If you’ve spent any time in C&I solar over the past year, you’ve probably noticed the shift.

‍

Battery questions are coming up earlier. Customers are sharper on the numbers. And conversations are moving away from “is this possible?” toward “does this actually stack up?”

‍

That change is exactly why we ran the C&I Solar Industry Census across Australia and New Zealand - to sense-check what many people were already feeling, and put real data behind it as we head into 2026.

‍

The census brought together insights from more than 100 installers, developers, consultants, and energy professionals, alongside real project data. And a few patterns stood out very quickly.

‍

Battery demand isn’t just growing - it’s becoming expected.

‍

According to the census, 82% of professionals saw increased battery demand over the past 12 months. For many customers, batteries are no longer an optional extra. They’re becoming part of the baseline conversation.

‍

What’s more interesting, though, is why customers are saying yes.

‍

When we asked what actually shapes a commercial customer’s decision to invest in a battery, the signal was clear: economics lead the way.

‍

More than 90% of respondents said reducing electricity costs often or always influences the decision. Energy cost certainty followed close behind. Sustainability goals and backup power still matter, but they tend to reinforce decisions rather than initiate them.

‍

In other words, customers are leading with strategy and financial outcomes first.

‍

‍

These insights matter as we move into 2026

‍

What makes the C&I Solar Industry Census valuable isn’t just the data,  it’s how teams are using it.

‍

Across the industry, businesses are applying these insights to:

• Refine how they position batteries and after-sales services
  
• Anchor sales conversations around ROI and long-term certainty
  
• Focus effort where confidence and deal activity are actually rising
  
• Improve feasibility and sizing earlier in the sales process
  

This is where data-backed decision-making becomes a competitive advantage.

‍

If you want the full picture, including trends, confidence levels, and emerging opportunities - you can access the C&I Solar Industry Census Report as a downloadable PDF.

‍

You can access the full report here.

‍

‍

Go deeper: watch the census unpacked webinar

‍

We also unpacked the findings in a live session with industry experts, combining the census results with real project examples and practical discussion.

‍

If you missed it live, the on-demand webinar is now available and walks through what’s actually closing deals, and why.

‍

You can watch the webinar here.

‍

‍

Move from insight to execution

‍

Of course, insight is only useful if you can act on it.

‍

As battery demand accelerates, the real challenge isn’t interest,  it’s turning that interest into bankable, data-backed projects. That’s why many teams are using Orkestra to move faster from feasibility through to proposal, with confidence in the numbers they’re putting in front of customers.

‍

If you’d like to see how it works with your own projects, you can start a free 3-week trial and explore the platform end to end.

‍

The C&I sector is moving quickly. The teams that start 2026 with clarity will be the ones setting the pace.