Energy Efficiency
For smaller commercial sites
Rent-to-own (7 yr)
From R18,000
/month
Outright
From R999,000
Estimated savings: R16,216 / month
- Commercial inverter capacity sized in your proposal
- 120 kWh battery
- 50.05 kWp solar array
Business & commercial
Solar power for businesses that cannot afford downtime
Start with the hours you trade, the power you use and the loads that cannot stop. Then compare the system, funding route and responsibilities on the same basis.
Commercial solar is not a larger home package. The design should reflect your interval load, tariff, supply, property rights, roof or carport area, and the cost of an interruption.
Get a commercial quoteIndependent comparison service
NRS-aware guidance Provider terms made clear Compare payment options
Choose the operating model
A business system can be built around the way you work
Alumo offers hybrid, grid-tied and off-grid routes. The right fit depends on your operating hours, load profile, site and how much continuity you need.
Hybrid solar and battery
Use solar first, store excess energy and retain grid support for a flexible business energy system.
Explore this solutionGrid-tied commercial solar
Generate electricity during operating hours to reduce grid purchases, without making battery backup the centre of the design.
Explore this solutionOff-grid commercial solar
A bespoke solar, battery and inverter system designed for businesses that intend to operate without normal grid reliance.
Explore this solutionScreen the project first
Five inputs decide whether the first proposal is credible
A monthly bill is useful, but it cannot show when the site consumes power or what happens when the grid fails. Give the provider enough information to model the operation rather than guess.
01
Load profile
Twelve months of bills plus interval data where available.
02
Operating hours
Normal shifts, seasonal peaks and planned expansion.
03
Critical loads
Equipment that must run, including motor starting demand.
04
Site control
Ownership, lease consent, roof condition and usable area.
05
Commercial route
Cash, finance or rent-to-own, with the approval process.
Test Section 12B eligibility
SARS says qualifying photovoltaic assets of 1 MW or less may receive a 100% deduction in the year they are first brought into use for trade. Ownership and other requirements apply, so confirm the agreement with your tax practitioner.
Make continuity measurable
List the circuits that cannot stop and the duration they need. The proposal should state the supported load, battery assumption and operating limits.
Model the tariff correctly
Separate energy charges from demand, fixed, network and other charges. Solar does not remove every line item on a commercial electricity account.
Tax source: the SARS guide to renewable-energy asset allowances. A deduction reduces taxable income and is not a cash rebate.
Commercial tiers
Sized for your operation
Two provider-published starting points. Treat them as reference configurations until a technical review confirms the site and load.
Business Powerhouse
For larger commercial sites
Rent-to-own (7 yr)
From R34,000
/month
Outright
From R1.9 million
Estimated savings: R32,430 / month
- 125 kW inverter
- 261 kWh battery
- 100.1 kWp solar array
Source checked 22 September 2026: Alumo business plans and pricing. Pricing and savings are provider estimates and depend on a technical review, final design and agreement. Alumo states that its calculator is based on electricity usage and excludes pole fees and other additional costs. SolarGuide is an independent referral partner.
Commercial starting sizes
From a named size to a bespoke design
Alumo's navigation names these four sizes, but does not publish a complete fixed price card for each one. Use them as an initial scale, not a packaged quote.
The Basic
25 kW
The Power Starter
50 kW
The Solar Surge
100 kW
The Solar Storm
150 kW
Business services
Build the case, install the system
Complete business energy project
Commercial solar installation
A bespoke commercial solar and battery system from analysis and engineering through installation, commissioning and support.
See what's includedFind the savings before sizing the system
Business energy audit
A physical and data-led review of how a facility uses electricity, where it is being wasted and which improvements deserve priority.
See what's includedAfter installation
Operations, monitoring and compliance support
Service Level Agreement-based operations and maintenance
Monthly performance reporting and proactive monitoring
Annual testing, thermal scans and cable assessments
Damage and performance-loss assessment and repair
Energy Performance Certificate support
SSEG approval assistance
Scheduled panel washes 4, 6, 8 or 10 times per year
Estimate your savings
Start with your business's actual energy use
A directional starting point based on Alumo's public business calculator. The final design still needs a site and load assessment.
0 kWh100,000 kWh
Use electricity consumption for the recommendation. Pole fees and other fixed charges are excluded from the calculation, as they are on Alumo's calculator.
R15,000R200,000
Your indicative starting point
Based on 12 500 kWh per month
Solar
40 kWp
Inverter
50 kW
Battery
61,4 kWh
This is a directional estimate, not a quote. Roof space, phase supply, operating hours, tariff structure and backup goals can change the design.
Get a business quoteSolarGuide is an independent referral partner. Alumo supplies, installs, finances and warrants the final system; pricing and eligibility are confirmed after assessment.
Compare the commercial route
The first monthly amount is not the business case
Put each option into the same model. Record ownership, deposit, term, escalation, total paid, maintenance, insurance, performance assumptions, early exit and the end-of-term outcome.
| Route | Best fit | Questions to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | The business has capital and wants ownership from day one. | Final installed cost, maintenance, warranty ownership and expected asset life. |
| Loan or asset finance | The business wants ownership while spreading the payment. | Interest, security, deposit, settlement, ownership and tax treatment. |
| Rent-to-own | Lower initial cash is more important than immediate ownership. | Escalation, total paid, maintenance, insurance, buy-out and end-of-term transfer. |
| PPA or energy service | The site wants to buy generated energy rather than own the equipment. | Energy rate, escalation, minimum term, performance risk, roof rights and exit. |
Screen your commercial solar projectBuild a commercial solar budgetCompare business solar financeCompare a solar PPAPrepare a site and load assessmentAssess peak shaving and demand chargesMap commercial solar approvalsRead the small-business guideUnderstand your tariffCheck the SSEG processReview Section 12B
Ideal for
Businesses that can't afford downtime
- Factories, warehouses and cold storage (warehouse solar guide)
- Retail centres, offices and hospitality (office and SME guide)
- Agriculture, packhouses and irrigation (farm solar guide)
- Estates, schools and healthcare facilities (estate solar guide)
Next step
Get a commercial solar assessment
Share your business, operating hours and energy use. Your selected solution or tier will travel with the enquiry.
Request an assessment