Belmont, WA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/09/2014 -- Solar E, a leading Perth-area provider of solar power and water heating equipment, reported a major jump in commercial solar installations over the course of the last year. Up until this point, residential solar installs have dominated the Australian market, typically accounting for 90% or more of all such activity. More recently, however, commercial projects targeting businesses have become much more common in the industry, with nearly 20% of all installations in July having been of this sort.

"Solar energy alternatives have become an everyday part of residential life in Australia over the course of the last decade," Solar E company representative Phil Cope said, "but the commercial side of the equation has lagged behind. That is now changing, as commercial installations are making up an increasingly large proportion of all new solar energy projects." Solar energy was relatively rarely utilized in Australia until around 2007, when government-provided incentives and technological advances began to set off waves of interest among homeowners. Although that development quickly turned Australia's residences into some of the most commonly solar-equipped anywhere, businesses in the country have been slower to adopt the technology.

That is rapidly changing, however. The new figures noted by Solar E, as gathered by independent research firm Green Energy Markets, show that more Australian businesses are discovering the potential of solar energy with every passing day. For 2014 so far, commercial solar installation projects represent around 16% of the total for the industry overall, a marked increase compared to previous years. New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland are at the leading edge of this new development, while businesses in Victoria and South Australia remain less likely to take advantage of the technology. All told, the solar industry in Australia provided an impressive 70 megawatts of new photo-voltaic solar energy generation in July alone, bringing the country's rooftop capacity to nearly 450MW in total.

Those businesses that do look into the advantages of having solar energy equipment installed typically find some promising points. After taking into account the availability of rebates, commercial-scale solar photo-voltaic installations of 10kW or more often provide annual returns of 25% or more, making them among the most attractive investments that many businesses can make. The option to lease solar systems provides even more flexibility for businesses, with many such arrangements being immediately and consistently less expensive than continuing to buy electricity from a retailer.

As more of the country's solar providers, like Solar E, become even more capable of and focused on serving larger, commercial-scale customers, it is expected that the viability and attractiveness of the option will become even more pronounced for many of Australia's businesses. Those interested in learning more about solar-power options and Solar E systems can do so at the Solar E company website, where a variety of informative articles, including many focusing on solar power for commercial customers, can be found.

About Solar E
A leading Perth-area solar power and water heating specialist, Solar E has served residential and commercial customers since 2008. The company's focus on providing customized, personalized service and system designs has made it one of the most trusted and effective solar power partners in the country.