What Solar Energy Solutions does

Solar Energy Solutions is a privately-held, employee-owned solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firm founded in 2006 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. The company designs and installs custom photovoltaic systems across residential, commercial, utility, institutional, agricultural, and government segments, operating entirely with in-house engineering, licensed electricians, and NABCEP-certified installers rather than subcontractors. Its technical scope spans rooftop and ground-mount arrays, three-phase commercial battery energy storage (including Tesla Megapack and Fortress Power), residential battery backup (Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH), solar canopies (GenMounts), EV charging, and ongoing operations and maintenance services.

The company operates from five regional offices across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Virginia, with residential coverage extending to a seven-state footprint (IL, IN, KY, OH, TN, VA, WV) and commercial/utility projects reaching the broader Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic via traveling crews. Notable projects include a 6+ MW system at a LEGO manufacturing facility in Virginia (the largest EPC project to date), over 3.6 MW across multiple phases for Frankfort Plant Board, a 5.5 MW national retail distribution center, and 40+ active school solar projects. Cumulative installed base exceeds 3,500 systems across two decades of operation.

Revenue is generated through hardware sales and installation contracts, full-scope EPC services for third-party developers and independent power producers, recurring O&M contracts, third-party ownership/lease structures (including prepaid leases in Indiana/Kentucky and Palmetto zero-down leases in Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, and West Virginia), and financing referral fees from Sunstone Credit and Clean Energy Credit Union partnerships. The company is a member of the Amicus Solar Cooperative purchasing collective and holds Tesla Powerwall Premier Installer and SPAN Authorized Installer certifications. No funding rounds or M&A activity are disclosed, and the company remains self-financed under its employee-owned structure.

Name

Solar Energy Solutions

Legal name

Solar Energy Solutions LLC

Website

https://sesre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solar Energy Solutions is an employee-owned, in-house EPC solar installer founded in 2006 headquartered in Lexington, KY, serving commercial, utility, institutional, government, agricultural, and residential customers across the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic with PV systems, battery storage, and ongoing operations and maintenance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar EPC and Installation Services

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 PV Power Plant EPC (Utility-Scale) (EUAEAAAG), Electrical Balance-of-Plant EPC (MV Collection, Cabling, Earthing, Lighting) (EUAEADAB)

Keywords

• Solar EPC services
• Photovoltaic installation
• Battery storage systems
• Solar operations maintenance
• Commercial solar engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Solar System Sales and Installation: Direct sales and installation of custom solar photovoltaic systems for commercial, utility, institutional, and residential customers. Revenue from equipment sales, installation services, and project management. Systems range from small rooftop residential to multi-megawatt utility-scale installations.
2. EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) Services: Full-scope EPC contracts for commercial and utility-scale solar projects. Single point of accountability from concept through commissioning. Serves third-party developers, IPPs, and firms needing experienced build partner.
3. Operations and Maintenance Services: Ongoing O&M contracts for commercial solar systems after workmanship warranty ends. Includes production monitoring, annual inspections, inverter servicing, thermal imaging, warranty management, and corrective repairs.
4. Third-Party Ownership (Lease/PPA): Prepaid solar lease (15-30% upfront discount, no payments for 5 years, ownership option after year 5) for Indiana and parts of Kentucky. Zero-down third-party ownership lease (Palmetto) for Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, West Virginia. SES qualifies for commercial ITC and passes value back as discount.
5. Commercial Solar Financing Partnership: Partnered with Sunstone Credit offering commercial solar loans ($50,000 to $30 million, up to 20 years, 100% financing). PACE financing in eligible localities. Referral fees from financing partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Solar Energy Solutions is an employee-owned solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company that designs, installs, and maintains custom photovoltaic solar systems and battery energy storage for commercial, utility, institutional, government, agricultural, and residential customers. All engineering, installation, and service work is performed in-house by licensed Professional Engineers, NABCEP-certified designers, and Master Electricians, with no use of subcontractors.

Product overview

Solar Energy Solutions offers a comprehensive solar energy portfolio centered on custom-engineered photovoltaic installation services across commercial, utility, and residential segments. The core offering comprises Commercial Solar Systems and Residential Solar Systems, supported by complementary battery storage solutions (Commercial Battery Storage/BESS and Residential Battery Backup including Tesla Powerwall 3 and FranklinWH products). Add-on capabilities include Solar Canopies, Commercial EV Charging, and comprehensive maintenance services (Commercial O&M and Residential Maintenance Plans). The company also provides financing options including commercial loans through Sunstone Credit, residential financing via Clean Energy Credit Union, Prepaid Solar Lease, and Zero-Down Third-Party Ownership leases. Equipment components include solar panels from multiple Tier 1 manufacturers (Qcells, JA Solar, REC, Silfab, Tesla, NE Solar, Bila Solar), inverters (Chint/CPS, SolarEdge, Enphase), and battery systems (Tesla Megapack, Fortress Power). The company operates as an Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) partner delivering end-to-end services from design through commissioning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Solar Systems Custom-engineered solar photovoltaic systems for businesses, corporations, non-profits, schools, agricultural operations, government buildings, and utilities, ranging from small rooftop arrays to utility-scale installations. Includes design, engineering, permitting, installation, and commissioning.
• Residential Solar Systems Rooftop solar installations for homeowners including solar panels, battery storage integration, and EV charging, designed to reduce electricity bills and provide blackout protection. Available with cash purchase, loan, prepaid lease, or zero-down lease.
• Commercial Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Three-phase commercial battery storage systems for demand charge management, peak shaving, and backup power, including Tesla Megapack and Fortress Power solutions configured with islanding mode for seamless backup during grid outages.
• Residential Battery Backup Home battery systems including Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh with integrated inverter, 10-year warranty) and FranklinWH aPower S (15 kWh, generator compatibility, 12-year warranty) for whole-home backup during outages and nighttime energy storage.
• Solar Canopies Parking lot and ground-level solar canopy structures built on American-made GenMounts, providing shade and shelter while generating solar power, with integrated EV charging capability. Domestic manufacturing supports domestic content thresholds for ITC bonus qualification.
• Commercial EV Charging Electric vehicle charging station installations for commercial and fleet customers, including Tesla Wall Connectors, integrated with on-site solar systems or solar canopies.
• Commercial Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Preventative maintenance and risk management plans for commercial solar systems including annual inspections, real-time performance monitoring, inverter servicing, thermal imaging, IV curve tracing, string testing, infrared thermography, warranty coordination, and corrective repairs.
• Residential Maintenance Plans Tiered residential solar maintenance plans including annual system checkups, panel cleanings, thermal imaging, battery inspection, and ongoing monitoring services.
• Commercial Solar Financing Business solar financing facilitated through Sunstone Credit (loans $50,000 to $30 million, up to 20-year terms, fixed rates, 100% financing available) and PACE financing options for eligible localities.
• Residential Solar Financing Homeowner financing options including Clean Energy Credit Union solar loans (competitive fixed rates, terms up to 20 years, no prepayment penalties, up to 100% financing) and Rate Promise guarantee.
• Prepaid Solar Lease Third-party ownership model offering 15-30% upfront discount on effective cost with no monthly payments during initial 5-year term; ownership option after year 5 at Fair Market Value or $1,000 (whichever greater). SES maintains and monitors the system throughout the lease.
• Zero-Down Third-Party Ownership Lease Palmetto lease offering $0 down solar with all maintenance, monitoring, and repairs covered for 25 years, available in Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, and West Virginia. SES installs and maintains the system while Palmetto provides financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.5 MW project offsets 150 million pounds of CO2, equivalent to nearly 168 million miles of driving
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Castle & Key DistilleryminorOthers · 12 September 2025Castle & Key Distillery in Kentucky undertook a 1.2 MW (also mentioned as 1.23 MW) solar PV project in collaboration with SES and Weidmuller. Heritage site project with sustainability goals and energy cost reduction. Second phase planned. Project met strict deadlines for grants and regulatory approval.
• City of Bloomington (Indiana)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2025SES serves as technical assistance provider for City of Bloomington's Solar, Energy Efficiency, & Lighting (SEEL) grant program. Program expanded to include battery energy storage systems for nonprofits. SES helps organizations apply for grants up to $45,000 for nonprofits and $25,000 for small businesses for solar and battery installations.
• Amicus Solar CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember-owned purchasing cooperative of nearly 100 highly-qualified, independent, values-driven solar energy companies. Members are PV project developers, EPCs, and installers building projects in all 50 states, Washington DC, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Cooperative members average 20 years in solar industry and collaborate for combined buying power and shared knowledge. Represents over 4,500 employees nationwide. SES leverages cooperative relationships for direct manufacturer partnerships.
• Tesla (Energy)flagshipTechnology or IntegrationTesla Powerwall Premier Installer certification. Tesla Energy partner. Certified to install Tesla Powerwall (residential 13.5 kWh with integrated inverter) and Tesla Megapack (utility-scale commercial storage). SES has built Megapack installations including Indianapolis airport project. Tesla also offers expansion packs for capacity addition.
• SPANcoreTechnology or IntegrationSPAN Authorized Installer. SPAN panel is described as next-generation electric panel replacing 100-year-old technology in homes. SES certified to install SPAN panels as part of residential solar and battery installations, providing advanced home energy management capabilities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunrun: Largest US residential solar installer with a national subscription/lease platform and growing battery attach — competes with SES's residential segment across every state in SES's footprint as a broader, capital-backed incumbent.
• Tesla Energy: Manufactures the Powerwall, Megapack, and Solar Roof that SES installs and offers its own direct residential solar offering, making Tesla both a critical supply partner and a broad competitor in the same customer segments.
• Mortenson Construction (Renewable Energy): Large national EPC contractor with a dedicated renewable energy group delivering utility-scale solar across the US, competing with SES for developer and IPP build-partner opportunities at the larger end of the utility-scale project spectrum.

Emerging players

• Pivot Energy: Commercial and community solar developer with in-house EPC capability that competes for the same institutional, commercial and developer-channel projects SES targets in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.

Direct peers

• Trinity Solar: One of the largest privately held residential solar installers in the US, headquartered in New Jersey, operating a regional direct-sales and in-house installation model closely comparable to SES across residential and light commercial segments.
• IGS Solar: Ohio-headquartered residential and commercial solar installer with a regional direct-sales footprint that directly overlaps SES's core Midwest service territory and customer segments.
• Palmetto: Residential solar platform that both partners with SES for installations in OH/IL/VA/WV and operates its own national install network, competing head-to-head for the same homeowner customer profile SES targets.
• Freedom Forever: Residential and light-commercial solar installer with an in-house, employee-focused culture and direct-to-consumer sales motion that closely mirrors SES's residential go-to-market.
• Renu Energy Solutions: Regional residential and commercial solar installer serving the Carolinas and Southeast, with comparable vertical mix (residential, commercial, institutional) and similar in-house EPC positioning.
• Moss: National commercial solar EPC contractor that self-performs utility-scale and commercial rooftop projects comparable to SES's LEGO 6+ MW, retail distribution center, and Frankfort Plant Board work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/solarenergysols

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Solar Energy Solutions