What Planted does

Planted Solar, Inc. is a vertically integrated solar deployment technology company founded in 2020 and headquartered in Oakland, California. It sells a Plan → Build → Operate platform that combines proprietary planning and design software, a terrain-following fixed-tilt solar racking system (a simplified two-part BOM using up to 70% less steel and ground coverage ratios up to 94%), and AI-guided field installation robotics. Together these components are engineered to unlock constrained, sloped, and previously infeasible sites (slopes up to 27%) while reducing labor requirements, project timelines, and levelized cost of energy for utility-scale, community, distributed, and behind-the-meter solar deployments.

The company's business model is project-based and quote-driven, with revenue generated from (1) hardware sales of its made-to-order terrain-following racking systems, (2) turnkey DC-scope installation and deployment services delivered through a preferred EPC partner channel, (3) recurring O&M and vegetation management services, and (4) a subscription-terms SaaS-style software component referenced in its Terms and Conditions. Customers include community solar and distributed generation developers (Cultivate Power, White Pine Renewables, ZNRG), Energy-as-a-Service providers (ENFRA), hyperscaler-adjacent data center projects, and a network of EPC channel partners (GreenLife, Preferred Electric, HyPower, Walbec Group, SolAmerica). Planted is positioning itself for hyperscale data center 'Bring-Your-Own-Power' demand, international expansion into Asia-Pacific and Europe, and a regulatory tailwind around IRS Notice 2025-42 safe-harbor Physical Work, with a stated path to 1 GW of deployment capacity by 2027.

The company has raised $32M in equity across two Series A tranches ($20M June 2024 led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Khosla Ventures; $12M July 2025 led by Piva Capital, with Microsoft, Team Builder Ventures, and DOE SETO participation) plus a $1.6M DOE Solar Manufacturing Incubator award. It is venture-backed, private, and pre-profit, with no revenue disclosed; its commercial momentum is anchored by a stated 20+ GW data center pipeline, a Black & Veatch-validated racking system (October 2025), UL 2703 certification, and growing enterprise partnerships across U.S. community solar and mission-critical infrastructure markets.

Name

Planted

Legal name

Planted Solar, Inc.

Website

https://plantedsolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Planted Solar is a vertically integrated solar deployment company that combines terrain-following fixed-tilt racking hardware, AI-guided installation robotics, and planning software to install utility-scale, community, and data center solar faster and at lower cost for developers, IPPs, EPCs, and hyperscalers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware sales — solar racking systems: Sells high-density, terrain-following fixed-tilt solar racking hardware (two standardized parts plus standard modules) as part of a vertically integrated deployment platform; includes project-specific, made-to-order fabrication under binding contracts.
2. Turnkey installation and deployment services: Provides turnkey procurement and installation of arrays and components, including mechanical design, structural engineering, project deployment planning, field support, and QA/QC powered by software and automation. Planted leads the DC install so EPCs/developers can focus on AC electrical, civil, and interconnection scope.
3. Operations & Maintenance (O&M) services: Comprehensive O&M solutions for long-term performance, including purpose-built low-profile mowers for vegetation management and array designs compatible with grazing operations.
4. Software platform subscriptions / SaaS for planning and design: Software-generated construction layouts, energy yield models, and engineering drawings; the website's Terms and Conditions reference 'Subscriptions' as a paid recurring service for accessing the Service, consistent with a SaaS-style software offering bundled with or sold alongside hardware/installation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Planted Solar sells a vertically integrated Plan → Build → Operate solar deployment platform combining proprietary planning/design software, high-density fixed-tilt terrain-following solar racking hardware (two standardized parts), and automated AI-guided field installation robotics. The offering is delivered as project-based deployments for utility-scale, community, behind-the-meter, and data center solar projects, supplemented by software subscriptions and long-term operations & maintenance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planted Vertically Integrated Solar Deployment Platform Unifying Plan → Build → Operate deployment platform that bundles proprietary planning software, terrain-following racking hardware, and automated installation robots into a single contracted delivery for hyperscalers, solar developers, IPPs, and EPCs.
• Terrain-Following Fixed-Tilt Solar Racking System High-density, two-part fixed-tilt racking hardware using up to 70% less steel than conventional systems; designed for utility-scale c-Si and First Solar Series 6/6+ thin-film modules, with fabrication produced by ISO 9001-certified U.S. suppliers.
• Turnkey Solar Installation Services End-to-end DC-scope installation service led by Planted using its precision field machines and two-part racking system, enabling EPCs and developers to focus on AC electrical, civil, and interconnection scope.
• Solar Planning & Design Software (Plan) Software that ingests site data, generates optimized layouts and energy-yield models, and produces engineering drawings that feed directly into automated installation; offered as a paid subscription bundled with hardware/installation.
• Solar Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Services Long-term managed O&M service covering vegetation management (low-profile mowers), grazing-compatible design, and software/automation-powered QA/QC to maintain profitable performance over the asset life.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% less land use vs. traditional solar (2 acres per MW; 50% less land per MWh)
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core validation partner, core epc / civil partner, core partner, flagship launch partner, trusted epc partner, trusted industry partner and supporting validation partner.

• Black & Veatchcore validation partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 October 2025Globally recognized independent engineering, construction, and consulting firm that completed a comprehensive third-party assessment of Planted's fixed-tilt solar racking system. The review covered product design, manufacturing, quality control, structural performance, and third-party testing data, validating reliability, constructability, and long-term performance for developers and lenders.
• Walbec Groupcore epc / civil partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 October 2025Civil construction and EPC partner collaborating with Planted on a northern Illinois site to apply proactive early-vegetation strategies. Craig Donze (Engineering Manager, Walbec Group) is quoted endorsing the partnership and contributed to Planted's vegetation planning playbook.
• ENFRA (formerly Bernhard)core partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025Partnered with Planted to deliver an 860 kW solar project in southern Illinois (completed permitting and mechanical installation August 2025) under a broader Energy-as-a-Service contract. ENFRA CEO Rob Guthrie is quoted endorsing Planted's flexibility and performance for distributed solar; ENFRA serves healthcare, education, data centers, and public institutions across more than 24 states.
• ZNRG (ZNRG Solar)core partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2025Maryland-based community solar developer partnering with Planted on a portfolio of projects across the state; using Planted's terrain-following arrays and integrated platform to require 50% less land per MWh and navigate Maryland's constrained interconnection market. ZNRG founder Karan Takhar is quoted endorsing Planted's ability to unlock overlooked sites.
• White Pine Renewablescore partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2025Co-developed behind-the-meter and community-scale distributed solar projects in Kettleman City and San Joaquin County, CA; financed through Beneficial State Bank and Energetic Capital. Planted's high-density, terrain-following arrays and rapid installation helped White Pine maximize energy generation on limited parcels. Evan Riley (Co-Founder, White Pine) endorsed the collaborative approach.
• Cultivate Powerflagship launch partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2024Planted's launch partner for the 11+ MW Chicago metro community solar deployment. Brian Matthay, Managing Director of Cultivate Power, is quoted endorsing Planted as a strategic tool for community solar developers. Operates in 10–50 acre solar and storage projects on farmland and infill.
• Greenlife Electrictrusted epc partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEPC and installation partner with 25 years of experience; CEO Jake Ocker is quoted on Planted's homepage calling it 'the most efficient installing ground-mounted solar system I've installed in 25 years of building projects.' Logo featured on Planted's partner wall and EPC trusted-partner list.
• HyPowertrusted epc partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEPC and installation partner; logo featured on Planted's homepage 'industry-leading partners' section and EPC trusted-partner list as a U.S. solar builder aligned with Planted's precision, safety, and quality commitments.
• SolAmerica Energytrusted industry partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolar development and EPC partner; logo featured on Planted's homepage 'industry-leading partners' section.
• Eclipse-Msupporting validation partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent construction analysis firm that validated Planted's mounting structure as best-in-class for productivity (PH/MW), confirming faster, safer installs and less grading compared to trackers.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FTC Solar: U.S. solar tracker company focused on utility-scale projects with a software-enabled approach. Comparable in combining racking hardware with planning software targeting developers/EPCs, and competes on similar LCOE and land-use metrics.
• Nextracker: Largest global solar tracker manufacturer; competes directly with Planted's terrain-following fixed-tilt racking for utility-scale ground-mount projects. Both target developer/EPC channels seeking to maximize energy per acre and reduce LCOE, though Planted emphasizes fixed-tilt simplicity and robotics vs. Nextracker's single-axis tracking.
• Array Technologies: U.S.-listed solar tracker manufacturer serving utility-scale developers and EPCs. Direct overlap with Planted in racking hardware, project economics, and customer base, with Array's larger installed base offset by Planted's claimed land/steel/labor advantages and integrated software.
• GameChange Solar: Major U.S. solar racking and tracker provider offering fixed-tilt and tracker solutions to utility and C&I developers. Comparable in customer profile (developers, EPCs, IPPs) and product category, and a likely competitor on community and utility-scale projects Planted is targeting.
• PV Hardware (PVH): Global solar tracker and fixed-tilt racking manufacturer with strong presence in EMEA and LATAM. Competes with Planted on utility-scale ground-mount projects and could be a direct rival as Planted expands into Europe and APAC.
• Soltec: Spanish solar tracker manufacturer serving utility-scale developers worldwide. Direct peer in solar racking/tracking for ground-mount projects; comparable on international expansion ambitions and customer overlap in IPP and developer channels.
• Schletter Group: European manufacturer of solar mounting systems for ground-mount and rooftop projects. Comparable as a fixed-tilt and tracker racking competitor with a global footprint, particularly relevant as Planted expands into European markets.
• APA Solar: Solar racking and mounting systems provider serving utility-scale and C&I developers. Direct competitor on ground-mount racking hardware with comparable customer overlap in the U.S. solar EPC channel.

Broad incumbents

• Trinasolar: Vertically integrated solar module and tracker manufacturer with global reach. Competes with Planted through its TrinaTracker line and broader module+tracker offering to developers and EPCs, providing a more comprehensive but less specialized alternative.

Emerging players

• Terabase Energy: Solar software and digital construction platform for utility-scale projects. Comparable to Planted's planning/design software layer and shares the thesis of integrated software + hardware to compress utility-scale timelines, though focused on digital twin / construction execution rather than proprietary racking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plantedsolar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors8 records

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 Planted