Commercial and industrial solar projects involve more than selecting panels and finding available roof space.
The proposed system needs to suit the site’s electricity use, electrical infrastructure, physical layout and network connection requirements. Assessing these factors before installation helps determine whether the proposed solar system is appropriate for the way the facility actually operates.
Start With the Site’s Electricity Use
The first question is not how many panels will fit on the roof. It is how and when the site uses electricity.
Commercial and industrial facilities can have very different load profiles depending on operating hours, machinery, HVAC systems, refrigeration, production schedules and other major electrical loads.
A site that uses substantial electricity during daylight hours may be able to consume a large portion of its solar generation directly.
Understanding the site’s consumption pattern can help determine an appropriate system size and whether additional options, such as battery storage, should be considered.
Review the Existing Electrical Infrastructure
A solar system becomes part of the existing electrical installation.
Before installation, the condition and capacity of the site’s electrical infrastructure may need to be assessed, including:
- the main switchboard;
- available connection capacity;
- existing protection equipment;
- submains and cabling;
- metering arrangements;
- three-phase supply where applicable;
- other major electrical loads already connected to the site.
Older commercial or industrial facilities may require electrical upgrades before a proposed solar system can be integrated correctly.
GAP Industries North Queensland includes switchboard upgrades and solar integration within its commercial and industrial electrical capabilities.
Assess the Roof or Installation Area
For rooftop solar, available roof area alone does not determine whether the space is suitable.
The assessment should also consider:
- roof condition;
- orientation;
- shading;
- existing HVAC equipment or rooftop services;
- access for installation and future maintenance;
- suitable cable routes;
- structural limitations;
- potential future building changes.
Installing solar over roofing that is likely to require replacement in the near future can create additional work later, so the condition of the building should be considered before the array is finalised.
Where rooftop installation is unsuitable, other configurations may be considered depending on the site.
Consider the Site’s Operating Hours
Operating hours affect how much generated solar power can be used directly.
A facility operating mainly during daylight hours will generally have a different energy profile from a business that operates overnight or has significant evening demand.
This is particularly relevant for industrial sites where production schedules, shifts and large machinery loads can change substantially throughout the day.
System design should therefore reflect actual operating conditions rather than relying only on total annual electricity consumption.
Check Network Connection Requirements
Commercial and industrial solar systems connected to the electricity network need to comply with the applicable network connection requirements.
In North Queensland, Ergon Energy requires Distributed Energy Resource systems, including solar and battery systems, to receive connection approval before installation.
The connection process can depend on factors such as:
- inverter capacity;
- proposed system size;
- available network capacity;
- whether electricity will be exported;
- export limits;
- metering arrangements;
- the type of connection.
For larger systems, additional technical information or network assessment may be required.
These requirements should be considered early in the project rather than after the system has already been designed.
Understand Export Limitations
A commercial solar system does not necessarily have unrestricted ability to export excess electricity to the network.
The amount that can be exported can depend on the local network and the approved connection arrangement.
This can affect system design, particularly where the proposed array may generate significantly more electricity than the facility uses during certain periods.
For some sites, maximising self-consumption may therefore be more relevant than simply designing the largest possible system.
Consider Future Expansion
Solar infrastructure should also be assessed against the future requirements of the site.
A business may later add:
- new machinery;
- additional HVAC equipment;
- EV charging;
- battery storage;
- new buildings;
- expanded production areas;
- additional electrical loads.
Planning for those changes can influence inverter selection, switchboard capacity, cable routes and how the solar system is integrated into the wider electrical installation.
Should Battery Storage Be Considered?
Battery storage is not automatically necessary for every commercial or industrial solar project.
Its suitability depends on factors such as when electricity is consumed, whether surplus solar generation occurs, operational requirements and the intended use of stored energy.
Battery integration may be considered where a facility wants to shift solar generation to different operating periods or where the broader energy strategy supports storage.
The decision should be based on the site’s actual load profile and project objectives rather than added as a standard component.
Solar Planning for Commercial and Industrial Sites
A commercial or industrial solar project should be designed around the facility rather than treated as a larger version of a residential installation.
Energy consumption, electrical infrastructure, site conditions, network requirements and future expansion all affect what system is appropriate.
GAP Industries North Queensland provides solar installation services for commercial and industrial properties across Townsville and North Queensland, including system design, site assessment, switchboard integration, battery integration and ongoing system support.
https://gapindustriesnq.com.au/solar-installations-in-townsville/
For sites where broader electrical infrastructure needs to be assessed as part of the project, GAP Industries North Queensland also provides commercial and industrial electrical services:
https://gapindustriesnq.com.au/commercial-electricians-townsville/
https://gapindustriesnq.com.au/industrial-electricians-townsville/