What Project Solar does

Project Solar is a U.S. residential solar company headquartered in Lehi, Utah, founded in 2020 by Trevor Hiltbrand (CEO) and Matthew Smith (President). The company serves individual homeowners in 33 contiguous U.S. states through a digital-first model that bypasses traditional door-to-door sales, offering both DIY equipment packages (priced at $1.80–$2.10/watt) and turnkey Full Service Installation (FSI) at a reported average of approximately $2.45/watt fully installed — roughly 42–50% below the NREL 2023 national average of $4.25/watt.

The company's core technology is an AI-powered instant online quoting engine that processes structured inputs (roof square footage, orientation, pitch, shading, utility rates, NEM rates, weather patterns) to deliver personalized solar system pricing without requiring a salesperson interaction. This engine sits atop a cloud-based design, engineering, and project management platform that handles permitting, install coordination, and inspection across a network of vetted local installation partners. Project Solar's equipment stack consists of curated third-party hardware — Q-Cells, Silfab, Canadian Solar, and Freedom Forever panels; Enphase IQ8+ microinverters and IQ 5P batteries; Tesla Powerwall 3; and IronRidge/Ecofasten/Unirac racking — rather than proprietary panels.

The business model is primarily transactional hardware sale plus service revenue. DIY customers purchase equipment with engineering plan sets and permit support; FSI customers pay an additional $0.50–$0.70/watt for installation. A 25-year SolarCare warranty is bundled free with every FSI project. Ancillary revenue streams include an e-commerce store for accessories and proprietary Power Bank portable batteries (600Wh to 8064Wh), an HDM financing/PPA option in CA/TX/NV, and a referral partnership with Comparion Insurance Agency. Marketing relies almost entirely on the self-serve quote tool, SEO content, organic social, earned media, and customer referrals — no field sales force is employed.

Name

Project Solar

Legal name

Project Solar, Inc.

Website

https://projectsolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Project Solar is a U.S. residential solar installer using an AI-powered instant quoting platform to sell DIY equipment and turnkey installations directly to homeowners across 33 states at roughly half the national average price.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Solar Installation

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Design, Engineering & Performance Software (PV Modeling, Digital Twins, Monitoring) (EUAMABAH), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

Keywords

• Residential solar installation
• Solar equipment sales
• DIY solar kits
• Home battery backup
• Solar warranty program

Headquarters

HQ city

Lehi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar Equipment Sales (DIY / Equipment Only): Project Solar sells solar equipment (panels, microinverters, racking, engineering plan sets, permits, and install support) directly to homeowners who choose to install themselves. Pricing is per watt on a sliding scale. This is a one-time product sale with optional add-on accessories from the online store.
2. Full Service Installation (FSI): For customers wanting professional installation, Project Solar adds $0.50-$0.70/watt on top of the equipment price, depending on location. The company coordinates with a network of vetted local installers to deliver turnkey installation. This is a bundled one-time service revenue.
3. Solar Accessories & Add-on Products: Project Solar operates an e-commerce store selling battery backup products (Power Bank 2000, Power Bank 600, Expansion Pack 3000, Portable Solar Panels, EZ Cart) and related accessories. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales, with 30-day return policy and 1-year warranty.
4. Insurance Referral / Partnership (Comparion Insurance Agency): Through its partnership with Comparion Insurance Agency, Project Solar refers customers seeking solar and home insurance coverage. Comparion acts as advisor matching customers with policies from multiple carriers. This referral relationship supports customer acquisition and retention for the core solar business.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Project Solar is a U.S. residential solar company that sells solar equipment packages (DIY) and turnkey Full Service Installations (FSI) directly to homeowners in 33 states. Customers self-generate an AI-powered instant quote on the company's website, choose between cash/finance, DIY, or full-service installation, and receive a system built from Q-Cells black-on-black monocrystalline panels paired with Enphase IQ8+ microinverters, optional Enphase IQ 5P or Tesla Powerwall 3 batteries, and IronRidge/Ecofasten/Unirac racking—backed by the included 25-year SolarCare production and workmanship warranty.

Product overview

Project Solar is a residential solar company offering a dual-model approach: DIY equipment packages for self-installation ($1.80-$2.10/watt) and Full Service Installation (FSI) adding professional installation ($0.50-$0.70/watt adder). The core product portfolio centers on premium solar panels (Q-Cells, Silfab, Canadian Solar, Freedom Forever) paired with Enphase microinverters, supported by racking from IronRidge/Ecofasten/Unirac. Battery options include Enphase IQ 5P (LFP, 5kWh), Tesla Powerwall 3 (NMC, 13.5kWh), and proprietary Power Bank portable units (600-8064Wh capacity). The company differentiates through its AI-powered instant quoting engine and the included SolarCare 25-year warranty covering production guarantees and workmanship. Financing options include traditional cash/finance and HDM cash-offer PPA alternative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SolarCare: Industry-leading 25-year warranty program included with full installations, covering production guarantee, workmanship warranty, and comprehensive solar investment protection.
• Project Solar Power Bank

Products and services

• Residential Solar Full Service Installation (FSI) Turnkey residential solar installation service for U.S. homeowners, bundling premium solar equipment (Q-Cells, Silfab, Canadian Solar, or Freedom Forever panels; Enphase IQ8+ microinverters; IronRidge/Ecofasten/Unirac racking) with design, engineering, permitting, professional installation by vetted local partner installers, inspection coordination, and the included 25-year SolarCare production-and-workmanship warranty. Pricing adds $0.50–$0.70/watt to equipment cost on a sliding scale by state and system size, advertised as low as $1.61/watt in some configurations, with the company's overall fully installed average ~$2.45/watt before incentives.
• Residential Solar DIY Equipment Package Equipment-only purchase option for homeowners who self-install: includes the same premium panels, Enphase microinverters, racking, full engineering plan sets, permit support, and installer guidance, priced at $1.80–$2.10/watt before the 30% federal solar tax credit. Targeted at DIY-capable homeowners seeking maximum savings; enables project execution without paying the Full Service Install labor adder.
• SolarCare 25-Year Warranty Program Comprehensive 25-year warranty program included at no extra cost with every Full Service Installation. Covers a Year-1 production guarantee (90% of promised output minimum), 10-year workmanship warranty, roof-penetration protection, cancellation and price-lock protection, and transferability to subsequent homeowners. Members also receive a 20% discount on Project Solar Power Bank portable battery products and have the assurance that Project Solar will enforce the installer's warranty even in cases of installer bankruptcy.
• HDM Financing / Cash Offer (PPA-style) HDM financing/cash offer structured similarly to a power-purchase agreement: lower upfront cost, instant savings from day one, with the 30% federal solar tax credit pre-applied to the offer and full system ownership transferring to the homeowner after 6 years. Currently offered exclusively in California, Texas, and Nevada through financing partner HDM.
• Project Solar Power Bank Portable Battery Line Proprietary line of portable lithium iron phosphate power stations and matching solar panels sold through Project Solar's online accessories store, including the Project Solar Power Bank 2000 (1920Wh, expandable to 8064Wh, RV-Ready), Power Bank 2000 standard, Power Bank 600 (614Wh), Expansion Pack 3000 (3072Wh), Portable Solar Panels (200W monocrystalline black-on-black with foldable carrying case), and EZ Cart. 1-year warranty (extendable to 3 years), 30-day return window, RMA required. Sold as standalone accessories; SolarCare members receive a 20% discount.
• Enphase IQ 5P / Tesla Powerwall 3 Home Battery Add-Ons Optional home battery add-ons integrated with the solar system for backup power and NEM optimization. Enphase IQ 5P: 5.0 kWh LFP battery with 15-year warranty, offered as a backup config ($8,750 installed with System Controller / $5,750 per additional unit without System Controller) or a consumption-offset config ($4,750, select utilities only). Tesla Powerwall 3: 13.5 kWh NMC battery with 10-year warranty, $10,550 for the first unit and $9,250 each additional in CA/AZ, and $12,750 first / $9,250 additional in all other states — all before the 30% federal incentive.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves customers ~$46M+ vs industry average pricing (based on $4.17/watt NREL average vs $2.50/watt Project Solar average)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Comparion Insurance AgencyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 June 2025Project Solar announced a partnership with Comparion Insurance Agency to help homeowners protect their solar investment and home under a single insurance policy. Comparion acts as an independent advisor working with multiple carriers to tailor coverage based on state-specific risks and solar system characteristics. The partnership provides Project Solar customers with personalized insurance options for home and solar protection.
• NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)minorOthersProject Solar references NREL's 2023 Quarterly Report for industry pricing benchmarks, citing national solar rates of ~$4.25/watt for systems under 10 kW and ~$3.75/watt for 10-100 kW systems. NREL data is used to substantiate Project Solar's pricing advantage claims.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer offering leases, PPAs, and cash purchases across most states. Directly comparable in customer (residential homeowners), product (rooftop PV + batteries), and go-to-market (full-service installation), though relies on in-person sales rather than Project Solar's PLG model.
• SunPower (now Complete Solar / SunPower Bankrupt entity): National residential solar installer and panel manufacturer with strong brand recognition. Targets the same residential homeowner segment with full-service installation, though traditionally distributed through dealer networks rather than direct-to-consumer PLG.
• Palmetto Solar: Residential solar company emphasizing transparent pricing and clean-energy education, operating across multiple U.S. states. Closely comparable in target customer (price-conscious homeowner) and digital-first GTM motion, making it one of the most direct competitive analogs.
• Momentum Solar: U.S. residential solar installer operating across multiple states with in-house and contract installation crews. Competes for the same homeowner segment with a stronger emphasis on direct-sales representatives, contrasting Project Solar's no-salesperson model.
• Trinity Solar: Largest privately held U.S. residential solar installer focused on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Same end-customer and rooftop PV + battery offering, but relies on direct in-home sales consultations rather than online quoting.
• Freedom Forever: U.S. residential solar installer operating nationwide with in-house installation crews. Notably, Freedom Forever is also a panel supplier to Project Solar's equipment lineup, making it both a peer and ecosystem participant.

Broad incumbents

• Tesla Energy (Solar Roof & Solar Panels): Tesla's residential solar business (Solar Roof and retrofit panels) competes for the same homeowners but operates as part of Tesla's broader energy/auto ecosystem. Tesla also manufactures the Powerwall battery that Project Solar resells, making it both a competitor and supplier.

Others

• Enphase Energy: Leading U.S. manufacturer of solar microinverters and home batteries (IQ8+, IQ 5P) that Project Solar resells and specifies. Adjacent ecosystem participant — supplier relationship today, but increasingly a competitor through direct installer programs and battery solutions.

Emerging players

• Arcadia Power: Digital clean-energy platform connecting homeowners with community solar and utility data. Partial overlap with Project Solar's online-first residential energy acquisition motion, though Arcadia emphasizes bill management rather than equipment sales.
• Greenlight Solar / Local DIY Solar Retailers: Wholesale Solar / other online solar equipment retailers sell DIY solar kits directly to homeowners, competing most directly with Project Solar's DIY equipment-only offering. Smaller scale and less curated equipment than Project Solar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/officialprojectsolar
• Instagraminstagram.com/officialprojectsolar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-solar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 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 Project Solar