Sunrock Distributed Generation
Sunrock Distributed Generation is a Baltimore-based commercial solar and battery storage platform that develops, finances, owns, and operates distributed energy systems for mid-market businesses, schools, nonprofits, municipalities, and healthcare facilities through PPAs, ESAs, and leases, backed by a nationwide EPC partner network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sunrock Distributed Generation does
Sunrock Distributed Generation is a Baltimore-based commercial solar and battery storage aggregation platform founded in 2016. The company develops, finances, owns, and operates distributed energy assets for mid-market commercial customers with typical project sizes of 150 kW to 5 MW, an underserved segment of the C&I solar market. Revenue is generated through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Energy Service Agreements (ESAs) for battery storage, and solar equipment leases—typically structured at fixed $/kWh or $/kW/month rates over 20–35 year terms with no upfront capital required from the customer.
The core technology stack comprises a proprietary credit underwriting platform that evaluates and approves hosts without traditional credit ratings, a proprietary pricing engine that delivers quotes within 72 hours, and a battery dispatch optimization system for ESA customers. Sunrock originates projects through two channels: direct enterprise sales to commercial offtakers (businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities) and a nationwide network of approved EPC partners, installers, and developers covering all 50 states. Capital is sourced through tax equity and partnership structures with Nelnet, Greenbacker Development Opportunities Fund I (GDEV), and CleanCapital, providing access to roughly $3.8B–$4.4B of deployable capital.
Active in 10 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia, Sunrock targets verticals including healthcare, education, non-profit organizations, commercial real estate, retail, and municipalities. Leadership includes Co-founder and CEO Wilson Chang (formerly co-founder of Sunlight Financial), Co-Founder and President Claire Broido Johnson (co-founder of SunEdison), and Head of Development Alan Robertson (ex-Bluewave). The company also offers Virtual Power Plant (VPP) aggregation services, enabling the portfolio to participate in grid services and demand response markets.
Sunrock Distributed Generation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sunrock Distributed Generation
- Legal name
- Sunrock Distributed Generation, Inc.
- Website
- https://sunrockdg.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sunrock Distributed Generation is a Baltimore-based commercial solar and battery storage platform that develops, finances, owns, and operates distributed energy systems for mid-market businesses, schools, nonprofits, municipalities, and healthcare facilities through PPAs, ESAs, and leases, backed by a nationwide EPC partner network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sunrock Distributed Generation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Distributed Solar and Storage Financing
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), DER Aggregation & Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) (EUAMAJAC), Project Finance & Capital Structuring (Debt/Tax Equity/Project Bonds) (EUAMAAAD)
Keywords
Where Sunrock Distributed Generation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sunrock Distributed Generation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): SDG installs, owns, and operates solar systems on customer properties. Customers purchase the electricity generated at a predetermined fixed rate, typically lower than utility rates, over 20-35 year terms. No upfront capital required from customers.
- Energy Service Agreement (ESA): SDG finances and operates battery storage systems for customers. Customers pay a fixed $/kW/month rate for storage-based demand charge savings. SDG handles monitoring, maintenance, and dispatch optimization.
- Solar Equipment Lease: Customers pay fixed monthly lease payments for the use of solar equipment over long-term agreements (20-35 years) with no upfront investment required.
- Tax Equity Partnership Revenue: SDG partners with tax equity investors (Nelnet) to finance and construct distributed generation solar assets, accessing tax credit benefits through partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | PPA / Lease financing for commercial properties |
| Subscription | Monthly | Energy Service Agreement for battery storage |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sunrock Distributed Generation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sunrock Distributed Generation (SDG) develops, finances, owns, and operates commercial solar power systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid optimization solutions for mid-market commercial and industrial customers in the 150kW–5MW size range. The company finances projects via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Energy Service Agreements (ESAs), and Solar Equipment Leases with 20–35 year terms, charging customers fixed $/kWh or $/kW/month rates with zero upfront capital required. SDG combines proprietary credit underwriting with a nationwide EPC partner network to deliver turnkey distributed energy projects to businesses, educational institutions, municipalities, and nonprofits.
Product overview
Sunrock Distributed Generation (SDG) is a commercial solar and storage aggregation platform that offers a unified suite of financing and energy solutions. The core platform enables businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions to access solar and battery storage through flexible financing structures including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Energy Service Agreements (ESAs), and Solar Equipment Leases. SDG combines its proprietary underwriting technology platform with a nationwide network of EPC partners to deliver turnkey solar projects ranging from 150kW to 5MW. The platform also supports Virtual Power Plant (VPP) services and grid optimization solutions, allowing aggregated assets to participate in demand response and grid services. The company finances, installs, and maintains distributed energy systems while providing ongoing asset management over 20-35 year contract terms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Save Monterey County Jail more than $12 million over system lifetime
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Sunrock Distributed Generation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Sunrock Distributed Generation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sunrock Distributed Generation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EPC Partners (Installers and Developers)coreSDG has a network of approved EPC partners across all 50 states who help bring customers deep understanding of local/state-specific requirements and construction expertise. Partners include EPCs, installers, and developers who work with SDG to originate, finance, and construct commercial solar and storage projects.
- Mynt SystemsminorMynt Systems developed the solar-plus-storage project at Monterey County Jail in Salinas, CA. The 1.243 MW solar carport and 1.043 MW/2.087 MWh battery system was developed by Mynt Systems for SDG.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sunrock Distributed Generation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Distributed Sun: C&I solar developer and IPP focused on commercial and institutional customers, with a similar third-party-owned, PPA/lease-based model. Directly comparable in target customer, project size band, and financing approach to SDG.
- Pivot Energy: Developer and financier of community and C&I solar projects across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to SDG in segment focus (small-to-mid commercial and nonprofit), PPA structuring, and partner-driven origination.
- Nautilus Solar Energy: Commercial and community solar IPP that develops, owns, and operates distributed generation portfolios for commercial off-takers. Closely matches SDG's distributed, mid-market DG focus and long-term ownership model.
- BlueWave Solar: Developer of community solar and C&I solar projects, with SDG's own Head of Development having previously been Managing Director there. Overlaps in segment (community + commercial) and PPA financing approach.
- Solect Renewables: Commercial and industrial solar developer and IPP serving mid-market and small commercial customers in the Northeast U.S. Directly comparable to SDG in customer profile (smaller commercial), PPA/lease offering, and regional channel partner model.
Broad incumbents
- ENGIE Distributed Solar: Large utility-affiliated distributed solar developer and operator (part of ENGIE). Competes with SDG in the U.S. C&I solar space with broader capital, balance sheet, and portfolio diversification across multiple renewable technologies.
- Tesla Energy: Vertically integrated solar and battery storage provider (Solar Roof, Megapack, Powerwall). SDG has even deployed Tesla batteries at Monterey County Jail. Tesla Energy is a broad incumbent competing for commercial solar and storage customers at scale.
- Sunrun (Commercial): Largest U.S. residential solar installer expanding into commercial solar. Overlaps with SDG in third-party-owned solar financing and battery storage aggregation, but operates at much greater scale and primarily serves residential customers.
Emerging players
- CleanCapital: Specialized distributed solar and storage asset manager and tax-equity investor, and an active SDG financing partner (CleanCapital logo appears on SDG's site). Operates in an adjacent but overlapping space — financing and managing portfolios of mid-market distributed generation assets.
Others
- Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company: Publicly-listed renewable energy investment manager and SDG's primary capital partner via Greenbacker Development Opportunities Fund I, L.P. Comparable as a sponsor/investor in distributed solar rather than a direct developer competitor, but its priorities and capital allocation directly shape SDG's growth.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sunrock Distributed Generation social profiles
Digital presenceSunrock Distributed Generation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sunrock Distributed Generation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Sunrock Distributed Generation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sunrock Distributed Generation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sunrock Distributed Generation
What does Sunrock Distributed Generation do?
Sunrock Distributed Generation (SDG) develops, finances, owns, and operates commercial solar power systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid optimization solutions for mid-market commercial and industrial customers in the 150kW–5MW size range. The company finances projects via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Energy Service Agreements (ESAs), and Solar Equipment Leases with 20–35 year terms, charging customers fixed $/kWh or $/kW/month rates with zero upfront capital required. SDG combines proprietary credit underwriting with a nationwide EPC partner network to deliver turnkey distributed energy projects to businesses, educational institutions, municipalities, and nonprofits.
Is Sunrock Distributed Generation a public or private company?
Sunrock Distributed Generation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sunrock Distributed Generation founded?
Sunrock Distributed Generation was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sunrock Distributed Generation based?
Sunrock Distributed Generation is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sunrock Distributed Generation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is the primary driver. The others are energy Service Agreement (ESA), solar Equipment Lease and tax Equity Partnership Revenue.
Who are Sunrock Distributed Generation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Distributed Sun, Pivot Energy, Nautilus Solar Energy, BlueWave Solar and Solect Renewables. Broad incumbents are ENGIE Distributed Solar, Tesla Energy and Sunrun (Commercial). CleanCapital is listed as an emerging player. Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company is listed as an others.
Does Sunrock Distributed Generation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sunrock Distributed Generation.
What industry is Sunrock Distributed Generation in?
Sunrock Distributed Generation's product category is Commercial Distributed Solar and Storage Financing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAA, Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop), with a secondary code of EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.