
Technology
Solar system finance from 48+ Australian lenders.
Commercial solar is one of the few purchases where the savings can exceed the repayment straight away. We check whether that is true for your usage before you commit.



One broker from your first call through to funding.
See which solar system finance options fit your business.
Tell us what you are buying. A Lyft Money broker compares 48+ lenders and explains the rate, balloon, fees and total cost before you decide.
Access to 31+ solar system finance lenders
Lenders on our panel that fund solar system finance.
At a glance
Solar system finance: the numbers that matter.
- Typical price
- $15,000 – $500,000
- Terms
- Up to 84 months
- Indicative rates
- 6.9% – 16% p.a.
- Typical speed
- Same day to 48 hours for low-doc
- Usual structure
- Equipment loan
- Useful life
- About 25 years
In plain English
What is solar system finance?
Solar system finance is funding for a commercial solar installation including panels, inverters, mounting and sometimes battery storage, secured against the system or supported by the business. Australian businesses with high daytime energy use often find the savings exceed the repayment from the first month.
Commercial solar works best for businesses that consume power during daylight hours: manufacturers, cold storage, workshops, clinics, childcare centres and retailers. If your load profile matches the generation curve, self-consumption is where the savings come from. Exporting to the grid earns a fraction of what you pay to buy power, so oversizing a system for a business that closes at three in the afternoon rarely pays.
Financing is what makes the timing work. A system with a four to six year payback, funded over five to seven years, often produces a net positive cash position from the start because the reduced electricity bill exceeds the repayment. That only holds if the system is sized correctly, so it is worth having an installer model your actual interval data rather than accepting a generic proposal.
How lenders assess solar system finance
Solar on a building you own is straightforward to fund, often through equipment finance or a secured business loan. Solar on leased premises is harder, because the system becomes a fixture the lender cannot easily recover, so terms are usually capped by the lease length. Small-scale technology certificates or large-scale generation certificates reduce the upfront cost and are typically applied at the quote stage. Battery storage adds cost and lenders assess its payback more conservatively than panels alone.
New or used
New installations only. Panels typically carry 25-year performance warranties while inverters are usually warranted 10 to 12 years and will need replacing within the panels’ life.
Before you buy
- Match system size to your daytime load rather than your total bill; exported power earns far less than power you use yourself.
- Confirm whether the quote is before or after STC or LGC rebates, as the difference is substantial.
- Budget for inverter replacement around year ten to twelve; panels last far longer than the electronics behind them.
Commonly financed
- Fronius Symo and Tauro inverters
- SMA Sunny Tripower inverters
- Jinko Tiger Neo panels
- Trina Vertex panels
- Tesla Powerpack and BYD commercial batteries



A clear next step
How to finance a solar system.
Our AI helps check lender fit across 48+ lenders. Your broker reviews the options and explains what they mean for you.
- 01
Asset and supplier details
Quote or invoice, asset age and condition.
- 02
Match the lender
Specialist vs bank, low-doc vs full-doc.
- 03
Settle
Funds paid to the supplier; you take delivery.
- ID and ABN
- Supplier invoice
- Bank statements or financials depending on amount
The lender makes the final credit decision. Available options depend on your business and the lender’s assessment.
Before you make a decision
Estimate your solar system repayments.
Adjust the price, rate, term and balloon to see the repayment and the total cost over the term.
- Number of repayments
- 60
- Balloon at end of term
- $51,600
- Total interest (est.)
- $78,197
- Total repaid (est.)
- $336,197
This calculator is a guide only. It uses simplified assumptions, excludes fees and charges unless stated, and is not an offer or quote. Actual repayments are confirmed by the lender in its loan contract.
From Lyft Money clients
Clear advice.
People who stay in touch.
Rated 5.0 from 340 Google reviews across the types of finance we arrange. Read them on Google.
“keeping us informed every step of the way”
“He explained all the financing options clearly”
“helped out my business”
Ways to finance a solar system
Key terms
What is solar system finance?
Solar system finance is funding for a commercial solar installation, secured against the system or the business. Terms commonly run 60 to 84 months, and where the premises are leased the term is usually capped by the remaining lease period.
What are STCs and LGCs?
Small-scale technology certificates and large-scale generation certificates are Australian renewable energy incentives that reduce the cost of an eligible solar installation. They are usually assigned to the installer and shown as a discount on the quoted price rather than paid to you later.
Can a commercial solar system be financed with no upfront cost?
Yes. Commercial solar, batteries, inverters and installation are financed as equipment or through green loans with terms up to seven years and sometimes ten, and the energy savings often exceed the repayment from the first month. Some lenders offer discounted green equipment rates.
Can solar be financed on a leased premises?
Yes, with the landlord’s consent to the installation. Lenders finance solar on leased premises where the lease term covers the finance term, and some structure the system so it can be removed or transferred. Owner-occupiers can alternatively fund solar through a secured business loan against the property.
Can batteries and EV chargers be included?
Yes. Battery storage, EV charging stations, power factor correction and monitoring can be financed with the solar system when quoted together, and some lenders extend green pricing to the whole package. Installation is included when quoted by the installer.
Are there government incentives for financed solar?
Small-scale technology certificates reduce the upfront price of systems under 100 kilowatts and are usually claimed by the installer as a discount, and larger systems earn large-scale certificates. A financed system still receives the incentives, and accelerated depreciation may apply because the business owns the system. Your accountant confirms the current rules.
Do I need a deposit for equipment finance?
Often no deposit is required, particularly for established businesses buying standard assets from a dealer. A deposit is more likely where the business is new, the asset is older or specialised, the credit profile is weaker, or the amount is large relative to turnover. Deposits typically range from around 10% to 30% in those cases. Putting money in reduces the amount financed and can improve the terms offered, but it is not always necessary.
Can I finance equipment I already own to release cash?
Yes, that is a sale and leaseback. You sell an unencumbered asset to a financier and lease or finance it back, receiving the sale proceeds as working capital while keeping the asset in use. Lenders will want proof you own it outright, a valuation, and evidence the funds are for a legitimate business purpose. It is a useful option when capital is tied up in plant, but it converts an owned asset into a monthly commitment, so the cash flow effect needs checking first.
How long can I finance equipment for?
Terms usually run from 12 to 84 months. The ceiling is generally set by the expected working life of the asset: heavy earthmoving and trucks often stretch to five or seven years, while IT hardware and point-of-sale systems are commonly kept to two or three. Lenders also look at the age of the asset at the end of the term, so a ten-year-old machine will attract a shorter term than a new one. Longer terms lower repayments and raise total interest.
Can one facility cover several pieces of equipment?
Yes. A master facility agreement lets a lender approve an overall limit, then draw down individual assets against it using a commitment schedule for each one. Each drawdown has its own term and repayment, but you avoid re-applying every time you buy. It suits businesses buying regularly through the year. Limits are usually reviewed annually and the lender can decline a particular asset even where the limit is available.
How long does my ABN need to be active?
It varies by lender and product. Many unsecured business lenders want at least six to twelve months of trading, while some asset finance lenders will consider a new ABN where the director has industry experience, a clean credit file and often property ownership or a deposit. Registration for GST is frequently expected once turnover reaches the threshold. A short ABN history is not an automatic decline, but it narrows the panel and usually affects the rate and structure offered.
Do I have to own property to get business finance?
No. Plenty of finance is written for non-property owners, especially asset finance where the equipment itself is the security, and unsecured lending assessed on cash flow. That said, property ownership widens the panel and often improves pricing, because it gives a lender an additional avenue if things go wrong. If you do not own property, expect more weight on trading history, bank conduct and the quality of the asset being financed.

Your business. Your decision.
See your options.
Know the costs.
Decide with confidence.
One broker to explain it. Clear numbers before you proceed.
No obligation to proceed.







