SunVest Solar

What SunVest Solar does

SunVest Solar, LLC is a privately held, vertically integrated distributed-generation solar developer and independent power producer headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2009 in Wisconsin and relocated to Chicago's West Loop in 2023, the company operates across 18 states with a 2.5+ gigawatt development pipeline, a cumulative 600+ MW of developed capacity, and a target of 300 MW of assets under management by the end of 2026. Its platform spans greenfield development, engineering, procurement, construction, financing, and long-term operations, all managed in-house, with technical deployments including bifacial solar modules and ATI DuraTrack HZ single-axis trackers, plus agrivoltaic land restoration practices.

The company serves two primary markets: commercial and industrial customers through behind-the-meter solar, power purchase agreements (typically 20-35 years, with 5-20% reductions in volumetric electricity rates), and design/build services for facilities with 50,000+ sq. ft. of roof area; and community solar subscribers (residential and commercial) who receive bill credits in Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico without installing panels on their own property. Revenue streams are predominantly recurring in nature, including long-term PPA cash flows, community solar subscription bill credits, and a growing tax credit transfer business. One-time revenue comes from project acquisitions from other developers and equipment-financing arrangements.

SunVest has raised over $500 million in cumulative debt, tax equity, construction financing, and tax credit transfers since 2022, including a $240 million senior and construction debt facility in 2025 and a $67 million capital raise in April 2026 combining a $47 million ITC transfer and a $20 million equipment loan. Named enterprise customers include Charter Steel, Radio Flyer, ATI Forged Products, Prologis, Olivet Nazarene University, Forest County Potawatomi Community, and Dane County, alongside rural electric utility and educational institution clients. The company has been recognized on Crain's Chicago Business Fast 50 list in both 2025 and 2026 as the only clean energy firm on the ranking.

Name

SunVest Solar

Legal name

SunVest Solar, LLC

Website

https://sunvest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SunVest Solar is a vertically integrated distributed-generation solar developer and owner-operator serving commercial and industrial customers and community solar subscribers across 18 U.S. states, with 600+ MW developed and a 300 MW asset portfolio targeted by end of 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Distributed Solar Energy Development and Installation Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Solar Plant Components Supply & Manufacturing (Modules, Cells, Wafers, Mirrors, Heliostats) (EUACAGAK), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO)

Keywords

• Distributed solar generation
• Community solar gardens
• Commercial solar installation
• Solar power purchase agreements
• Solar project development

Headquarters

HQ city

Pewaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Long-term Asset Ownership and Operations: SunVest develops, builds, owns and operates distributed generation solar projects. The company generates recurring revenue from operating assets under long-term ownership, with a portfolio expected to reach 300 MW of assets under management by end of 2026.
2. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): SunVest offers PPAs to commercial and industrial building owners who pay a predetermined cost per kWh for power generated, typically 5-20% reduction of their current electricity bill's volumetric rate. Most PPAs last between 20-35 years.
3. Community Solar Subscriptions: Community members subscribe to a portion of a solar array and receive energy credits on their electric bill. Subscribers save 5-30% on standard energy costs. SunVest has projects operational across Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
4. Project Acquisitions: SunVest acquires solar projects from other developers at all stages of the project lifecycle, bringing them through energization to maximize value-creation.
5. Tax Credit Transfer: SunVest transfers Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) associated with completed solar projects to corporate buyers, generating upfront capital. Recent transfer of $47M ITC to a global insurance brokerage company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SunVest Solar is a vertically integrated distributed generation solar developer and independent power producer. The company designs, develops, finances, constructs, owns, and operates community solar gardens and behind-the-meter commercial and industrial solar projects across 18 U.S. states. Its commercial offerings include design/build services and long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), while its community solar offerings allow residential and commercial subscribers to receive energy bill credits without installing panels on their own property.

Product overview

SunVest Solar is a vertically integrated distributed generation platform offering a comprehensive suite of solar energy products and services. The core offerings include Community Solar Gardens (subscription-based solar arrays providing bill credits to subscribers), Commercial and Industrial Solar Solutions (tailored solar and battery storage for large energy consumers via design/build services and PPAs), Landowner Partnership Program (property leasing for ground-mount solar), and Project Acquisitions (purchasing and developing solar projects from other developers). Solar-Plus-Storage Solutions are offered as an add-on module to improve power reliability. All services span development, financing, construction, and operations managed through the company's in-house platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Solar Gardens Solar arrays that allow community members to subscribe for a share of the energy produced, receiving credits on their electricity bills. SunVest designs, builds, owns, and operates these projects, providing subscription opportunities for residential and commercial subscribers (including income-qualified households) without requiring panel installation on their own property. Available across Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
• Commercial and Industrial Solar Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• Subscribers save 5-30% on annual energy bills through community solar subscriptions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PrologisflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2025SunVest designed rooftop community solar installation for Prologis logistics center in Franklin Park. Prologis owns and operates 1.56 MW project. 45 installations planned across Illinois totaling 82 MW - largest rooftop community solar portfolio in northern Illinois.
• Charter SteelflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2024SunVest designed and constructed 19.5 MW solar array at Charter Steel's facility. Project is Wisconsin's largest behind-the-meter solar installation and helps Charter Steel produce steel using clean, local electricity.
• Independent Illinois DevelopercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Acquisition of 60 MW portfolio of late-stage community solar projects in Illinois (ComEd and Ameren territories) from independent developer.
• Independent Developer (Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2024Joint Venture Development Agreement for portfolio of community solar projects in Illinois and Maine totaling over 50 MWdc, including projects in Ameren territory.
• ComEdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2023Partnership with ComEd on community solar projects in northern Illinois. SunVest and ComEd play leading roles in growth of community solar, with 80+ projects in ComEd region.
• Rethink ElectriccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 October 2023General contractor for DeKalb solar projects. Largest projects in company history with skilled, diverse workforce.
• Osceola EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 October 2023Local partners in New Mexico for 30+ MW capacity awarded in community solar RFP.
• We EnergiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership on ATI Forged Products brownfield solar project. We Energies supports the community solar integration.
• Elkhorn Rural Public Power DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ERPPD enlisted SunVest to build, own, and operate three community solar gardens with combined capacity of 6.5 MW.
• Dane CountyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Partnership with Dane County to construct the Yahara Solar Project, SunVest's largest project in Wisconsin. The project enables Dane County to operate all facilities on 100% renewable energy.
• Alliant EnergyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2022Partnership with Alliant Energy and Dane County on Yahara Solar Project. Alliant Energy supports the renewable energy integration for the county.
• Natural Resource ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2022Partnership for native plant restoration at solar project sites. Work to eliminate vegetation that needs fertilization by encouraging native grasses and perennial wildflowers.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Summit Ridge Energy: Summit Ridge Energy is the largest community solar owner-operator in the United States with hundreds of megawatts under management, directly competing with SunVest in Illinois, New York, and other community solar markets with a similar developer-to-owner business model.
• Soltage: Soltage is a distributed generation solar developer and independent power producer focused on commercial, industrial, and community solar projects, with a similar vertically integrated model and overlapping C&I and community solar customer base to SunVest.
• Cypress Creek Renewables: Cypress Creek is one of the largest US solar developers, focused on utility-scale and C&I solar with project acquisition, development, and ownership capabilities — a closely comparable competitor in C&I behind-the-meter projects and community solar.
• ForeFront Power: ForeFront Power develops, finances, owns, and operates solar and storage projects for C&I customers, schools, and municipalities with strong community solar exposure in Illinois and other Northeast markets, directly comparable to SunVest's C&I and community solar offerings.
• Nautilus Solar Energy: Nautilus Solar is a community solar developer and owner-operator with operations across multiple US states including community solar subscription programs in Illinois-adjacent markets, competing with SunVest for both subscribers and project pipelines.

Broad incumbents

• SoCore Energy (ENGIE): SoCore Energy, now part of ENGIE, is a major commercial and industrial solar developer with deep roots in the Chicago and Midwest markets — directly comparable to SunVest's C&I focus but operating as part of a much larger global utility and renewables portfolio.
• Clearway Energy: Clearway Energy is a publicly traded renewable energy owner-operator with utility-scale and distributed solar assets, providing a comparable owner-operator business model at much greater scale than SunVest and competing for institutional capital and tax credit counterparties.
• Lightsource bp: Lightsource bp is a global solar developer and owner-operator with US community solar and utility-scale operations, providing a well-capitalized incumbent competitor to SunVest in the community solar subscription and C&I behind-the-meter markets.

Others

• Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital: Hannon Armstrong is a publicly traded infrastructure financier specializing in climate solutions including behind-the-meter solar and community solar, frequently serving as a capital provider and tax equity partner to developers like SunVest rather than a direct operating competitor.
• Array Technologies: Array Technologies is a leading manufacturer of solar trackers (including the ATI DuraTrack HZ used by SunVest at the Yahara project), making it a key equipment supplier and adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct peer, but reflecting the broader solar supply chain SunVest relies on.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sunvest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sunvest-solar-inc-
• Xx.com/sunvestsolar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 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 SunVest Solar