The energy sector loves to hype up around the next “big thing.”  Home batteries, big batteries, VPPs, V2X, electrification and hydrogen - to name just a few of the hype cycles that have emerged in recent years. And, like clockwork (or sheep, depending on your perspective!) - investors, policymakers, and trade shows have flocked around the same shiny trends.

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Meanwhile, one massive part of the energy market barely gets a mention: the commercial and industry sector (also known as C&I).

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According to the IEA, business customers account for 61% of global electricity use - for comparison the residential sector is just 25% - yet somehow it stays out of the headlines, and largely out of the policy and investor spotlight.

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I reckon the C&I sector deserves more love in the energy transition - and here are my top 7 reasons why.

7 reasons the C&I sector is the sweet spot for solar and batteries

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1. Space, space, space

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Ample rooftops, car parks, basements… no land use trade-offs, no angry community members, or power lines over farmland.

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Unlike utility-scale projects that compete with agriculture or face community opposition, C&I sites offer abundant, already-developed real estate. According to Nexa Advisory, warehouse rooftops alone could host 28GW of additional solar capacity, more than the entire coal generation capacity of Australia (currently at 21GW).

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2. Electricity use actually matches solar generation

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Businesses use power when the sun’s shining, so less energy gets exported at low daytime rates.

While residential customers often export 60-80% of their solar generation (earning the square root of diddly squat), businesses typically consume 70-90% directly at retail rates.

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3. The economics make sense
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Daytime load reductions plus peak demand savings deliver bankable returns, with far less exposure to declining export tariffs or volatile wholesale spot rates.

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Solar projects in this sector typically pay back in 5–7 years, sometimes sooner. Batteries are particularly suited to C&I: tariff arbitrage and demand reduction provide a solid revenue base, while riskier plays like wholesale arbitrage or frequency services are just optional cream on top. By contrast, utility-scale batteries often depend on those speculative streams for the entire cake.

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4. Quick network approvals

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Fewer hoops. Less waiting. Lower risk.

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Most C&I projects breeze through approvals because these sites already have strong grid connections, and the solar or battery capacity isn’t oversized relative to demand. Unlike utility-scale projects, they avoid the drawn-out, complex processes which are plaguing developers in Australia and around the world.

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5. Helps the grid

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C&I projects actually ease pressure on the grid. By reducing peak demand, they can defer or even eliminate the need for costly network upgrades like new substations.

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In contrast, residential solar often triggers upgrades in areas with saturated PV, while utility-scale projects typically require expensive - and unpopular - new transmission lines. Economists would call those a negative externality, whereas C&I delivers the positive kind.

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6. Companies want to cut emissions

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A lots of commercial businesses have sustainability and carbon reduction targets they have to hit.

Hundreds of major companies have committed to RE100 (100% renewable electricity), while thousands more have science-based targets. On-site solar helps meet mandatory reporting requirements and stakeholder expectations beyond just cost savings.

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7. It’s good for the economy

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Businesses save on power, they can reinvest, grow, hire more people. Everyone wins.

Depending on the sector, energy costs represent 3-15% of operating expenses for most businesses. Unlike residential savings that flow into consumption, business energy savings get reinvested productively- into R&D, equipment upgrades, staff hiring, and expansion.

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Shining a light on the forgotten sector

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The C&I sector ticks almost every box - yet it’s often left out of the national energy conversation. So we set out to change that.

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That’s why we launched the C&I Solar Industry Census across Australia and New Zealand - to capture what’s really happening on the ground.

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Conducted in partnership with SunWiz, the census brings together insights from installers, developers, consultants, and energy professionals working in C&I solar and storage every day. It reveals what’s working, where momentum is building, and the barriers still holding the sector back from taking centre stage.

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The results are now in.

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Access the C&I Solar Industry Census Report here to explore the findings, understand the emerging trends, and see how the sector shaping the energy transition is truly moving the needle.