A collaborative approach to an integrated energy solution 

Designing an integrated solar, battery and backup energy system required more than quality equipment. It required the right technical expertise. 

Working alongside installer SPS Solar + Water, the team at Greentech helped tailor a solution to Lowe’s operational requirements. The result was an integrated energy system that delivered the energy certainty Lowe was looking for while supporting the business’s goal of energy independence. 

As commercial solar and battery systems become more sophisticated, having access to specialist engineering and technical support is becoming increasingly valuable for installers. Greentech’s technical team works alongside installation partners to help deliver integrated energy solutions tailored to each customer’s operational and energy needs. 

Integrated commercial energy projects don’t just require technical expertise. They also require the right funding structure behind the scenes. 

For the Lowe project, Smart Ease worked alongside Greentech and installer SPS Solar + Water to structure payments that supported everyone involved, helping ensure the engineering, equipment supply and installation could be delivered smoothly.

More than solar. A complete energy solution 

Commercial businesses are increasingly looking beyond solar alone. 

Battery storage allows businesses to store excess solar energy during the day and use it when electricity prices are highest, reducing exposure to peak tariffs. It also provides valuable backup capability during grid outages, helping businesses maintain operations when power interruptions occur. 

For Lowe, this integrated energy solution delivered multiple benefits: 

• Greater protection against power outages 

• More control over when and how electricity is used 

• Reduced exposure to peak electricity prices 

• No grid reliance – the site can operate for up to 5 days without any sun  

For businesses where downtime has real operational or financial consequences, battery storage is becoming an essential part of the energy conversation. 

Making the project financially achievable 

Like many commercial energy projects, the biggest challenge wasn’t deciding whether the investment made sense. 

It was funding it. 

Delivering a complete solar and battery solution represented a significant capital investment, and tying up that amount of cash would have limited Lowe’s ability to invest elsewhere in the business. 

David says the Smart Ease payment plan was what made the project possible. 

“The payment plan with Smart Ease was really a critical point for our acceptance of this project.” 

By spreading the investment over seven years, Lowe was able to install the complete energy solution without draining working capital. 

“The payment plan allowed us to hold our capital for other things we may need to do. It gave us certainty around our payments and we knew there would be an end point where the system was fully paid off.” 

For agricultural businesses, where seasonal conditions can influence cash flow, predictable payments can be just as important as predictable power. 

A project aligned with Lowe’s values 

Sustainability has always been central to Lowe’s philosophy. 

The move towards energy independence wasn’t a new idea. It had been part of the business’s long-term vision for more than 25 years. 

“This has accelerated something we always wanted to achieve,” says David. 

“It fits perfectly with our ethos of permaculture, managing our own resources, being in control of the factors that affect our business and doing things properly.” 

Today, Lowe isn’t just producing award-winning wine.  It’s producing much of its own energy too. 

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.

On 1 July 2025, one of the federal government’s key election promises comes to life: a powerful battery rebate designed to supercharge Australia’s battery installations to one million by 2030.

Since its announcement earlier this year, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program has created serious buzz.

In fact, excitement around the rebate helped drive battery sales so high in May 2025 that – for the first time ever – battery sales outpaced solar PV sales. On 1 July, many of these newly installed batteries will finally be switched on, making them eligible for the rebate.

So, what exactly is the rebate, and does it live up to the hype?

Here’s what you need to know:

• The rebate currently covers 30% of battery system costs for households, businesses, and community facilities (e.g. sports centres, town halls). Yes, despite the name, this program also caters for certain business types!
• It will gradually reduce each year until 2030.
• Eligible systems must be between 5–100 kWh in nominal capacity, with the rebate applying to the first 50 kWh of usable capacity. (Originally, the rebate was only going to apply to systems up to 50 kWh.)
• Systems can be installed as a single battery unit or as a modular system functioning as one unit.
• The rebate is available for:

      o   New solar + battery installations

      o   Adding a battery to an existing solar system

      o   Upsizing an existing battery system*

• The rebate is intended to be stackable with eligible state-based battery incentives.

Is it worth the fuss?

Absolutely.

If you’re a small business looking to cut energy bills, a 50 kWh battery installation could save you up to $16,700 with this rebate alone.

To make the most of it, consider funding the system through a Smart Ease Payment Plan. That means zero upfront costs and manageable monthly payments – often improving cash flow from day one.

If you ever kicked yourself for missing out on solar during the heyday of feed-in tariffs, then you won’t want to sleep on this one. The 30% rebate won’t last – it’s set to gradually decline until 2030 – so now’s the time to act.

* Additional capacity added to an existing battery is eligible if: (1) the system has not previously received a rebate under the program, (2) the added capacity is at least 5 kWh, and (3) the total upgraded system does not exceed 100 kWh in nominal capacity.