Solar for manufacturing facilities and factories
Manufacturing businesses can have substantial daytime electricity demand from machinery, production equipment, HVAC, refrigeration, compressed air and other operations. ADS Solar designs commercial and industrial solar systems for Australian manufacturing facilities, factories and production sites.
Design solar around production demand
Manufacturing solar should be sized around actual electricity consumption, production hours, peak demand, available roof area and future electrical loads rather than roof space alone.
Why solar can work well for manufacturing businesses
Many manufacturing facilities use significant electricity during daytime production hours, when rooftop solar systems are also generating electricity.
High daytime demand
Production machinery, HVAC, compressors, processing equipment and other loads can operate during solar generation hours.
Large roof areas
Factories and manufacturing facilities often provide substantial usable rooftop space for commercial or industrial solar arrays.
Energy cost management
Using solar electricity directly on-site can reduce the amount of electricity purchased from the grid.
Future energy planning
Solar systems can be planned around future machinery upgrades, electrification, battery storage and growing production demand.
What size solar system does a manufacturing facility need?
The appropriate capacity depends on electricity consumption, operating hours, roof area, electrical infrastructure and network export limitations.
20kW solar
Suitable to compare for smaller workshops, production businesses and light manufacturing facilities.
View 20kW pricing →30kW solar
A useful starting point for smaller manufacturing operations with consistent daytime consumption.
View 30kW pricing →50kW solar
Suitable to assess for medium commercial and manufacturing facilities with higher daytime electricity demand.
View 50kW pricing →100kW solar
A common comparison size for larger factories, production facilities and industrial operations.
View 100kW solar →Use interval electricity data before sizing the system
Manufacturing energy consumption can vary substantially throughout the day. Reviewing interval data helps identify when electricity is being used and how closely the load profile matches expected solar production.
- Half-hourly electricity consumption
- Peak demand periods
- Production shift times
- Weekday and weekend operation
- Machinery and equipment loads
- Heating and cooling demand
- Compressed-air systems
- Refrigeration or cold-storage demand
- Planned production expansion
Match solar generation with factory demand
Solar electricity used directly within the manufacturing facility can offset electricity that would otherwise be purchased from the grid.
Facilities with consistent daytime loads may be able to consume a substantial portion of solar production on-site, depending on the system design and operating profile.
Commercial and industrial solar for manufacturing
Larger factories and production sites may require industrial-scale system design involving additional electrical, structural and network considerations.
Commercial solar systems
Explore ADS Solar solutions for commercial buildings, businesses, factories, warehouses and other commercial properties.
Explore commercial solar → Industrial solarIndustrial solar systems
Explore higher-capacity solar solutions designed for factories, manufacturing sites, warehouses and industrial electricity users.
Explore industrial solar →Commercial batteries for manufacturing facilities
Battery storage can complement commercial solar where the manufacturing site’s electricity profile supports a clear technical and financial use case.
Store surplus solar
Excess daytime solar generation may be stored and used during later periods of electricity demand.
Load shifting
Stored energy may be used during selected higher-cost electricity periods, depending on the tariff and site profile.
Peak-demand management
Correctly designed commercial batteries may help manage selected demand peaks where the site’s tariff includes demand charges.
What should be assessed before installing factory solar?
Manufacturing projects require careful consideration of the building, electricity supply and operational requirements.
- Roof condition and structural suitability
- Roof orientation and available installation area
- Shading and rooftop equipment
- Existing switchboards
- Electrical supply capacity
- Maximum site demand
- Network connection requirements
- Solar export limits
- Maintenance access requirements
- Future production expansion
Manufacturing solar should be site-specific
Two manufacturing businesses with similar roof areas can require very different solar systems because their electricity loads, machinery, production schedules and tariffs may differ significantly.
A site-specific assessment helps determine an appropriate system capacity and commercial energy strategy.
Explore ADS Solar commercial project experience
Our commercial project gallery provides examples of larger rooftop installations across Australian business and community sites.
Commercial rooftop solar
Larger commercial roofs can support substantial solar generation when designed around site demand.
Bent Street, St Marys
Commercial rooftop solar designed around usable roof area and business electricity requirements.
Flower Power, Milperra
Commercial solar supporting daytime energy requirements at a large business facility.
Commercial solar installation
Professional rooftop solar developed around commercial building and electrical requirements.
Request a manufacturing solar assessment
Tell ADS Solar about your manufacturing facility, electricity consumption, operating hours and available roof area. Providing recent electricity bills or interval data can help with system assessment.
Solar and battery solutions for Australian businesses
Explore commercial and industrial energy solutions or compare common system capacities before requesting a site-specific proposal.
ADS Solar
Explore residential, commercial, industrial and battery energy solutions.
Visit ADS Solar →Commercial solar
Solar solutions for businesses and commercial facilities.
Explore commercial solar →Industrial solar
Larger solar systems for factories and industrial operations.
Explore industrial solar →Commercial batteries
Battery storage solutions for commercial energy management.
Explore commercial batteries →Reduce grid dependence across your manufacturing facility
ADS Solar can assess your facility’s roof area, electricity demand, production profile, solar capacity and commercial battery opportunities before recommending a suitable energy solution.
Frequently asked questions about solar for manufacturing
Is solar suitable for manufacturing facilities?
It can be particularly suitable for manufacturing businesses with consistent daytime electricity demand and sufficient usable roof area. Actual suitability depends on electricity consumption, roof conditions, electrical infrastructure and network requirements.
What size solar system does a factory need?
The correct size depends on the factory’s electricity consumption, production hours, roof area, peak demand and export limits. Smaller sites may consider 20kW to 50kW systems, while larger manufacturing facilities may assess 100kW or significantly larger installations.
Can manufacturing businesses use 100kW solar systems?
Yes. A 100kW system can be suitable for some larger commercial or manufacturing facilities, although the appropriate capacity should be based on the site’s electricity consumption and technical requirements.
Can manufacturing solar reduce electricity costs?
Solar electricity consumed directly within the facility can reduce electricity purchased from the grid. Actual savings vary according to system output, electricity consumption, tariffs and the proportion of solar energy used on-site.
Can a factory add commercial battery storage?
Yes, subject to site suitability and the business case. Battery sizing should consider solar generation, electricity consumption, peak demand, tariffs, operating hours and backup requirements.
What information is needed for a manufacturing solar quote?
Useful information includes recent electricity bills, interval electricity data where available, operating hours, roof information, site address and details of any planned future electrical loads or production expansion.
Where can I see ADS Solar commercial projects?
Visit the ADS Solar project gallery to see examples of commercial solar installations.