Our business renewable electrification journey

As a small business owner, I’m very conscious of operating costs - especially rising energy bills. I wanted to make energy-saving changes but was overwhelmed by marketing and unsure which solar suppliers to trust. A friend mentioned the Council’s Energy & Solar Expert Advisory Service (E&SEAS) for residents and businesses, which offers impartial advice, online resources and events through its Sustainability Business Network.

I booked an after-hours session with their advisory service, which suited my schedule.

The advice I received from E&SEAS gave me the confidence to invest in solar. In mid-2023 we installed a 15kW solar system, and thanks to government rebates and tax incentives, the return on investment was fast. We began seeing significant savings on our energy bills shortly after installation.

After power outages in 2024 damaged vaccines at our practice, we added a 13.5kWh battery to reduce peak usage and protect our operations. By January 2025 we were 89% off-grid.

In addition to our solar and battery installations, we also made simple upgrades such as installing LED lights and behaviour changes such as switching off unused equipment. Next, we plan to upgrade to a heat pump hot water system and high-efficiency air-conditioners for even greater savings.