Commercial and industrial asset owners turn to battery storage to cut energy costs

Electricity prices continue to rise, and commercial and industrial asset owners and tenants see it as a growing imperative to find ways to reduce their electricity expenditure. For many, the assumption has been that meaningful action requires significant capital investment, on-site solar infrastructure or a lengthy procurement process. Battery storage is changing that calculus.

Behind-the-meter battery systems are emerging as a practical and immediate solution for commercial and industrial sites. These deliver measurable savings and improved ESG outcomes without the complexity traditionally associated with energy infrastructure upgrades. No solar panels required.

The energy cost problem is not going away

Australia’s energy market has undergone a structural shift. Wholesale price volatility, network charges and the ongoing transition away from legacy generation assets have combined to make electricity cost management a material issue for asset owners and tenants alike. For hotels, logistics facilities, manufacturing sites and commercial buildings, energy is one of the largest and least controllable operating expenses on the balance sheet.

Battery storage addresses this by targeting peak demand. By automatically discharging stored energy during these windows, a well-configured battery system reduces both consumption costs and demand charges, typically delivering bill savings of between 10 and 25 per cent from day one.

A model built around removing barriers

Stake Energy structures its projects so customers can benefit from battery storage without owning, financing or maintaining the battery. The company funds, installs and operates the system, with customers paying only for the energy savings delivered.

“Our focus is on removing barriers for asset owners,” Michael Weiner, co-founder of Stake Energy, said. “We fund, install and operate the battery system, allowing customers to realise immediate savings while we optimise the performance of the battery.”

The commercial terms reflect the same philosophy. Contracts are month-to-month, with no lock-in period. If a tenant vacates or an asset owner decides the arrangement no longer suits them, Stake Energy removes the battery. There is no stranded asset risk, no make-good obligation and no disruption to switching electricity retailers.

Installations are typically completed within a few hours and are planned to avoid interruptions to tenants or core business activities. Once operational, the system runs automatically, requiring no changes to how a site operates day-to-day.

No capital outlay, no prerequisites

One of the more common misconceptions about battery storage is that it requires solar panels or significant on-site electrical upgrades to be viable. Neither is the case with Stake Energy’s model. Battery systems are installed alongside existing electrical infrastructure, and there are no specific on-site requirements for a site to be eligible.

Stake Energy currently operates across New South Wales and Queensland, with a pipeline of projects spanning hotels, commercial buildings and industrial facilities.

The commercial case in practice

For hotel owner group, Equeva, the decision to engage Stake Energy was driven by a need to reduce energy costs across its portfolio without capital expenditure or operational complexity.

“We were looking for a solution that delivered savings immediately, without capital expenditure or disruption to our hotels,” Aviad Panta, Managing Director of Equeva, said. “Stake Energy stood out because they took care of everything, from system design through to installation and ongoing operation. The batteries installed on each of our assets have delivered significant savings from day one and we couldn’t be happier.”

Beyond sustainability: energy storage as a commercial decision

Battery storage has long been positioned as a sustainability initiative. That framing, while accurate, has sometimes obscured its more immediate financial logic. For commercial and industrial asset owners operating in a high-cost, high-volatility energy environment, the case for battery storage is increasingly straightforward: lower bills, no capital outlay, no operational disruption and no long-term commitment required.

“For commercial and industrial asset owners, this is about cost certainty and risk management,” Stake Energy’s Weiner said. “Battery storage is now a straightforward way to reduce energy bills from day one.”

With energy prices expected to remain elevated and network tariff structures becoming more complex, the asset owners best positioned to manage costs will be those who act on available solutions rather than waiting for the market to stabilise. Battery storage, structured the right way, is one of those solutions available right now.

Find out more

By managing maintenance and batteries together,  commercial and industrial asset owners can reduce energy costs. Get in touch today to find out what your site could save.