To overcome that barrier, AllState Solar suggested that Zach use a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan to finance the project.  

By August 2025, installation of the battery system was complete.

Zach’s farm is now powered primarily by clean solar energy. During the day, electricity is supplied directly from the farm’s solar panels, while any excess energy is stored in the new battery system for use at night.  

By being proactive with his storage investment, Zach has reduced the farm’s grid reliance and significantly lowered monthly energy bills.  

Best of all, he achieved all this without spending any cash upfront – and secured a 30% discount on his equipment.  

When it comes to investing in clean energy, it truly pays off to act sooner rather than later!

Although these systems would result in a significant reduction in energy bills, they also required a considerable upfront cost.

To overcome the cost barrier, Adapt Energy suggested a Smart Ease Payment Plan, allowing Passionate Paws to proceed with the solar installation with $0 upfront cost. Instead of paying out of pocket, the business could fund the system through manageable monthly instalments – using their energy-bill savings to cover repayments.

The win

All three systems were fully installed by October 2024. Each one is projected to be cash-flow positive, meaning the monthly energy savings exceed the cost of the repayments.

For a business in growth mode, this outcome is a clear win – freeing up capital each month to reinvest in equipment, expansion, or further improving the experience for its eclectic mix of patients.

For any business, rollercoaster wholesale energy prices make forecasting annual operating expenses (OPEX) extremely difficult – and long-term planning even harder.

The solution

In early 2025, founder Peter Thomas decided it was time to take control of PhotobookShop’s energy costs. With a strong understanding of customer values and an eye on long-term sustainability, he saw an opportunity to make a smart business decision that also supported the environment.

“We’re always looking for ways to operate more sustainably while reducing long-term costs. Investing in solar was a smart move both environmentally and financially – it aligned perfectly with our values and goals as a business.”
– Peter Thomas, Founder, PhotobookShop

Peter engaged Chase Renewables, one of Victoria’s leading commercial solar installers, to assess the company’s Reservoir headquarters. With a large flat roof, the warehouse was well suited to a rooftop solar system capable of offsetting a significant portion of the business’s energy use.

Chase Renewables recommended a system made up of 310 Longi solar panels and two Sungrow inverters, with a total system size of 172kW.

The recommended system would generate major long-term savings — but came with a considerable price tag.

To remove the upfront cost barrier, Chase Renewables suggested a Smart Ease Payment Plan, which allowed the project to proceed with zero upfront outlay while helping to manage cash flow.

“It allowed us to implement the project without the upfront capital outlay, so we could start seeing the benefits of solar straight away while preserving cash flow for other priorities.”
– Peter Thomas

The win

The system was installed in October 2024 and is working exactly as expected. According to Peter, the drop in energy bills has been significant.

Less than a year into the solar investment, he’s already considering adding a battery to boost energy independence and increase savings even further.

By reducing dependence on the grid, PhotobookShop now has greater visibility and control over future energy expenditure – all while reducing its carbon footprint and aligning more closely with its sustainability goals.

By using finance to pay for the installation, The Bean Cartel was able to avoid any capital outlay and pay for the system over time in manageable monthly instalments – just like paying for their usual energy bills.  

The solar system, comprised of 41 JA Solar panels and a Sungrow inverter, was installed in May 2024.

To make the installation financially viable, Cyanergy suggested a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan. This allowed the Sparacinos to preserve their capital and fund the project over time via the energy savings generated by the system itself.

Installed in May 2024, the system has already delivered average monthly savings of $3,000. As projected, this more than covers the monthly Payment Plan instalments, making the project cash-flow positive from day one. It’s a savvy, long-term investment that supports Sparacino Farms’ clean energy goals.

Wins all around!

They engaged Unified Energy Services in early 2024, and by September, Unified had installed a 31.9kW solar system at their Kogarah warehouse. Unified’s Will Barham recommended using a Smart Ease Payment Plan, allowing Penrose Glass to avoid any upfront capital outlay and instead pay via manageable monthly instalments – preserving cash reserves while improving cash flow.

The win

The new system is expected to generate 39.1MWh of clean electricity per year, avoiding 39.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions, and is projected to save Penrose Glass approximately $12,900 annually on energy bills.

In a year when the average NSW business saw energy costs rise by 10%, these savings represented a major win.

“It doesn’t matter if you are a small or large user of power—solar cuts the cost significantly and pays itself off within a few years,” said Michael Penrose, Director at Penrose Glass.

As part of this effort, in late 2023, Komatsu engaged leading commercial solar experts, Solar Australia, to propose a solar solution aimed at cutting costs and reducing carbon emissions at its site in Rockhampton, QLD.

After assessing the site, Solar Australia recommended a 290kW system comprising 580 panels and three inverters. The system is expected to generate approximately 544,685 kWh annually, with an estimated payback of four years.

Given the scale of the project, Solar Australia’s Tim Dixon suggested that Komatsu consider using a Smart Ease Payment Plan to finance the installation. This approach would allow the company to avoid the upfront cost entirely and instead pay for the system over time through manageable monthly repayments.

“Smart Ease provided a tailored solution to match Komatsu’s requirements. The system is designed to satisfy all day-time kw demand at the location and has resulted in a 75% reduction in the site electricity bill.” – Scott Churchill, Director of Finance & Commercial, Komatsu Mining Australia.

For the Komatsu team, an even bigger win than the considerable energy bill savings is the estimated 551 tonnes of reduced annual CO2 emissions – a terrific achievement to highlight in their first Australian climate report and another step toward meeting their global ESG targets!

Through a zero-upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan, Portsea Camp was able to invest in 21 new Rheem heat pumps, installed by energy-efficiency equipment experts Solahart Mornington.

Strategically placed around the camp, these heat pumps ensure that showers, bathrooms, laundry facilities, and the community hall can meet the needs of campers. Best of all, their energy-efficient design is expected to reduce running costs to just 30% of the previous system, leading to significant monthly savings.

With a new state-of-the-art water system pumping through the grounds, Portsea Camp can now offer its campers the great luxury of a hot shower after those icy swims in the bay!