Solar provider breakdown: who leases PV systems?
Last updated 7/15/2020
Banks and organizations providing residential solar loans
Curious how solar loans compare to solar leases?
Companies offering solar leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are organized in one or more of the following ways:
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Vertically integrated
These companies own all the major parts of the solar business, including capital, sales, installation, and after-sales service and maintenance. SolarCity is the best example of a vertically integrated solar company.
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Solar Financing companies with a preferred network of installers
These companies use their own capital or source funds from a bank or a private investment fund to offer solar financing programs. They have built a national installer network that offers their financing program exclusively to consumers. Examples of such companies include SunRun, SunEdison, Sungevity. Some solar panel manufacturers are also providing financing using this business model. They include SunPower, Brightlease and CentroSolar.
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Solar Financing Company
These are primarily financing companies that any installer can use to offer a solar financing solution to property owners. Companies like Clean Power Finance, Graybar Financial, Tech Credit corp. are examples of this business model.
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Installers offering proprietary solar leasing/PPA contracts
Some larger installers have lined up a line of credit at a bank or at a private investment fund. Some even have put their own capital to finance commercial installations. Examples include Amberjack Solar and American Solar Direct.
Financing | Solar Sales | Installation | Contract with Consumer | System Maintenance |
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1. Vertically Integrated Company | ||||
In-house | In-house | In-house | In-house | In-house |
2. Financing company with an approved installer network | ||||
In-house or via bank or private fund | Network of installers | Network of installers | In-house | Network of installers |
3. Financing company; no preferred installer network | ||||
In-house | Local installer | Local installer | In-house | Outsourced to local installer |
4. Installer with line of credit | ||||
In-house or via bank or private fund | In-house | In-house | In-house | In-house |
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