Rent Your Roof for Commercial Solar in Queensland:
A Complete Guide

Many Queensland businesses use most of their power during the day. That makes commercial rooftops perfect for solar. Ausola’s Rent Your Roof initiative lets tenants and landlords unlock solar benefits with no upfront costs, while Ausola designs, installs, owns and maintains the system during the term. This guide explains how the model works, who it suits, what the agreement typically covers, and the step-by-step process to lease your roof.

How the Rent Your Roof model works

Under Rent Your Roof, Ausola installs a tailored solar PV system on your commercial roof and provides ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Tenants buy the solar energy the system produces under agreed terms, while landlords are rewarded for housing the roof space. This program emphasises no upfront costs (up to 40kW), a proactive maintenance program, system health monitoring and offers an annual panel and roof cleaning for performance and longevity for a small fee.

The model is designed so both the tenant and landlord share the benefits. Tenants get cheaper daytime energy with a predictable structure, while landlords earn from otherwise unused roof space and can improve the property’s sustainability profile and capital value. Ausola highlights a monitoring app that alerts their team if performance drops and commits to fixing issues at no additional cost during the term.

Benefits for tenants

Cheaper daytime electricity compared with standard grid tariffs.
No upfront capital or asset ownership burden.
Daylight alignment with business operations to maximise self-consumption.
Operational certainty through monitoring and maintenance included.
Straightforward participation even if you lease the premises rather than own them.

According to Ausola’s FAQ, the program is built specifically to solve the challenge that most tenants face with traditional solar, where upfront costs and long paybacks do not fit lease terms. Ausola states tenants can lock in a guaranteed 30% saving per kW for the term of the lease, with no upfront costs to the tenant or landlord.

Benefits for landlords

Turn roof space into income.
Ausola notes landlords receive 15% of what the tenant pays to Ausola for the solar energy.

Asset transfer pathway.
The landlord can own the solar system outright after 10 years under the program.

Quality assurance.
Ausola cites 15-year inverter and 25-year panel warranties, plus annual cleaning (for a small fee) and full monitoring for peace of mind.

Property appeal.
A solar-equipped building can support tenant retention and ESG goals.

Who is a good fit?

You are likely a strong candidate if:

Your site operates mainly during the day and has consistent weekday loads.
You have a usable roof area with minimal shading and safe access.
Your main switchboard and roof structure are in reasonable condition.
You want solar benefits without owning or financing the system yourself.
You are a landlord who wants an income stream and the option to own the system later.

Ausola positions Rent Your Roof as suitable for any commercial industry, including manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, retail, healthcare and education, plus many more.

What the agreement usually covers

While every site is different, expect your commercial agreement to set out:

System size and design proposed for your load profile.
Energy pricing structure for solar consumed on site.
Term length aligned with your tenancy or agreement period.
Roof licence and access provisions for installation and servicing.
Performance monitoring and maintenance inclusions.
Warranties and equipment specifications.
Insurance and workplace safety responsibilities.
End-of-term options, including system purchase, extension or removal.

How to lease your roof step by step

Below is a clear workflow you can use as your project outline. Where network approvals are required, your installer will manage them with Energex or Ergon Energy, depending on your location.

Quick fit check and discovery call
Confirm roof size, tenancy details, daily operating hours, and whether you are the tenant, landlord or both. Share recent energy bills so Ausola can analyse daytime loads (three months is generally enough).
Load analysis and proposal
Provide 12 months of interval data if available. Ausola models an appropriate system size, expected onsite consumption, and a pricing structure for the energy produced. The proposal will also outline roof access, structural checks and any body corporate considerations where relevant.
Landlord consent
For leased premises, landlord consent is required. Ausola will document roof licencing, installation rights, maintenance access and responsibilities.
Network pre-approval
Your installer submits a connection application with Energex or Ergon Energy Network. The Energex “How to Connect for Homeowners and Small Businesses” and Ergon Energy Network “How to Connect for Homeowners and Small Businesses” pages explain the process for rooftop solar and other distributed energy resources. Larger commercial systems generally follow the over-30 kVA connection pathway, which your installer will manage as part of the approval process.
Detailed design and scheduling
Once pre-approval is in hand, Ausola finalises the design, confirms equipment, arranges safe roof access and books installation around your operations.
Installation, commissioning and metering
Licensed electricians complete the installation, perform commissioning tests and set up metering and monitoring as required by your distributor. The distributor connection pages outline how the network assesses your project and sets up the connection contract for the new embedded generation.
Handover and staff onboarding
Ausola provides the monitoring app, recommended settings and a simple guide for your team. You will see live and historical performance data and receive alerts if something needs attention. Ausola notes that if the app flags a performance issue, the team is notified and will resolve it at no cost under the program.
Ongoing maintenance
Annual cleaning (for a small fee), warranty support and proactive issue resolution are included to keep energy production on track across the term.

Technical considerations to expect

Roof and structure.
Engineers may review roof condition, fixings and live loads.
Switchboard and protection.
Your main switchboard may require upgrades or new protection devices.
Export settings.
Systems can be configured for export or non-export. Your distributor’s connection rules and any local constraints will guide this. The distributor pages cover these pathways.
Dynamic export control.
In some areas, dynamic connections allow larger combined solar and battery inverters on single-phase connections than fixed export limits, which can increase on-site benefits. Your installer will advise whether this applies to your site.

How savings usually appear onsite

Offsetting grid energy during business hours usually results in noticeable savings. A well-sized system can directly supply a significant portion of your daytime energy use since most commercial buildings operate when the sun is shining. The arrangement includes a separate fee for onsite solar and a reduced grid draw on tenants’ bills. As outlined in the contract, landlords benefit from roof licence payments. Ausola highlights a 15% income stream for landlords, guaranteed savings for tenants, and the option for landlords to take ownership after 10 years.

Hot Tip: Electricity prices change over time, so when assessing potential savings, focus on what remains constant. The real value comes from using your own solar power during the day, having maintenance and monitoring included, and knowing exactly what is covered in your agreement. These benefits create lasting value regardless of energy price movements.

FAQs

Is there any upfront cost to participate?

Ausola promotes Rent Your Roof as a no upfront cost model (up to 40kW) for both the tenant and landlord. Final terms are documented in your agreement.

Who handles maintenance and faults?

Ausola provides monitoring, proactive fault response and annual cleaning for a small fee. If performance dips, Ausola is notified and will fix the issue without extra cost during the term.

What if the tenant moves out?

The agreement will set out options if the tenancy changes. Ausola can discuss transfer or re-assignment options with the landlord to keep value onsite.

How long is the term?

Terms are tailored to the site and lease horizon. Ausola’s page notes a pathway for the landlord to own the system after 10 years.

Which distributor will we deal with?

In South East Queensland you will be engaged through Energex, and in regional Queensland through Ergon Energy. Your installer manages the connection application.

Can we export excess energy?

Export limits or dynamic export controls depend on your connection and local network constraints. Your installer will design the system accordingly and submit the appropriate application.

Ready to rent your roof with Ausola?

Transform your roof into a reliable energy asset. Ausola’s team will assess your site, prepare a tailored proposal, and manage all approvals form start to finish. Whether you’re a tenant aiming to reduce energy costs or a landlord seeking long-term property value, we’ll help you unlock the benefits of commercial solar without the capital expense.

Request a Proposal to see how the Rent Your Roof model can work for your business.

Rent Your Roof for Commercial Solar in Queensland: A Complete Guide