AI to Accelerate Solar Adoption
Meet the company empowering solar installers to rapidly and efficiently roll out renewables.
About
Solar AI is a Melbourne-based climate technology startup working at the intersection of solar energy, automation, and circularity. The company’s digital platform empowers solar installers to generate compliant proposals in minutes, track solar panels from installation to end-of-life, and integrate systems with virtual power plant (VPP) infrastructure.
Founded by Neel Bhattacharya—an experienced energy SaaS operator—Solar AI is designed to help Australia scale clean energy adoption while addressing long-term sustainability challenges. Its core mission is to digitise rooftop solar and align every installation with a circular economy model.
Why Melbourne
Melbourne’s progressive climate targets, strong SDG localisation agenda, and vibrant ecosystem of clean energy innovation make it the ideal home base for Solar AI.
The city’s Net Zero by 2040 vision and leadership in aligning local policy with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) strongly align with Solar AI’s goals. In particular, SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) are reflected in the platform’s approach to compliance automation and end-of-life panel tracking.
As a member of the Melbourne Climate Network, Solar AI sees the city not only as a customer base but as a global model for circular and resilient energy systems.
By simplifying solar adoption and embedding lifecycle thinking into every installation, Solar AI supports Melbourne’s clean energy transition while enabling long-term circularity.
Challenge
Despite Melbourne’s progress in solar adoption, two structural challenges persist:
- Regulatory Complexity: Installers frequently spend 30 to 60 minutes per proposal, risking non-compliance and costly errors as standards evolve.
- Rising Solar Waste: By 2030, Victoria is projected to generate over 100,000 tonnes of solar panel waste, much of it at risk of ending up in landfill without adequate tracking or recycling pathways.
These issues threaten to undermine Melbourne’s broader climate and circular economy goals, particularly around emissions reduction, resource recovery, and infrastructure resilience.
Neel Bhattacharya, founder of Solar AI
Solution
Solar AI’s platform addresses these dual challenges with a digital-first, SDG-aligned solution:
- AI-Powered Compliance Engine: Automates proposal generation, reducing time by 85% and ensuring adherence to state and local standards.
- Circular Solar Module: Tracks each panel from installation to end-of-life, enabling coordination with certified recyclers and diverting material from landfill.
- VPP-Ready System Design: Future-proofs solar installations to participate in distributed energy networks, building community resilience.
By simplifying solar adoption and embedding lifecycle thinking into every installation, Solar AI supports Melbourne’s clean energy transition while enabling long-term circularity.
Result
- Enabled impact tracking for tens of thousands of solar panels in preparation for end-of-life management.
- Active partnerships with local sustainability programs across Melbourne.
Early Impact Highlights:
- 85% average reduction in proposal creation time.
- Projections suggest over 1 million panels could be diverted from landfill by 2030.
- Circular integration may unlock more than $1 billion in recoverable materials.
Looking Ahead
- 2025: Deepen recycler and installer partnerships; expand tracking database.
- 2026: Launch city-wide end-of-life pilot with local councils.
- 2027 and beyond: Help Melbourne export its circular solar model across the Asia-Pacific region.
Contact
Linkedin Official Page -https://www.linkedin.com/company/105648050
Website: https://solarai.services/
