The first is a 450kW solar array comprising 982 Trina Solar panels and four Fronius inverters. The second is a 245.50kW system featuring 491 Trina Solar panels and two Fronius inverters. Together, the installations represent a significant renewable-energy investment that will help power the farm’s operations, reduce energy bills and lower carbon emissions.

For Tripod Farmers, cutting carbon does not just align with its values – it also makes strong business sense. The farm supplies produce across Australia to independent grocers, restaurants and major supermarkets such as Coles. With mandatory climate reporting now in place for large companies like Coles, being a low-emissions supplier provides a clear advantage by helping those retailers reduce and report their Scope 3 emissions.

To make the transition to solar more accessible, the project was funded through a Smart Ease Payment Plan arranged by Choice Energy. The 60-month plan allowed Tripod Farmers to install both systems for $0 upfront, and use energy-bill savings generated by the solar systems to help cover repayments over time.

This approach meant the farm could move ahead with a large-scale sustainability project while preserving capital for other areas of the business.

And the investment has already gained recognition. Tripod Farmers was acknowledged for its sustainability efforts with an award at the The Weekly Times Coles 2025 Farmer of the Year Awards, further reinforcing its reputation as an innovative and forward-thinking Australian farming business.

Knowing that installing solar panels on the roof of a heritage-listed building could be complex, Kennedy contacted commercial solar specialists Energy Control to assess the site and propose a suitable solution.

After reviewing the building, the Energy Control team recommended a carefully designed solar system comprising 103 Longi panels and two Solax inverters. The system was sized to deliver meaningful energy savings while ensuring the panels would not negatively impact the building’s historic façade.

To maximise the value of the system, Energy Control also recommended integrating battery storage. The 22 Solax batteries allow excess solar energy generated during the day to be stored and used later, particularly during the evening when Airbnb guests are using heating, cooling, lighting and other energy-intensive appliances.

Alongside the technical design, Energy Control also helped Kennedy navigate the most cost-effective way to fund the project. The team advised taking advantage of the federal battery rebate to reduce the total project cost, while also making use of a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan to maintain a healthy cash flow.

The 84-month plan allowed Rutherglen Convent to install both the solar and battery system without a large upfront expense. Instead, the business can repay the system over time with manageable monthly instalments, supported by the energy-bill savings generated by the system.

Installation was completed in the second half of 2025, just in time to support the Convent through the high energy demands of the summer season.

Today, the solar and battery system is helping Rutherglen Convent better manage its energy costs while supporting the sustainability of the historic property. By combining renewable energy with smart financing, the venue has found a practical way to protect both its bottom line and its future.

To manage the cost of the project, Rick chose a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan. 

“Avoiding the upfront cost meant we could start seeing savings while paying off the system,” said Rick Martino. “And the reduction in our energy bills has already been significant.” 

With the new system in place, MEH is now cutting operational costs, lowering emissions, and setting a strong example for others in the construction sector to follow.

In the last two quarters a raft of new clean energy rebates have been launched, each seemingly more attractive than the last. And all with a very short shelf life.  

So which ones do you need to be across to ensure your commercial prospects don’t miss out?  

Here’s our latest list:

1. Round 3 of the Energy Innovation Fund (VIC)

Just announced last week, the highly anticipated third round of Victoria’s Energy Innovation Fund is dedicated to industrial electrification, with a focus on the food and beverage processing and manufacturing sector. 

• Funding amount – 50% of matched funding up to $2 million per project 

• Total Funding pool – $10 million  

• Application period – Monday 29 September – Friday 28 November 2025 

• Project eligibility –  Project must deliver the replacement of fossil fuels with electricity as an input to produce food and beverage products for human or animal consumption. Examples include, but are not limited to electrode boilers, air-to-fluid and fluid-to-fluid heat pumps, electric dryers and electric thermal energy storage. 

Learn more via: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/grants/energy-innovation-fund 

2. Powering Business Grant (SA)

In August, the SA government unveiled its new Powering Business Grant rebate to incentivise SMEs and NFPs to invest in energy-efficiency upgrades and begin saving on energy bills. 

• Funding amount – Between $2,500 – $75,000 per eligible business  

• Total Funding pool – $20 million  

• Application period – Monday 18 August – Friday 31 October 2025 (or when funding is exhausted) 

• Project eligibility 
• Stream 1: battery OR battery + solar projects. The grant amount will be based on the size and capacity of the system. Solar only projects are ineligible.  
• Stream 2: energy-efficiency upgrades. Grants of up to 50% can be used for upgrades like the installation of new refrigeration equipment, building insulation and lighting upgrades. 

Learn more via: https://business.sa.gov.au/programs/powering-business-grants  

3. Solar for Apartment Residents (NSW)

With only 2% of apartments buildings in NSW currently fitted with solar, the state government identified a real gap in solar accessibility for apartment residents. The Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate was rolled out in February 2025 to try and fill this gap and is available to NSW strata companies and owner’s corporations.  

• Funding amount – 50% of matched funding up to $150,000 per project 

• Total Funding pool – $25 million  

• Application period – Friday 28 February – Monday 30 March 2026 (or when funding is exhausted) 

• Project eligibility – Equipment and installation costs associated with solar system installations on apartment buildings.  

Learn more via: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/solar-apartment-residents  

4. Cheaper Home Batteries Program (Federal)

You would have to be living under a rock if you hadn’t heard of this one yet. But what you might not have properly considered is that:  

• It applies to businesses too. Why target business owners over households? Businesses stand to gain bigger bill savings my investing in solar storage, plus commercial solar deals are bigger. Bigger deal = bigger margin.  

• Industry experts are already warning that funding will run out ahead of the 2030 expiration date. In fact, according to research by SolarQuotes, even when factoring in the gradual decline of the funding amount, the scheme could run out of money by early 2028. Stress this urgency with your prospects! 

• It’s stackable with state rebates like the ones above. So, if you are selling the federal battery rebate in silo, you could be missing out on additional savings for your prospect.  

Need a hand navigating these rebates – or structuring a $0 upfront plan to maximise them? Get in touch.

The results quickly spoke for themselves. A year later, Brodie expanded the system with three additional PV units and three more battery inverters — again via a Smart Ease Payment Plan.

Then, in 2024, he went even bigger: a 193kW solar car park array, also funded through Smart Ease.

The win

Over the past five years, Brodie has used three Smart Ease Payment Plans to transform BP Shinju into a near self-sufficient business.

Today, 95% of the station’s energy comes from solar, with the remaining 5% provided by backup generation. The result is energy independence, lower costs, and long-term resilience – future-proofing the business against rising prices and unreliable grid supply.

The solution

Bill turned to Ausmore Energy’s Jeylan Atkin, who visited the warehouse in Altona North to recommend an energy-saving solution.

The warehouse’s large, flat roof provided the perfect site for a solar array. To maximise savings, Jeylan proposed a 330kW solar system comprising 600 Risen solar panels and three Sungrow inverters.

To manage the cost of the investment, Jeylan recommended a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan. This meant the business could install the system with no upfront capital, paying instead in manageable monthly instalments. The arrangement effectively reallocated existing energy expenditure, while allowing the company to preserve capital for other priorities.

The system was installed in February 2025.

 The win

Tim and Terry’s Oyster Supply is now powered by clean energy. For a seafood wholesaler, this is not only a major sustainability win but also a powerful PR story: the fishermen who supply them and the restaurants who buy from them all benefit from reduced emissions in their supply chain.

The biggest win, however, is financial. The business has slashed its reliance on the grid, protecting itself from volatile energy prices and reducing exposure to blackout risks – securing both long-term savings and resilience.

For Tim and Terry’s, “if it’s not good enough for us, it’s not good enough for our customers” now extends beyond seafood to the way they power their business for a cleaner future.

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.