in Australia nearly a third of the time, helping drive a 12% reduction in average wholesale electricity costs. That's a remarkable shift for a grid that ran on coal and gas for over a century.

The CHBP has played a huge role in that -- 4.6GWh of capacity added last year alone, more than the 12 biggest grid-scale batteries in the NEM combined. But this PV Magazine piece makes an important point: short-duration storage has changed the game, and long-duration storage will define what electricity actually costs as renewables take hold.

As the company that installed more commercial batteries in Australia than anyone else last year, we're watching this evolution firsthand. Reach out for a chat if it’s time for your organisation to crunch the numbers on energy storage solutions 👉🏼 [email protected]

➡️ Batteries are setting prices, but long-duration storage will define the market - pv magazine Australia (https://bit.ly/4uN5ikF)

We have now reached a genuine inflection point in Australia’s fast-evolving energy market. The latest data confirms what many in the sector have been anticipating for years: batteries are no longer peripheral assets, they are actively shaping the formation of pricing across the National Electricit...

05/06/2026

Many members of the business sustainability community flocked to Melbourne this week for two events: Reshaping Existing Buildings, hosted by Facilities Managers Australia and AIREAH, and Sustainability Business Live.

Smarties Kealy Day - who spoke at Reshaping Existing Buildings - and Lauren Hamilton were on the ground, hanging out with Smart partners NetNada.

🌞 Highlights included the Energy Debate with Saul Griffiths and Chris Uhlmann, catching Matt Kean’s talk, and spending time with our wonderful customers Emma Bottomly and Julian Freeland.

⛈️ Lowlights include the Melbourne weather, as ever ;)

01/06/2026

If your business has a 30 June 2026 reporting deadline, you’re probably already worrying about how to get your sustainability systems, data and reporting processes in line right now.

FYI, ASIC’s latest review identified issues around:

👎🏼 unclear disclosures

👎🏼 missing climate risks

👎🏼 poor documentation

In this blog, our General Manager Kathryn Hoogesteger explains how businesses can get into the best position for audits - and how our carbon accounting tool, Smart Zero, can help.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3PTqAxO

ASIC has just released its early observations from the first wave of reports lodged under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act read more here

28/05/2026

The Goulburn Community Solar Farm shows what happens when a community comes together, led by determined clean energy advocates and backed by people willing to play the long game.

More than a decade in the making, the 1.4MW ground mount solar and 4MW BESS system is now generating clean energy for around 500 homes. It’s a strong example of what persistence, local investment, and the right partners can achieve.

We’re proud to have delivered this project alongside Komo Energy and the Clean Energy 4 Goulburn community, navigating a constrained site and a very different delivery model to a typical commercial build.

The system features Trina Solar modules, supporting long-term performance for a project designed to stand the test of time.

The result is something the community owns, benefits from and can be proud of!



https://bit.ly/4w4LMkF

24/05/2026

Have you heard? The federal government is handing out between $25,000 and $100,000 to community sports clubs across Australia to help them cut their energy bills.

If you’re planning to apply for the new Federal Government Game On grant, you’ll need a quote ready before applications open on 11 June 2026.

Funding is competitive, and clubs that prepare early will be in the best position to submit straight away.

Get your FREE solar & battery quote now so your application is ready when funding opens.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4usJQkR

Discover how your sports club could get up to $100,000 for solar, batteries and EV chargers under a new Federal Government grant.

20/05/2026

When roof load limits solar: a guide to lightweight PV systems

Many commercial rooftops — older warehouses, logistics centers, industrial halls, even green roofs — weren’t built to carry the weight of traditional solar panels. Standard racking and ballast can push the load over 25 kg/m², creating major structural challenges.

The good news? Lightweight solar solutions are changing the game. They make rooftop solar possible without compromising energy performance, even on buildings with strict load limits.

In our latest blog, we break down the three main lightweight solar approaches and what makes them unique:

- Glue-On Panels: Adhesive-mounted for ultra-low structural impact and fast installation.
- Low-Profile Mounting Systems: Minimal ballast, optimized aerodynamics, and strong energy output.
- Vertical Bifacial Panels: Stand upright, generate energy from both sides, and reduce wind and snow load.

We explain the pros, cons, and best applications for each solution — a must-read for sustainability managers, facility managers, architects, and solar installers.

Discover how to unlock solar potential on load-restricted rooftops:

Discover the best lightweight solar panels for commercial rooftops. Compare glue-on solar systems, low load solar mounting systems, and vertical bifacial solar panels. Learn how to reduce structural load and unlock solar for flat and sensitive roofs.

18/05/2026

“The only future for the grid in Australia is solar and battery and wind. The question is not how we get there; it's just how quickly we choose to build it.” (Huon Hoogesteger)

At this years’ Smart Energy Conference, Huon Hoogesteger told a story worth telling: the solar story. Since he began in the industry 20 years ago, renewables have rapidly become the only way forward for Australia’s energy future.

So the question (in Huon’s words) is “why, when it works this well, is there still resistance?!”

Watch the full panel on YouTube ➡️ https://bit.ly/3P9FFem