What GroundWork Renewables does

GroundWork Renewables is a Monterey, California-based provider of full-stack solar intelligence services for the utility-scale solar industry, founded in 2009 by Ann Will. The company combines three integrated capabilities — Field (precision meteorological measurement stations branded Zenith, Rey, and Orbit), Lab (ISO/IEC 17025-accredited PV module testing at its Albuquerque facility, acquired from CFV Labs in October 2024), and Advisory (owner's engineering and independent engineering services launched in October 2025) — to establish defensible data baselines across the solar project lifecycle. Its proprietary STACK framework (Site Characterization, Testing, Assurance & Accreditation, Certainty Analysis, Key Insights) and specialty products including the EyeWitness hail monitoring system and Eclipse reference module system address what the company describes as the "Expectation Gap" between financing assumptions and validated field performance.

The company's business model is project-based professional services, with quote-driven pricing and direct enterprise sales to utility-scale solar developers, EPCs, and asset owners. GroundWork reports that it has contributed to 70GW+ of solar energy capacity across 1000+ bankable datasets and 1000s of field visits. Named enterprise customers include Recurrent Energy, 8minute Solar Energy, Invenergy, and SOLV Energy. Following Lime Rock New Energy's April 2024 acquisition of a controlling interest, the company has aggressively expanded its service surface (CFV Labs acquisition, STACK launch, Advisory Services unit formation, multiple senior hires) and is positioning as a category-defining provider of independent, evidence-based solar performance intelligence to lenders, insurers, and asset owners.

GroundWork is a certified B Corporation, holds ISO/IEC 17025 lab accreditation, and operates from offices in Sand City (CA), North Hollywood (CA), Holladay (UT), and Albuquerque (NM). The company co-hosts the annual PV Performance Modeling Collaborative Workshop with Sandia National Laboratories and its CEO sits on Sandia's Solar Industry Advisory Board, signaling deep engagement with federal solar research and industry standard-setting bodies.

Name

GroundWork Renewables

Legal name

GroundWork Renewables, Inc.

Website

https://grndwork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

GroundWork Renewables provides full-stack solar intelligence for utility-scale solar projects, combining precision field meteorological stations, ISO 17025-accredited PV module lab testing, and owner's engineering advisory services across the project lifecycle. It serves solar developers, EPCs, and asset owners with bankable, evidence-based performance data.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Performance Engineering Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Quality, Testing, Certification & Standards (Lab Testing, Inspections, Compliance) (EUAMABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Demonstration Pilots, Testbeds & Standards Development (Prototype Validation, Certification, Field Trials) (EUAMAOAL)

Keywords

• Solar resource assessment
• Pv module testing
• Meteorological measurement systems
• Solar plant monitoring
• Owner's engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Monterey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Field Services — MET Systems & Deployment: GroundWork deploys precision meteorological stations (Zenith™ and Rey™) at solar project sites for resource assessment, energy yield baseline establishment, and ongoing plant monitoring. Revenue is generated through equipment sales, installation, commissioning, and data monitoring services. The systems establish the defensible baseline that lenders, insurers, and asset owners rely on throughout the project lifecycle.
2. Laboratory Testing Services: ISO/IEC 17025-accredited PV module testing including batch flash testing, PAN file generation, reliability testing (LID, LeTID, UVID, PID, mechanical load, hail resilience), and module performance characterization. Delivered through the company's Albuquerque lab acquired via the CFV Labs transaction. Revenue is project-based, typically tied to pre-construction due diligence and commissioning phases.
3. Advisory & Owner's Engineering Services: New business unit launched October 2025 delivering owner's engineering expertise including module due diligence, energy yield modeling, development engineering, technical due diligence, and financing preparation support. Provided by senior industry leaders Chris Thuman, Eryn Donnelly, and Nate Croft. Revenue is consulting/project-based.
4. Hail Event Monitoring & Reporting: EyeWitness™ service providing real-time on-site hail monitoring, event documentation, and reporting for insurance claims, warranty disputes, and post-event O&M response. Supports insurance premium negotiations and deductible reduction through empirical impact data.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

GroundWork Renewables deploys precision meteorological (MET) measurement systems, conducts ISO/IEC 17025-accredited PV module laboratory testing, and delivers owner's engineering advisory services for utility-scale solar projects. The offering spans the full project lifecycle — from resource assessment and equipment acceptance through operations monitoring and extreme weather documentation — integrating Field, Lab, and Advisory capabilities under its proprietary STACK™ methodology.

Product overview

GroundWork Renewables offers a full-stack solar intelligence platform providing Field, Lab, and Advisory capabilities across the solar project lifecycle. The core offerings include five integrated services under the Solutions menu: Energy Assessment (using Zenith™ and Rey™ MET Systems), Performance Test, Plant Monitoring, Extreme Weather (via EyeWitness™ hail monitoring), and Module Performance (using Eclipse™). The proprietary STACK™ Framework provides a five-layer methodology connecting all services—Site Characterization, Testing, Assurance & Accreditation, Certainty Analysis, and Key Insights. The company operates through three capability pillars: Field (meteorological measurement stations), Lab (ISO 17025-accredited testing via CFV Labs, acquired in 2024), and Advisory (owner's engineering services). Products span hardware (MET stations, hail sensors), testing services (batch testing, hail resilience), and advisory services, unified under the STACK Framework that ensures lifecycle continuity from development through operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Assessment On-site meteorological measurement service that establishes the ground-truth baseline for yield assumptions before capital flows into a utility-scale solar project. Delivered for utility-scale solar developers and lenders requiring defensible data for financing and PPA negotiations.
• Performance Test Equipment acceptance testing service that validates what is being accepted against performance expectations before liability transfers from the EPC to the owner during the construction phase.
• Plant Monitoring Continuous performance monitoring service with baselines to detect gradual performance loss at utility-scale solar plants, enabling recovery of undetected degradation while remedies still exist.
• Extreme Weather Documentation Independent event documentation and lab testing for hail and extreme weather events, providing evidence that holds up under scrutiny for insurance claims and warranty disputes at utility-scale solar assets.
• Module Performance Testing Independent verification that PV modules perform as rated through batch testing, flash testing, and reliability assessments, creating a paper trail for performance validation.
• STACK™ Framework Proprietary five-layer methodology (Site Characterization, Testing, Assurance & Accreditation, Certainty Analysis, Key Insights) that delivers full-stack solar intelligence across the entire project lifecycle from development through operations for developers, EPCs, and asset owners.
• Advisory Services Owner's engineering and independent engineer services including module due diligence, energy yield modeling, development engineering, technical due diligence, and financing preparation support for utility-scale solar and storage projects.
• GroundWork® Zenith™ MET System High-performance precision meteorological station with laser-based snow depth measurement designed for deployment at operational PV plants where AC power enables precision with minimal maintenance.
• GroundWork® Rey™ MET System Rugged, remotely powered meteorological station with ultrasonic snow depth measurement, designed for resource assessment campaigns at solar sites as a cost-effective, low-power alternative.
• EyeWitness™ Hail Monitoring System On-site hail monitoring system with dual sensors (horizontal plane and plane-of-array) that captures individual hailstone effective diameter, fall angles, terminal velocities, and kinetic energy in near real time for insurance and warranty support at solar sites.
• GroundWork® Eclipse™ Reference Module System Proprietary reference module characterization system delivering temperature-corrected, high-accuracy performance data used for module selection, performance monitoring support, and calibration of bankable datasets.
• Orbit™ Weather Benchmarking System Weather benchmarking system referenced in technical specifications for solar resource assessment and data comparison.
• Hail Resilience Test Package Two-part testing solution combining lab-based hail impact testing (glass breakage, cell fracture detection, stow resilience) with on-site EyeWitness™ validation, validating module ability to withstand hail using real-world scenarios.
• PV Module Batch Testing Comprehensive batch testing including flash testing, PAN file generation with IAM measurements, reference module characterization, and reliability testing for LID, LeTID, UVID, PID, mechanical load, damp heat, temperature cycling, and hail resilience.
• CFV Labs PV Module Testing ISO 17025-accredited PV test laboratory providing third-party photovoltaic module performance and reliability testing, including certification, performance and degradation assessments, resource weather-related module risk evaluations, and extreme weather resilience services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6x ROI on testing and sensor costs with 8-month payback period for integrated hail resilience programs
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOLV EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2025GroundWork collaborates with SOLV Energy on multiple initiatives including the PowerUp! Renewable Energy Scholarship program (reviewing applications alongside Arevon and Nextracker) and the Skip the Grid campaign bringing off-grid solar to Navajo households in New Mexico. GroundWork sponsors the SOLV Skip the Grid initiative as part of its B Corp and UN Sustainable Development Goals commitments.
• CFV Labs (CFV Solar Test Laboratory, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024GroundWork acquired CFV Solar Test Laboratory in October 2024, integrating its ISO 17025-accredited PV module testing capabilities into GroundWork's full-stack solar intelligence platform. CFV Labs brings module performance and reliability testing, resource/weather risk evaluation, and resilience services. Jim Crimmins (former CFV CEO) was appointed GroundWork CTO. The combined entity delivers solar resource assessment, technology selection advisory, procurement qualification testing, capacity testing, long-term monitoring, and field services.
• Sandia National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundWork co-hosts the annual PV Performance Modeling Collaborative (PVPMC) Workshop with Sandia National Laboratories. CEO Ann Will was appointed to Sandia's Solar Industry Advisory Board in June 2026. Sandia's photovoltaic research is funded by the DOE's Integrated Energy Systems Office. The collaboration centers on advancing industry standards for PV performance measurement, modeling, and data quality.
• Recurrent EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecurrent Energy (subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc.) partnered with GroundWork on the industry's first in-field and lab-validated hail impact study at the 120 MW North Fork Solar Project in Kiowa County, Oklahoma. The study quantified tracker stow effectiveness at various angles using GroundWork's EyeWitness monitoring and lab validation. Results demonstrated significant kinetic energy reduction from stowing modules and informed insurance optimization strategies.
• Arevon EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArevon collaborated with GroundWork and SOLV Energy on the PowerUp! Renewable Energy Scholarship review panel for high school seniors pursuing clean energy careers.
• NextrackerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextracker collaborated with GroundWork and SOLV Energy on the PowerUp! Renewable Energy Scholarship review panel. Nextracker was also referenced in connection with GroundWork's contributions to bifacial module technology discussions at industry conferences.
• We Care SolarminorOthersGroundWork supports We Care Solar's mission to provide solar-powered lighting to maternal health facilities in Africa through charitable donations, LoToJa cycling fundraiser sponsorship, and team participation. GroundWork's Skip the Grid initiative with SOLV Energy shares similar community impact goals.
• Fracsun Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFracsun co-sponsored the GroundWork LoToJa Cycling Team with SOLV Energy to raise funds for We Care Solar obstetric clinic solar projects. GroundWork also lists Fracsun as a major supplier in its supplier list.
• SolargisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundWork and Solargis collaborated on a case study showcasing innovation in solar-plus-storage measurement campaigns, demonstrating how integrated measurement approaches improve project financial viability.
• Heart of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart of America partnered with SOLV Energy and GroundWork on the Skip the Grid off-grid solar initiative for Navajo households, providing community infrastructure support alongside solar installations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solargis: Solargis provides global solar resource data and energy yield assessment using satellite and reanalysis models. Directly comparable to GroundWork's resource-assessment and MET-driven yield baselining offering, though Solargis is more software/satellite-oriented and GroundWork more field-MET-and-lab.
• 3E: 3E provides solar resource assessment, energy yield forecasting, and bankable data services for utility-scale PV. Comparable to GroundWork's energy assessment and yield modeling work, with a stronger software/SaaS focus.
• NRG Systems: NRG Systems manufactures and supplies meteorological measurement equipment and data services for renewable energy (solar and wind), including MET stations used in PV resource assessment. Directly comparable hardware peer to GroundWork's Zenith/Rey product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Vaisala: Vaisala is a global leader in meteorological and environmental measurement instruments, including solar irradiance sensors and MET stations used in PV resource campaigns. Broader incumbent across multiple industries; overlaps with GroundWork's Zenith/Rey MET hardware business.
• DNV (Energy Systems): DNV offers owner's engineering, energy yield assessments, and independent engineering for solar PV/storage projects — directly comparable to GroundWork's Advisory services. DNV is a much larger, broader incumbent spanning wind, offshore, and oil & gas.
• TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland operates PV module testing laboratories and certification services (IEC 61215, IEC 61730, hail testing). Directly comparable to GroundWork/CFV Labs batch testing capability, but as a much larger diversified testing incumbent across multiple industries.
• UL Solutions: UL Solutions provides PV module certification, performance testing, and safety standards services. Comparable to CFV Labs' ISO 17025 accredited testing; operates as a broad, diversified testing and certification incumbent.
• Intertek: Intertek provides PV module testing, performance characterization, and reliability services including hail/weather resilience. Comparable to GroundWork's lab testing services; broader testing/inspection incumbent across many industries.

Others

• Kipp & Zonen (OTT HydroMet): Kipp & Zonen (part of OTT HydroMet) supplies solar irradiance sensors (pyranometers) used in MET stations for PV resource assessment. Adjacent/equipment supplier to GroundWork's meteorological measurement deployments rather than a direct service competitor.
• Fraunhofer ISE: Fraunhofer ISE is a leading solar research institute conducting PV module testing, performance characterization, and yield modeling. Comparable in technical capability to CFV Labs but operates as a public research/standards body rather than a commercial services provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/GroundWork/118823588175614
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1210482
• Instagraminstagram.com/grndwork
• Xx.com/grndwork

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 GroundWork Renewables