DSD Renewables

What DSD Renewables does

DSD Renewables (Distributed Solar Development, LLC) is a U.S. developer of distributed-scale solar and energy storage projects, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Schenectady, New York. The company develops, finances, builds, owns, and operates rooftop, canopy/carport, ground-mount, and community solar installations paired with battery storage for commercial, industrial, government, educational, and community solar subscribers, with operations across more than 22 states and over 1.1 GW deployed since launch. Its core technology stack is a centralized project-development and asset-management platform (DSD Connect) supported by a Developer Network that aggregates origination from third-party channel partners, plus proprietary solar canopy designs and what the company describes as the first asset-backed securitization structure specifically for community solar cash flows.

DSD generates revenue through three streams: one-time project development fees and equity returns from constructed projects; tax-equity syndication and structured-finance transaction fees; and long-term, recurring payments under power purchase agreements (PPAs) with on-site offtakers and community solar subscribers. Go-to-market mixes direct enterprise sales into C&I and institutional customers with a partner-driven model through the Developer Network and procurement channels such as SPURR REAP for public agencies. DSD was originally backed by BlackRock and GE, has raised more than $2 billion of project capital through relationships with lenders including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, U.S. Bank, Nomura, and MUFG, and became a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises following a $250 million strategic investment in November 2023.

Name

DSD Renewables

Legal name

Distributed Solar Development, LLC

Website

https://dsdrenewables.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

DSD Renewables is a U.S. distributed solar and storage developer that finances, builds, and operates rooftop, canopy, ground-mount, and community solar projects for commercial, industrial, government, educational, and community-solar customers across 22+ states, having deployed over 1.1 GW since its 2019 founding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Project Development

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Solar project development
• Commercial solar installation
• Community solar programs
• Energy storage solutions
• Renewable energy financing

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Project Development: Developing solar and storage projects for commercial, industrial, government, and community solar customers. Revenue generated through project development fees and equity returns from completed projects.
2. Tax Equity Financing: Structured tax equity investments from financial institutions enabling project financing. DSD syndicates tax credits and accelerated depreciation benefits to investors.
3. Power Purchase Agreements: Long-term PPAs with customers providing solar power at negotiated rates, generating recurring revenue over project lifecycles.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DSD Renewables develops, constructs, finances, and operates distributed solar and energy storage projects for commercial, industrial, government, and community solar customers across the United States. The company delivers rooftop, ground-mount, and solar canopy installations, paired with battery storage, and structures long-term Power Purchase Agreements plus tax equity and asset-backed securitization financing to enable deployment at scale.

Product overview

DSD Renewables (Distributed Solar Development) is a solar and energy storage project developer offering a comprehensive suite of solutions for commercial, industrial, and community solar clients. The company develops, finances, and deploys distributed solar projects across the United States, including rooftop, canopy/carport, and ground-mount installations. DSD provides project development services, integrated energy storage solutions, community solar programs, and various financing mechanisms including tax equity investments and asset-backed securitizations. The company operates through its Developer Network platform and actively acquires solar projects and portfolios from other developers to expand its deployment capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solar Project Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Average reduction in energy costs for customers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Baker ElectriccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 July 2025Completed 797 kW solar and 1.14 MWh storage project for Frontwave Arena, partnering on project implementation.
• General Energy CorporationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 8 July 2025Completed 675 kW rooftop solar project for Elmhurst Park District in Illinois.
• SPURRcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 April 2025Secured master contract for California public agency solar program, offering pre-negotiated pricing for solar and energy storage through SPURR's REAP Program.
• Black Bear EnergycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMultiple solar installations completed together including 1.7 MW projects with The Muller Company and 1.4 MW Pleasanton office park project.
• Mission EnergycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnered to deliver 701 kW rooftop solar for Marian Catholic High School in Chicago area.
• New Energy EquityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired 15 MW community solar portfolio in Minnesota from New Energy Equity.
• New Leaf EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired 11.8 MW community solar-plus-storage project from New Leaf Energy.
• BorregominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired six-site community solar-plus-storage portfolio from Borrego.
• Sunset DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest multicampus solar + storage installation at Bishop Ranch Business Center in San Ramon, California.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ENGIE Distributed Solar: ENGIE's distributed solar arm develops C&I, community, and public-sector solar in the U.S. as part of a global utility platform. Overlaps with DSD's offerings but with broader incumbent scale.
• Lightsource bp: Lightsource bp is a global solar developer with growing U.S. distributed and utility-scale operations. Comparable in project development and financing, but operates at significantly larger scale as part of bp's energy platform.
• EDF Renewables Distributed Solutions: EDF Renewables Distributed Solutions (including the former groSolar business) develops C&I and community solar at scale as part of EDF's broader renewables portfolio. Comparable offering, but as part of a much larger incumbent utility/developer.
• Forefront Power (AES): Forefront Power, now part of AES, develops C&I, public-sector, and community solar projects across the U.S. Comparable customer base and project types, with AES providing deeper balance-sheet backing.

Direct peers

• Pivot Energy: Pivot Energy is a national C&I and community solar developer developing projects across multiple U.S. states with PPA and subscription models. Highly comparable to DSD in target customer segments, geography, and financing structure.
• Cypress Creek Renewables: Cypress Creek is one of the largest U.S. developers of solar and storage projects, with significant C&I and community solar exposure. Directly comparable scale and go-to-market to DSD Renewables.
• Nautilus Solar Energy: Nautilus develops, owns, and operates community solar projects across multiple U.S. states. Comparable in community-solar focus, subscription management, and project-acquisition strategy to DSD.
• Solar Landscape: Solar Landscape is a commercial rooftop and community solar developer active primarily in the Northeast U.S. Closely comparable to DSD in rooftop and community solar focus and regional concentration.
• Solstice: Solstice is a community solar subscription and project development platform connecting subscribers to community solar farms. Comparable to DSD's community solar development and subscriber-management capabilities.
• Ecogy Energy: Ecogy Energy is a distributed solar developer focused on community solar and C&I projects across multiple U.S. states. Directly comparable business model and customer mix to DSD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/distributed-solar-development

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors11 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 DSD Renewables