What Windfree Solar Co does

Windfree Solar Co is a Chicago-based solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor founded in 2009 that designs, permits, and installs photovoltaic systems for residential, commercial, and municipal customers across Illinois and the broader Midwest. The company has cumulatively installed more than 25 MW across 600+ residential projects, and its commercial reference list includes the Obama Presidential Center Athletic Center, Chicago Public Schools, Northrop Grumman, Revolution Brewing, and DePaul University, alongside multi-megawatt ground-mount and community-solar developments such as the Viola 2.9 MW tracker project and the Granite City 6.196 MW community-solar portfolio. Its technical offering has expanded beyond grid-tied PV to include Enphase-based energy storage and EV-charging integration, executed through a full-service delivery model that absorbs design, in-house permitting, utility interconnection, and incentive-program administration (including Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All).

The firm's commercial model combines a long-tail residential installation business with project-based commercial and municipal contracts sourced through direct relationships, MBE/EEC certification status, and channel partnerships such as Switch Together Chicagoland and POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing). Revenue mechanics are project-driven: residential jobs are typically fixed-price installations in the $18K-$35K range, while commercial and community-solar work is contracted at per-watt pricing on multi-megawatt scopes. The company is privately held with 11-50 employees, and supports its growth pipeline through a community-engagement layer that includes the Windfree Solar Cafe, Illinois Green Alliance affiliation, and engagement in Illinois Commerce Commission net-metering proceedings. Differentiation rests on regulatory certifications, regional permitting expertise accumulated over 15+ years, and reference-grade institutional customers rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Windfree Solar Co

Legal name

Windfree Solar

Website

https://windfree.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Windfree Solar Co is a Chicago-based solar EPC contractor founded in 2009 that designs, permits, and installs PV, storage, and EV-charging systems for residential, commercial, municipal, and affordable-housing customers across Illinois, with 25+ MW installed across 600+ projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar EPC 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 industry

Utility-Scale PV EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) (EUACAGAB)

Keywords

• Residential solar installation
• Commercial solar EPC
• Battery storage systems
• Municipal solar projects
• Ground mount tracker systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Residential Solar Installation: Complete residential solar PV system installation including design, permitting, equipment procurement, and installation. Revenue generated from system sales and installation fees. Offers $0 down financing options. Additional revenue from Illinois Adjustable Block Program REC payments ($5,000-$12,000) and ComEd net metering credits passed through to homeowners.
2. Commercial Solar Installation: Full EPC services for commercial solar projects ranging from small businesses to large manufacturing facilities. Revenue from system installations, engineering services, and procurement fees. Commercial projects qualify for 30% SRECs, 10% smart inverter rebate, and 30% federal tax credit.
3. Energy Storage Systems: Battery storage system installation for residential and commercial properties. Installs leading battery systems including Enphase. Revenue from equipment sales and installation services.
4. Windfree Solar Cafe Retail Operations: Sustainable coffee shop operation at 517 Dempster St, Evanston. Revenue from specialty coffee, tea, and pastry sales. Serves as solar education hub and consultation space.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Windfree Solar is a full-service solar EPC contractor that designs, engineers, procures equipment, permits, installs, and commissions solar PV systems for residential, commercial, municipal, and community solar customers across Illinois and the broader Midwest. The company also installs battery storage systems (including Enphase) and operates the Windfree Solar Cafe as a community education and consultation hub.

Product overview

Windfree Solar is a premier full-service solar installation company offering residential, commercial, and municipal solar PV systems alongside energy storage solutions. The company operates an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) model, handling the entire project lifecycle from initial sale through design, installation, and ongoing monitoring. The core product portfolio includes Residential Solar and Commercial Solar as the primary offerings, complemented by Municipal Solar for public-sector clients, Energy Storage (battery systems including Enphase), Ground Mount Tracker Installation services, and a Solar Calculator tool for customer estimates. The company also operates the Windfree Solar Cafe, a sustainable coffee shop and solar education hub, and runs the Switch Together Chicagoland group buy program in partnership with MREA and CUB. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Windfree Solar serves customers throughout the Midwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Windfree Solar Cafe: A sustainable coffee shop and solar education hub located at 517 Dempster St., Evanston, IL, operated by the Windfree Solar team to make renewable energy tangible and approachable for the community.

Products and services

• Residential Solar Full-service residential solar PV installation for single-family homeowners in the Chicagoland area, including custom system design, engineering, permitting, professional installation, inspections, and activation. Offered with $0-down financing options and ongoing monitoring support.
• Commercial Solar Engineering-led commercial solar EPC for businesses ranging from small operations to large manufacturing facilities, including rooftop, ground mount, and carport arrays. Includes state and federal rebate navigation (SRECs, smart inverter rebate, federal tax credit) and end-to-end installation.
• Municipal Solar Solar solutions for municipalities and public-sector clients, including schools, park districts, and government buildings. Full-service EPC handles design, installation, and ongoing support, leveraging Illinois Shines, Illinois Solar for All, and MBE/EEC certifications to access additional incentives.
• Energy Storage Battery storage system installation (including Enphase products) for residential and commercial customers, providing backup power during outages, overnight use of stored solar energy, and arbitrage when electricity rates are lowest. Can be paired with new PV systems or added to existing installations.
• Ground Mount Tracker Installation EPC services for ground mount single-axis tracker solar PV projects, encompassing engineering, procurement, and construction, using cutting-edge tracker technology to maximize energy output for community solar and commercial-scale projects.
• Solar PV Engineering Services Standalone engineering services for solar PV projects, including detailed site surveys, custom engineering blueprints, system design, structural and electrical design, and permitting support for commercial and residential customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residential monthly electric bills reduced from $150-250 to $15-30 after going solar
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers22 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

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Switch Together ChicagolandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWindfree Solar partnered with Switch Together Chicagoland program backed by The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) and the Citizens' Utility Board (CUB). This initiative brings more affordable renewable energy to the Chicagoland area through a group buy solar program. Windfree serves as the installation partner providing EPC services to program participants.
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMREA backs the Switch Together Chicagoland group buy program in partnership with Windfree Solar and CUB. MREA provides renewable energy expertise and program structure for community solar aggregation.
• Citizens' Utility Board (CUB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUB backs the Switch Together Chicagoland group buy program alongside MREA and Windfree Solar. As an Illinois utility ratepayer advocacy organization, CUB endorsement provides credibility and helps drive homeowner participation.
• Evanston MademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing partnership with Evanston Made for rotating art exhibits at the Windfree Solar Cafe. Local art showcases at the cafe platform highlight intersection of creativity and climate action.
• Soltage (Project Developer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindfree Solar completed Clary 2 Danville Community Solar project as EPC contractor for Soltage. This relationship demonstrates Windfree's role as preferred EPC partner for community solar developers.
• Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindfree Solar has an established relationship with POAH for affordable housing solar installations. Completed Jesse Jackson Senior Living Center project and expects to work on at least 5 more POAH projects in 2025. Focus on bringing renewable energy to underserved communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• StraightUp Solar: Missouri-based residential and commercial solar EPC with similar multi-state Midwest footprint. Closest operating analogue to Windfree — both run in-house residential + commercial pipelines with strong state-incentive orientation.
• Morton Solar: Illinois- and Midwest-located residential and commercial solar installer running a comparable sales-led, in-house EPC motion in the same state-incentive ecosystem.
• Borrego Solar: National commercial and utility-scale solar EPC contractor with strong community-solar and ground-mount tracker practice. Comparable to Windfree's commercial/utility site work (Viola, Granite City, Danville) at a national scale.
• Nexamp: Leading U.S. community solar developer and operator with a vertically integrated EPC arm. Overlaps with Windfree's community solar development (Granite City, Clary 2) and Illinois market presence.
• REC Solar: Commercial and small-utility solar EPC focused on C&I customers across multiple states. Directly comparable to Windfree's commercial/EPC business model.

Regional players

• Muth & Company Roofing & Exteriors: Illinois-based roofing and exteriors firm with solar installation offering in the same Chicagoland market. Comparable as a regional competitor bidding on residential and small commercial projects.

Broad incumbents

• Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer with national scale and own financing/PPAs. Represents the broad incumbent that Windfree's residential channel must compete with on financing convenience and brand reach.
• SunPower: National residential and commercial solar provider operating across multiple U.S. markets. Comparable broad incumbent competing for both homeowner and C&I mind-share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/windfreeinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/windfree-solar
• Instagraminstagram.com/windfree_solar
• Xx.com/windfree_us

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Windfree Solar Co