Entering the solar industry can be an easy transition with the right resources and information. Understanding more about solar projects, including the difference between the three stages of a solar project; early, mid-stage, and late stage, can help tremendously by helping to determine where a newcomer to the industry can jump right in and transition their expertise smoothly to a solar project and where to engage experts in the field when they're just starting out.

The energy transition into renewables is underway, and as the demand for more renewable energy increases, so does the need for service providers in the industry.  Solar has only achieved 3% market penetration (or it's share of total electricity generation) in the US as of the end of 2020, according to research from SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association), and is poised to continue to grow in the years to come. If you're considering expanding your skill set or business to include solar, it's a great time to get into the industry. 

The solar market is heating up as the political climate changes in the USA. Wondering how to take advantage of great returns by investing in solar, but not sure where to start? We've listed a few options for individuals, businesses, and corporations to get started investing in solar.

When you're a homeowner who wants to invest in placing solar panels on their roof, you either float the capital upfront or you finance with the solar company you choose to work with. The same options are available for commercial and industrial (C&I) clients who want to install a solar system at their place of business with the addition of a third option known as third-party ownership: an investor may also finance the project and ultimately own the system, while the business or corporation signs a contract to purchase the electricity produced from the solar project instead of owning the equipment. 

Investors in commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects look for projects that; 

1. Have the right tax credit structure and return profile, while passing ESG investment diversity tests,

2. Have a creditworthy offtaker (either investment grade, or with strong historical financials),

3. Use bankable or "Tier-1" equipment, and

4. Can be built correctly and on time.

Sustainability. It's a trending business initiative and seems like it's everywhere these days, making it's way into the C-suite at companies. But beyond this trend, what does sustainability actually mean, and more importantly, how do we translate sustainability goals into actual operational plans?

Adding battery storage to new build solar projects has become more prevalent, with more businesses and residential clients choosing to add battery storage to their solar projects. 

According to our research, the top 3 reasons for choosing to include battery storage in a new solar project are:

1. Power backup
2. To reduce or cut ties with the electricity grid
3. To offset energy usage during non-peak production hours

Sustainability. It's a trending business initiative and seems like it's everywhere these days, making it's way into the C-suite at companies. But beyond this trend, what does sustainability actually mean, and more importantly, what does it look like in action?

Financing Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solar projects can be challenging, and for a myriad of reasons. We share our tried-and-true methods for pushing through each challenge and successfully financing C&I solar projects below.