A collaborative approach to an integrated energy solution 

Designing an integrated solar, battery and backup energy system required more than quality equipment. It required the right technical expertise. 

Working alongside installer SPS Solar + Water, the team at Greentech helped tailor a solution to Lowe’s operational requirements. The result was an integrated energy system that delivered the energy certainty Lowe was looking for while supporting the business’s goal of energy independence. 

As commercial solar and battery systems become more sophisticated, having access to specialist engineering and technical support is becoming increasingly valuable for installers. Greentech’s technical team works alongside installation partners to help deliver integrated energy solutions tailored to each customer’s operational and energy needs. 

Integrated commercial energy projects don’t just require technical expertise. They also require the right funding structure behind the scenes. 

For the Lowe project, Smart Ease worked alongside Greentech and installer SPS Solar + Water to structure payments that supported everyone involved, helping ensure the engineering, equipment supply and installation could be delivered smoothly.

More than solar. A complete energy solution 

Commercial businesses are increasingly looking beyond solar alone. 

Battery storage allows businesses to store excess solar energy during the day and use it when electricity prices are highest, reducing exposure to peak tariffs. It also provides valuable backup capability during grid outages, helping businesses maintain operations when power interruptions occur. 

For Lowe, this integrated energy solution delivered multiple benefits: 

• Greater protection against power outages 

• More control over when and how electricity is used 

• Reduced exposure to peak electricity prices 

• No grid reliance – the site can operate for up to 5 days without any sun  

For businesses where downtime has real operational or financial consequences, battery storage is becoming an essential part of the energy conversation. 

Making the project financially achievable 

Like many commercial energy projects, the biggest challenge wasn’t deciding whether the investment made sense. 

It was funding it. 

Delivering a complete solar and battery solution represented a significant capital investment, and tying up that amount of cash would have limited Lowe’s ability to invest elsewhere in the business. 

David says the Smart Ease payment plan was what made the project possible. 

“The payment plan with Smart Ease was really a critical point for our acceptance of this project.” 

By spreading the investment over seven years, Lowe was able to install the complete energy solution without draining working capital. 

“The payment plan allowed us to hold our capital for other things we may need to do. It gave us certainty around our payments and we knew there would be an end point where the system was fully paid off.” 

For agricultural businesses, where seasonal conditions can influence cash flow, predictable payments can be just as important as predictable power. 

A project aligned with Lowe’s values 

Sustainability has always been central to Lowe’s philosophy. 

The move towards energy independence wasn’t a new idea. It had been part of the business’s long-term vision for more than 25 years. 

“This has accelerated something we always wanted to achieve,” says David. 

“It fits perfectly with our ethos of permaculture, managing our own resources, being in control of the factors that affect our business and doing things properly.” 

Today, Lowe isn’t just producing award-winning wine.  It’s producing much of its own energy too.