Commercial solar in Melbourne
A 100 kW commercial system in Melbourne earns about $21,904 off upfront in federal certificates and makes about 119 MWh a year. Systems up to 1 MW now qualify, so the discount scales with your roof.
We don’t install. We give you the numbers for Melbourne, then hand you to Green, our solar partner, who designs and installs commercial systems across Victoria and the rest of Australia.
What commercial solar is worth in Melbourne
For systems installed in 2026, using the Clean Energy Regulator’s zone 4 rating for Melbourne (1.185 MWh per kW per year) and $37 a certificate.
| System | Output a year | Certificates | Upfront discount | Indicative saving a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 kW | 36 MWh | 177 | $6,549 | $5,100 |
| 99 kW | 117 MWh | 586 | $21,682 | $17,000 |
| 250 kW | 296 MWh | 1,481 | $54,797 | $42,900 |
| 500 kW | 593 MWh | 2,962 | $109,594 | $85,700 |
| 1 MW | 1,185 MWh | 5,925 | $219,225 | $171,500 |
Savings are scaled from the federal government’s worked example (a 250 kW system saving about $50,000 a year, as reported) by Melbourne’s solar output. Your real saving depends on how much you use on site and your tariff. Up to 100 kW uses the small-scale deeming period; over 100 kW gets a fixed 5 years.
Melbourne is in the cooler zone 4, so each kW is rated lower than in Sydney or Brisbane. The flip side: the discount is smaller, but so is the system you need to cover a daytime load.
Business power prices in Melbourne
The regulator’s default price for a small business using 10,000 kWh a year on a flat tariff:
- CitiPower (the CBD and inner suburbs): $3,033 a year, about 30c per kWh including fixed charges.
- Jemena (the north-west): $3,488 a year, about 35c per kWh including fixed charges.
- United Energy (the south-east and Mornington Peninsula): $3,124 a year, about 31c per kWh including fixed charges.
- AusNet Services (the outer east and north): $3,896 a year, about 39c per kWh including fixed charges.
Source: Essential Services Commission, Victorian Default Offer 2026–27. GST inclusive. Larger sites on negotiated contracts pay different rates.
Every kWh of solar you use on site is a kWh you don’t buy at those rates. Power you export earns far less, so solar pays back fastest for businesses that run through the day.
The local network is CitiPower, Jemena, United Energy or AusNet Services. Larger systems need its connection approval, which is often the longest step, so Green starts that application early.
Get a commercial solar quote in Melbourne
Green, our solar partner, designs and installs commercial systems in Melbourne, from 30 kW to 1 MW, and handles the certificates and network approval. Free, no obligation, and we earn a commission only if you go ahead.
Get a commercial quoteCommercial solar in Melbourne: questions
- How much is the commercial solar rebate in Melbourne?
- It comes as federal certificates (STCs) that your installer takes off the price. In Melbourne (CER zone 4), a 100 kW system installed in 2026 earns 592 certificates, about $21,904 at $37 each. A 250 kW system earns about $54,797. The certificate price moves, so treat these as estimates.
- How much power does commercial solar make in Melbourne?
- The Clean Energy Regulator rates Melbourne at 1.185 MWh per kW per year, so a 100 kW system is deemed to make about 119 MWh a year. Real output depends on roof direction, shading and tilt.
- Does the commercial solar rebate drop in the new year?
- For systems up to 100 kW, yes: the deeming period shortens each 1 January, so a 99 kW system in Melbourne drops from about $21,682 off in 2026 to about $17,353 in 2027. Systems over 100 kW (up to 1 MW) get a fixed 5-year deeming period, so their certificate count doesn't drop in 2027.
- Who installs commercial solar in Melbourne?
- We pass enquiries to Green, our solar partner, which designs and installs commercial systems across Australia, including Melbourne. You get one installer, not a lead auction, and we earn a commission only if you go ahead.
Commercial solar in other cities
Reviewed by James Baker, Founder, EnergyPlans.com.au. Data last verified 12 November 2026. Methodology.