DS Energy

What DS Energy does

DS Energy is a privately held, Australian-owned solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm headquartered in Northgate, Brisbane, founded around 2011 by David Muir (CEO) and Shane Kennedy (COO). The company designs and installs commercial and industrial solar PV systems using Tier 1 components — panels from Astronergy, Trina, Jinko, LONGi, and Canadian Solar, and inverters from Sungrow, SolarEdge, Fronius, ABB, and Fimer — alongside battery storage solutions from Tesla, LG, BYD, FoxESS, and others. Its primary commercial focus spans rooftop and ground-mount installations for retail shopping centres (Retail First, QIC, Stockland), industrial and logistics facilities (Goodman, DB Schenker, FedEx), government and emergency services (PSBA Queensland, Queensland Fire and Emergency), educational institutions (QUT, 20+ schools via the Qld Gov ACES program), food and beverage (Coca-Cola Europacific Darwin), and heritage and tourism sites (Qantas Founders Museum, Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame).

The company's go-to-market is sales-led with a dedicated enterprise field-sales team and a vertically integrated in-house installation model that differentiates it from subcontractor-reliant competitors. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with the company explicitly positioning on quality and safety over lowest cost. Ancillary revenue streams include the Clean & Check maintenance program (from A$165 inc GST, available to third-party systems), battery storage installations leveraging the Australian Government's Cheaper Home Batteries rebate, solar panel cleaning, energy auditing, and customer financing via a Plenti Finance partnership. The company holds ISO 9001, 45001, and 14001 certifications, Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer status, Master Electricians membership, and electrical contractor licenses in Queensland and NSW, which collectively underpin its ability to bid on government and institutional tenders. Geographic operations span Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Papua New Guinea (via a 2024 joint venture with DS Energy PNG), and New Zealand, with cumulative scale of approximately 2,300 installations, 20MW of installed capacity, and 35GWh of annual clean energy generation.

Name

DS Energy

Legal name

DS Energy

Website

https://dsenergy.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DS Energy is a privately held Brisbane-based solar EPC firm that designs and installs commercial, industrial, and residential solar PV and battery systems across Australia, with a joint venture in Papua New Guinea and operations in New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial & Residential Solar Installation Services

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO), Solar Design, Engineering & Performance Software (PV Modeling, Digital Twins, Monitoring) (EUAMABAH), Solar Mounting, Racking & Trackers (Fixed-Tilt, Single/Dual-Axis, Rooftop Mounts) (EUAMABAF), Solar Balance-of-System Components (Cables, Combiner Boxes, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAMABAG)

Keywords

• Commercial solar installation
• Residential solar systems
• Solar battery storage
• Solar maintenance services
• Solar panel cleaning

Headquarters

HQ city

Northgate

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Solar System Sales and Installation: One-time sale and installation of solar PV systems for commercial and residential customers. Revenue is generated through the sale of solar panels, inverters, mounting systems, and associated electrical work. Commercial projects range from small business installations to large-scale multi-MW projects for shopping centres, warehouses, and industrial facilities.
2. Solar Maintenance Services: Ongoing maintenance revenue through the Clean & Check Program which includes system inspections, panel cleaning, defect checking, and performance audits. Available to both existing customers and owners of solar systems installed by other providers.
3. Battery Storage Installation: Installation of battery storage systems from brands including Tesla, LG, Samsung, BYD, SolarEdge, Sungrow, FoxESS, and Sonnen. Batteries can be included during initial solar installation or added later to existing systems.
4. Finance Partnership Revenue: Revenue generated through financing partnerships with Plenti Finance, offering flexible payment options to customers who prefer to finance their solar and battery installations rather than pay upfront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DS Energy designs, supplies, and installs commercial and residential solar PV systems using Tier 1 components, with primary focus on large-scale commercial and industrial rooftop and ground-mount projects across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. The company also delivers residential solar (application-only), battery storage installations from brands such as Tesla, LG, BYD, and SolarEdge, and ongoing maintenance through its Clean & Check program covering panel cleaning, defect inspection, and performance auditing.

Product overview

DS Energy is a 100% Australian-owned solar installation company headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, offering end-to-end solar PV solutions across three main service lines: Commercial Solar Installation (the primary focus, delivering large-scale systems for retail, industrial, government, and institutional clients), Residential Solar Installation (offered on an application-only basis for homeowners in Queensland and Northern NSW), and Solar Maintenance (through the Clean & Check Program). The product portfolio includes the core installation services complemented by add-on modules covering battery storage (Tesla, LG, Samsung, BYD, Sonen, SolarEdge, Sungrow, FoxESS, Sigenergy, Enphase), solar panel cleaning, energy auditing, financing options via Plenti Finance, and government rebate assistance. DS Energy operates in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea through wholly-owned and joint-venture operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Solar Installation End-to-end design, installation, and project management of commercial and industrial solar PV systems. DS Energy delivers large-scale rooftop and ground-mount solar installations for retail, industrial, government, and institutional clients across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, using Tier 1 panels and inverters with dedicated project managers and RPEQ engineering oversight.
• Residential Solar Installation Tailored solar PV system design, installation, and maintenance for residential properties. Services are offered on an application-only basis for homeowners in Queensland and Northern NSW, providing premium-quality installations with optional battery storage and blackout protection.
• Clean & Check Maintenance Program Standalone ongoing solar maintenance program covering panel cleaning, defect inspection (isolators, panels, inverters, batteries), leaf removal, and system performance audit with upgrade recommendations. Available to both DS Energy customers and orphaned solar systems installed by other providers.
• Solar Battery Storage Systems Household and commercial energy storage solutions using battery brands including Tesla Powerwall, LG, Samsung, BYD, Sonnen, SolarEdge, Sungrow, FoxESS, Sigenergy, and Enphase. Systems include 10+ year warranties and are designed for 6,000+ charge cycles, providing backup power, blackout protection, and feed-in tariff optimisation.
• Solar Panel Cleaning Professional solar panel cleaning service to restore panels that have lost up to 15-20% efficiency due to dust, grime, tree sap, leaves, and bird droppings. Offered as a standalone service or as part of the Clean & Check Program.
• Solar Energy Auditing Standalone performance evaluation service that checks a solar system's current output, identifies defects, and provides recommendations for updates and improvements. Available for all solar systems regardless of original installer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35GWh of clean energy generated annually across installed systems
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DS Energy PNGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership between DS Energy PNG and DS Energy Australia enabling knowledge transfer, expertise sharing, and best practices from DS Energy's successful Australian operations to Papua New Guinea. Opens doors for innovation by granting DS Energy PNG access to DS Energy's cutting-edge solar technologies. Enhances credibility in PNG market and contributes to capacity building and skills development through collaboration with local professionals and experienced expatriates.
• Queensland Police Service / Public Safety Business AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with government agency for solar PV system design, installation, and regular maintenance across Queensland police stations and emergency services facilities. DS Energy has been engaged for energy efficiency works, lighting projects, and expert advice on future initiatives.
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple solar installations across QUT Gardens Point campus including the QUT SCITECH installation featuring multiple PV technologies and mounting systems (including Dual Axis trackers). Over 450kW of solar capacity installed for the university's sustainability initiatives.
• GoodmancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with property group for solar installations at multiple industrial precincts including Goodman Redbank Motorway Estate (DB Schenker, FedEx distribution centres) and Goodman Lytton Warehouse. Multiple buildings equipped with commercial-grade solar systems.
• QICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShopping centre solar installations including QIC Forest Lake (1,003.92kW), QIC Merrifield (401.4kW), and other QIC properties across Queensland.
• StocklandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for commercial solar installations at Stockland Rockhampton (2.6MWp system) and other Stockland shopping centre properties.
• Autonomous EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged by Autonomous Energy to install 790kW on custom-designed carpark structures at the new cruise ship terminal at the Port of Brisbane. Part of larger development undertaken by Port of Brisbane.
• Retail FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortfolio-wide 3MW solar rollout across five shopping centres including Australia Fair, Booval, Mt Gravatt, and Toowong. Combined expected annual production of 4.4 GWh.
• Equipment Suppliers (Sungrow, SolarEdge, Fronius, Fimer, LG, Sunpower)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnerships with industry-leading solar equipment manufacturers including Sungrow, SolarEdge, Fronius, Fimer, LG, Sunpower, and others for panels, inverters, and battery systems.
• DownerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as project partner in commercial solar projects. Infrastructure and services company with operations across Australia.
• Vaughan ConstructionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as project partner for commercial construction projects involving solar installations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solgen Energy Group: Australian commercial and industrial solar EPC delivering multi-MW rooftop and ground-mount installations across the country. Directly comparable to DS Energy in customer base (shopping centres, warehouses, government), service scope (design-install-maintain), and target geographies (NSW, VIC, QLD).
• Springers Solar: Queensland-based commercial and residential solar installer with in-house installation teams and battery storage offerings. Closely comparable to DS Energy given shared QLD base, C&I focus, and similar customer segment (schools, commercial properties).
• Energy Bay: Australian commercial solar EPC specialising in multi-MW rooftop installations for retail, industrial, and government customers. Highly comparable business model and customer profile to DS Energy's commercial segment.
• Greenwood Solutions: Australian C&I solar installer offering end-to-end design, installation, and maintenance across commercial sites. Directly comparable service portfolio and customer type to DS Energy.

Emerging players

• 1Komma5° (1point5): European-headquartered climate-tech company expanding rapidly into Australia with integrated solar, battery, and heat-pump offerings. Comparable on solar+battery integration but broader scope and earlier-stage Australian footprint than DS Energy.

Broad incumbents

• Tesla Energy: Global solar roof and Powerwall provider with growing commercial offering. Comparable as a solar+battery installer and as an equipment supplier whose products DS Energy resells, though scale and vertical integration are far greater.
• AGL Energy: One of Australia's largest energy retailers and generators with a growing solar and battery installation business. Overlaps with DS Energy on commercial C&I solar but operates at vastly larger scale and as part of a broader energy portfolio.
• Origin Energy: Major Australian utility with solar and battery solutions for residential and commercial customers. Comparable on solar installation services but competes from a position of integrated retail-energy scale DS Energy cannot match.
• RCR O'Donnell Griffin: Large Australian electrical engineering and infrastructure contractor with significant solar EPC capability. Comparable on commercial solar installation and electrical contracting services, though operating as part of a much larger multi-disciplinary portfolio.

Others

• Plenti Finance: Australian consumer and business finance platform that partners with DS Energy to offer solar financing. Included as an ecosystem participant/partner rather than a competitor; representative of the financing infrastructure supporting the residential solar channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DSEnergyAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ds-energy-au
• Instagraminstagram.com/dsenergy.services

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DS Energy